WASHINGTON—A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a law prohibiting most state-authorized sports gambling likely will have little impact on Texas, but it could give a green light to legalized sports betting in surrounding states, some anti-gambling activists noted. Estimates are we won't see any actual gambling expansions or concrete steps taken to make it a reality before 2020. RANK: Patently Illegal. You do NOT want to operate an online casino in Indiana! For the players, though, illegal Gambling is a Class B Misdemeanor. The Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant is only trying to keep up with what has become the largest casino in the U.S., the WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, which boasts a gaming floor.

Texas is one of the strictest states when it comes to gambling and its laws can cover a wide variety of activities. Under Texas law, (Penal Code §47.02) gambling is considered a criminal offense if someone:

• makes a bet on the partial or final result of a game or contest or on the performance of a participant in a game or contest
• makes a bet on the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or on the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or
• plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, balls, or any other gambling device.

The law does provide for some exceptions such as participating in the state lotteryor placing bets on horse and greyhound dog races (sometimes referred to as pari-mutuel wagering). The law also provides for some affirmative defenses to prosecution:

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• the actor engaged in gambling in a private place;
• no person received any economic benefit other than personal winnings; and
• except for the advantage of skill or luck, the risks of losing and the chances of winning were the same for all participants

Additional exceptions include if the person reasonably believed their conduct:

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• was permitted under Chapter 2001, Occupations Code; (Charitable Bingo)
• was permitted under Chapter 2002, Occupations Code; (Charitable Raffles)
• was permitted under Chapter 2004, Occupations Code; (Sports Charity Raffles)

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The first page of this guide will provide you with an overview of the Texas laws on gambling while the subsequent pages will discuss more specific topics like bingo, eight-liners and poker.