Online Poker in Texas – Best TX Poker Sites for Real Money in 2025

While Texas poker sites may not be regulated at the state level, there are still plenty of options available in the Lone Star State. It is, after all, the birthplace of Hold’em and the home state of poker legends like Doyle Brunson.

Texas doesn’t have the most welcoming regulations regarding the game. Even the local card rooms are in a legal gray area. Before we get into details, let’s review the best Texas online poker sites.

Reviews of the Best Sites for Online Poker in Texas 2025

Before discussing the legal situation, let’s take a look at some of the available platforms in the state. These include top online poker sites that are available throughout the country and even beyond, so the bar is high.

1. CoinPoker – Best Texas Online Poker Site

 

Overview

Our Verdict

There’s no better place to play online poker for real money in Texas. The sleek mobile app and desktop client are crammed with Hold’em and Omaha tables, plus regular tournaments with rewarding guarantees.

We have a full CoinPoker review, but the short version is that this is a solid platform for all players. Cash tables start from just $0.01/$0.02 blinds and go up with solid traffic. The same can be said for tournaments, and the client is very responsive, no matter if you play on a computer or on a phone from anywhere in Texas.

2. Ignition Poker – Best Texas Online Poker Site for Soft Cash Tables

 

Overview

Our Verdict

This Antigua-licensed site is a great option for new players. There’s an abundance of freerolls and small buy-in tournaments, but also regular Sunday events with sizable guarantees.

Ignition is a great option for playing online poker in Texas; it’s also available nationwide, so the traffic is great. The steady stream of part-time poker players helps ensure soft cash tables.

3. ACR Poker – Best Texas Online Poker Site for Tournament Prizepools

 

Overview

Our Verdict

ACR Poker is home to a diverse selection of games, including Hold’em, several Omaha variants, and Seven Card Stud tables. Look out for the multi-million guaranteed tournaments, too.

The platform is easy to access, and the welcome bonus can prove useful for newcomers. Regulars can also take advantage of the Elite Benefits program, a constant source of rewards. Alternatively, opt out and take 27% rakeback instead if you don’t plan on grinding and moving up the tiers.

4. Black Chip Poker – Best Texas Online Poker Site for Seven-Card Stud

 

Overview

Our Verdict

The similarities between Black Chip Poker and ACR are obvious, as both sites are part of the busy Winning Poker Network. Although this brand may be newer, it’s just as full of busy cash tables, creative tournaments, and rewarding bonuses.

Enjoy clean and modern software that’s easy to use, as well as fast cryptocurrency withdrawals. Not to mention frequent seven and eight-figure guarantees for poker events and Texas online action, including the Venom tournaments.

5. BetOnline Poker – Best Texas Online Poker Site for Hold’em

 

Overview

Our Verdict

It couldn’t be easier to play online poker in Texas thanks to BetOnline. There’s no need to download any software – just log in and play from your browser. You’ll find busy Hold’em and Omaha tables that are extremely beatable. To top it off, the crypto withdrawals are often processed on the same day, in just two hours.

Comparing Texas Online Poker Sites

You’ve seen our top-rated sites for online poker in Texas, all of which share a number of fantastic features. But what is unique about each brand?

Texas Online Poker Games

What games are in store at the Lone Star State’s leading poker sites? Let’s take a look.

Texas Hold’em

You can’t possibly discuss online poker in Texas without mentioning Hold’em. After all, the world’s most popular game – correctly titled Texas Hold’em – originated in this part of the US.

Each player receives two cards face-down, with a maximum of five “community” cards in the middle of the table. The aim is to make the best possible five-card hand or bet everyone else out of the pot. You can use the Texas Hold’em odds calculator to play around with hand probabilities.

This setup makes for all kinds of representing and bluffing opportunities, meaning you’ll need to be brave if you’re to have any success, especially in the No Limit form of the game.

Best Texas Poker Site for Hold’em: BetOnline

Omaha

A close relative of Texas Hold’em, Omaha borrows almost all of that game’s rules. It also features five community cards, with four betting rounds and forced bets before the flop. These similarities explain why the game was originally known as “Omaha Hold’em.”

