Casinos in Texas

More so than almost any other state in the Union, the Lone Star State of Texas has continued to take a conservative approach when it comes to all things gambling; including casinos. As of early 2024, the state currently restricts casinos in Texas, as legislation has failed to pass time and time again.

Even when more liberal legislation does pass, there are federal-level Indian gaming laws that would have to be taken into consideration as well. In total, three U.S.-recognized tribes in Texas fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulations. Today, three casinos in Texas operate under Class II gaming restrictions, all of which are on Indian reservations throughout the state. 

Under the Class II gaming provisions, the casinos are only allowed to offer bingo-style slots and what are referred to as non-banked card games, such as poker. Let’s get more into the weeds of casinos in Texas, including where to find them.

Are there legal casinos in Texas?

Yes, there are legal casinos in Texas, but they are not the full-scale casinos that you can find in other states. Known as Texas Indian Casinos, there are currently three operating in the Lone Star State, all owned and operated by federally recognized Indian tribes.

The Tigua Indians, Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, and Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas all operate casinos spread throughout the state. As mentioned above, they are only allowed to offer bingo games and non-banked card games including many forms of poker.

While the state lawmakers in Texas have long pushed back against the Indian casinos in Texas, the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that they had no authority to prevent them from operating. In the end, they leaned on the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988 saying that each of the Texas tribes have self-jurisdiction when it comes to how they operate their casinos.

List of all casinos in Texas

There are three casinos in Texas operating today, each offering bingo-style slot machines, and one (Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino) offering poker. Let’s take a quick look at each of them, including exactly where to find them.

Are any more casinos opening in Texas soon?

No, there are not currently any concrete plans for more casinos in Texas to open anytime soon. There is reason for optimism, however, when it comes to casinos in Texas’ future, as the family that owns Las Vegas Sands Casino and Resorts recently purchased the Dallas Mavericks from long-time owner Mark Cuban. 

It has been widely reported that the new majority owners in the NBA franchise may use their sway to push for gambling laws in the Lone Star State. Cuban, who has long pushed for gambling legislation in Texas, will still operate the team, and many expect the Pittsburgh native to continue his campaign for full-scale legal casinos in Texas. 

With a well-established casino owner and operator now at his disposal, many are hopeful for the Cuban-backed future of casinos opening in Texas in the not-too-distant future.

History of land-based casinos in Texas

Though there are still no full-scale legal land-based casinos in Texas, that doesn’t mean the state doesn’t have a storied past in its quest for legislation. Let’s take a quick look at the history of land-based casinos in Texas up to this point.