The key difference is the starting hand of four cards. You must use exactly two in order to form your hand. The additional cards create many more combinations, meaning you’ll need to be more disciplined with your hand selection.

Pot-limit Omaha (PLO) is the most common structure, rather than No-Limit or Fixed-Limit. There are several interesting variants, too, including 5-Card Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo. Many of the top Omaha poker sites are now live in Texas, so finding a table will not be an issue.

Best Texas Poker Site for Omaha: CoinPoker

Stud

Before the domination of Texas Holdem, Seven Card Stud was the most popular form of poker. There are no community cards here, as it’s a stud game. That means each player receives their own unique hand, with a mixture of face-up and face-down cards.

The game starts with three cards each – two down and one up. There’s a total of five betting rounds, offering plenty of action, which is why it’s usually played with a Fixed Limit betting structure.

Some popular variants include Razz, which is a lowball game played using the same structure, and Seven Stud Hi-Low, sometimes called Eight Or Better.

Best Texas Poker Site for Stud: Black Chip Poker

Other Real Money Poker Games in TX

Although the aforementioned games are the most popular forms of online poker in Texas, that list is not exhaustive when it comes to options on the best poker apps.

For instance, Short Deck, also known as Six Plus Poker, is increasingly popular, particularly among high-stakes players. This intriguing game, which uses a 36-card deck, can be found at a few leading sites.

Draw Poker isn’t as popular as it once was. However, some modern forms, such as 2-7 Triple Draw, are still available in some poker rooms.

Best Texas Poker Site for Other Games: ACR Poker

Banking Methods for Real Money Online Poker in Texas

The deposit and withdrawal methods always play an important role when it comes to poker, and players in Texas have a range of options available. Learn more about the main ones to find the right one for you.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies have grown a lot in popularity and are now the go-to options for deposits and withdrawing funds for TX poker. This is because all of the leading sites accept Bitcoin and a few major altcoins, just as Ethereum and Litecoin. This means that a crypto wallet basically gives you access to all platforms.

Banking on crypto poker sites is fast and with very low fees. Transactions are often processed within a few minutes, including when withdrawing funds from the sites.

Credit and Debit Cards

Visa and Mastercard remain widely available and used throughout the nation. For online poker in Texas, you can deposit with credit and debit cards on most sites, and you can also use them to buy cryptocurrencies. The downside is that withdrawing to cards is not supported, and banks will deny the request.

You will likely have to use another method when it comes time to withdraw.

Bank Transfers

Bank transfers are still good for large transactions, although they are not the fastest and can have large fees. Processing can take up to five business days, depending on the bank. The good news is that you can use bank transfers on most platforms, both for depositing funds and for cashing out.

Common Payment Methods for Online Poker in Texas

Bonuses at the Best Online Poker Sites in Texas

Our featured Texas poker rooms online are bursting with poker bonuses, like the following:

Welcome Bonuses

All of the best online poker sites in Texas offer some kind of signup incentive. They’re usually match bonuses, meaning you’ll receive a percentage of your first real money deposit. But it’s also possible to find no deposit bonuses, from time to time.

Welcome bonuses are only available for new players, often on the first deposit. For example, you can get a 100% bonus that you release in increments as you play on the site and pay rake.

Free Tournament Tickets

Some sites include free tournament entries as part of their welcome packages. At BetOnline Poker, for instance, you’ll receive up to 21 free entries to satellite tournaments for the $100,000 Sunday Showdown.

Other operators will award free tournament tickets as part of special promotions. These allow you to skip the buy-in and take part in the featured events without paying a cent. Most of the other players will still be paying the buy-in, however, so the prize pool will be solid.

Freerolls

If you’re just starting to play poker in Texas, freerolls are a great way to build a bankroll. They cost nothing to enter, but there are real money rewards.

While most events in this category have small prize pools of around $50, some award impressive amounts, even exceeding $2,500.

Rakeback

Most online poker sites in Texas refund a proportion of your weekly or monthly rake as a loyalty reward, known as rakeback.

CoinPoker is the standout example, providing an impressive 33% rebate.

VIP Rewards

Internet poker rooms in Texas know how to look after their regular players. Structured loyalty and VIP programs are a big part of that.

ACR Poker’s well-known Elite Benefit program is a standout example. Earn points as you play, which helps you to progress through the ranks. The higher you climb, the greater the bonuses awaiting you.

Texas Online Poker Laws and Regulations

Despite once being considered the heart of gambling and a pillar for freedom throughout the nation, Texas doesn’t currently have the most favorable laws and regulations. In fact, it is one of the most restrictive states on the matter, and unfortunately, this includes poker.

The Texas Penal Code puts poker under games of chance and doesn’t recognize it as a game of skill. As a result, it is prohibited in the state, both online and in local establishments.

However, the legal wording does allow for some wiggle room on the matter, which has resulted in one of the biggest gray areas for poker in the United States. For online poker, the laws and regulations in Texas simply don’t allow operators to be based within state borders. Offshore operators don’t fall into this category, and so many international platforms accept players from the Lone Star State.

Online Poker Safety and Security in Texas

From a player’s perspective, there’s simply no way for anyone to know what you’re doing, especially if you use a VPN and deposit using cryptocurrency.

Besides, even if you were caught, what laws are you breaking? None, because there aren’t any.

Just because offshore poker sites aren’t licensed in the USA doesn’t mean there’s no regulation. The brands we recommend are overseen by major international authorities, including the governments of Panama, Costa Rica, and Curaçao.

That means they are safe and sure to be looking after your deposit correctly and using the latest security features, like SSL encryption and multi-factor authentication.

It also means these sites follow responsible gambling practices, offer tools to support those in need, and weed out potential underage gamblers.

Much like the live poker scene, this lack of legislation means there’s a gray area. Online, this is filled by offshore operators that accept players from Texas and, indeed, the whole of the United States, including online poker in Florida.

As these companies are based overseas, local law enforcement can take no action against them.

Live Poker in Texas

Is live poker legal in Texas?

The Texas Penal Code states that you can’t run a poker room for profit directly from the games. In poker, this basically means that operators can’t take rake from the games. However, many venues operate as private member clubs, charging a subscription fee to join and play on an hourly basis and then hosting live poker games.

While many lawmakers are trying to close this legal loophole, some are advocating for proper legislation that would actually legalize poker.

A proposed bill, HB 732, aims to change the definition of poker in Texas and replace “gambling place” with “dwelling.” This would make poker games for real money illegal in private residences but basically legalize card clubs throughout the state.

Card Rooms vs Casinos

The private membership model is working well, and there’s a blossoming poker scene in the state. Famous names like Doug Polk have moved to Texas, for instance. He’s opened not one, but two different card rooms.

It’s not really possible to play poker in Texas at a casino. Commercial casinos remain illegal, though there are three venues on Indian land. However, only one of these – the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino – offers a live poker room.

Where Can I Play Live Poker in Texas?

Looking for a live game? Check out the following Texas poker rooms:

Austin

• The Lodge Card Club: 1401 S IH 35 Frontage Rd Ste 130, Round Rock, TX 78664
• TCH Social: 13530 US-183, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78750 (Directions)

Dallas

• Shuffle 214: 11411 E. Northwest Highway, Suite 111, Dallas, TX 75218
• Texas Card House Dallas: 11834 Harry Hines Blvd., #135, Dallas, TX 75234

Houston

• Lucky J Social Club: 9371 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77063
• Legends Poker Room: 9275 Richmond Ave, Suite 101, Houston, TX 77063

San Antonio

• The Lodge Card Club: 3723 Colony Drive, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78230
• The Big Blind: 19314 US Hwy 281 N, San Antonio, TX 78259

Are Poker Winnings Taxable in Texas?

Since there is no legal framework in place for online poker, there are no laws regarding taxation either.

So, if there’s no state tax, is online poker free in the state of Texas?

Not quite, you still have to consider federal taxes. All winnings should be reported to the IRS and are subject to a 24% deduction.

Most Popular Texas Poker Players

Some of the world’s best-known players have close ties to the Lone Star State.

Doyle Brunson

A genuine legend of the game, “Texas Dolly” is a real OG of poker. Doyle Brunson played in illegal high-stakes games in the 1950s and 60s, before eventually settling in Las Vegas.

His book Super/System was pioneering. It shared insight from Brunson and other top professionals and helped popularize the game of Texas Hold’em.

A two-time winner of the WSOP Main Event – not to mention eight other bracelets – he was the first player to win $1 million from poker tournaments.

Much missed by the poker community, Brunson died in 2003 at the age of 89.

Doug Polk

Originally from Pasadena, California, Polk grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. However, in January 2022, he famously co-founded The Lodge Card Club, near Austin, Texas.

Doug Polk made his name playing high-stakes games of head-up No Limit Hold’em. However, he’s also bagged three WSOP bracelets.
Something of an entrepreneur, Polk is the brains behind the poker coaching site Upswing Poker, as well as a popular YouTube channel.

Polk and his associates – fellow players Brad Owen, and Andrew Neeme – now own two poker rooms in Texas. They are key voices leading the campaign to legalize live poker in the state.

Jonathan Tamayo

Tamayo is best known for winning the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event. There, he bested a record field of 10,112 players, banking $10,000,000 in the process.

Famously a roommate of the 2015 Main Event champion Joe McKeehen, Tamayo is a successful player in his own right.

A four-time WSOP Circuit ring winner, he’s also cashed in four major WTP events. Jonathan Tamayo is of Filipino heritage but grew up in Humble, Texas.

History of Online Poker in Texas

The Lone Star State has always had a difficult relationship with gambling. Even though the most famous form of poker originated in Texas, those games were illegal.

Very few attempts to legalize gambling have been made over the years, all of which have been met with strong resistance. That trend has continued into the internet era.

However, this very resistance to creating a legal framework for any form of gambling means the Texas Penal Code is full of loopholes.

Texas Online Poker Timeline

Here’s a brief history of online poker-related events in the Lone Star State.

• 2024: Governor Greg Abbot and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick – both historically opposed gambling – remain key political figures. It’s unlikely that online poker will be legal in Texas any time soon. In the meantime, offshore sites and sweepstakes gaming continue to grow in popularity.
• 2023: House Bill 2345 seeks to legalize live poker rooms, but there are no signs of any online legislation. The bill dies in the committee anyway, after making minimal progress.
• 2022: Legislation is drafted to create a Texas Gaming Commission and properly regulate both live and online poker, closing existing loopholes. No progress is made, and House Bill 732 eventually dies.
• 2021: Attempts to legalize both sports betting and casino gaming in the state fail, underlining the continued lack of desire for regulated gambling in Texas.

➡️ Want to learn about the gambling experience in a nearby Western state? Here’s how to access poker online in Colorado.

Play Online Poker in Texas – Recap

This article is packed with an awful lot of information. With that in mind, here’s a quick summary of the key points to take away with you.

With no legal framework in place, online poker in Texas is neither illegal nor legal, officially speaking. This ambiguity makes it possible to play at offshore poker sites without repercussions.

A highly recommended place to play online poker in TX is CoinPoker. Based offshore, it offers a slick, secure app, with fast crypto payments and a massive 33% rakeback.

FAQs

Is online poker in Texas legal?

Yes, you can play at legal online poker sites in Texas. These operators are not based in the country, but in other jurisdictions, and they provide a safe and secure platform for real money poker.

Are TX online poker sites safe?

The majority of sites are safe, but there are always a few bad apples. To stay safe when playing online poker in TX, stick to our recommended brands. Our experts have vetted each one to ensure they’re fair and secure.

Does Texas have poker rooms?

It certainly does. A number of live poker clubs are exploiting the ambiguous legal situation in the Lone Star State. We’ve listed a few notable examples elsewhere in this guide, including Doug Polk’s two well-known venues.

Do you have to be a Texas resident to play?

Not at all. There are no state-licensed sites offering online poker for real money in Texas anyway – they’re all based outside of the USA. If these sites accept US players generally, they don’t care which state you’re from.

Is Texas a good state for poker overall?

Yes, though it depends on your perspective. While online poker in Texas isn’t strictly legal, it’s not illegal either, so you can access hundreds of quality offshore poker sites. There are roughly 70 live poker rooms in operation, and the community is growing.

Resources

1. https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB2345/id/2699715 (Legiscan HB2345)
2. https://txpenalcode.com/ (Texas Penal Code)