Are online sportsbooks legal in Texas?
Ah, Texas, where everything’s bigger, including the confusion around online betting! The short answer? Online sportsbooks are not legal in Texas. That means no placing bets on your favorite football team from your couch without risking a legal headache.
This might be a little frustrating if you're a sports fan, especially given that Arizona sportsbooks are totally legal across the border. But don't worry, there are some viable alternatives that I'll share with you next. So don't go anywhere!
What are the alternatives for Texas sports fans?
Texas sports fans, don’t despair, you’ve still got ways to get your betting fix! Social betting sites are your best friend here, and the best part? They’re totally legal. These sites use virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, which means you’re playing under sweepstakes laws instead of traditional gambling rules. Both virtual currencies can be obtained for free, so it also takes the risk out of making predictions and lets you focus on the fun.
How do Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins work?
When you're just getting started, it helps to know how the virtual currencies roll. First up, Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins can be claimed for free through things like sign-up bonuses, daily reloads, or even social media giveaways. You can buy Gold Coins, but Sweeps Coins? Nope, can’t buy those directly with cash.
Additionally, both virtual currencies can be used to make predictions on sports, but only Sweeps Coins winnings can be redeemed for real prizes, including cash.
| Details | Gold Coins (GC) | Sweeps Coins (SC) |
| Obtained for free via promotions | ✅ | ✅ |
| Obtained through direct GC purchases | ✅ | ❌ |
| Used to place sweepstakes bets | ✅ | ✅ |
| Used to redeem real cash prizes | ❌ | ✅ |
Pros and cons of Texas sweepstakes sportsbooks
- Legal and safe
- No purchase is required to play
- Generous promotions
- Use SC winnings to redeem prizes
- No real money betting permitted
What are the best legal social sportsbooks in Texas?
With real money online betting sites a no-go in Texas, social sportsbooks are your legal way to get in on the action. There are tons of options out there, but I’ve narrowed it down to five of the best: Thrillzz, Kickr, Pickem, Prophet X, and Onyx Odds. Here’s why these sweepstakes brands are worth your time:
Thrillzz – A fun social sportsbook app in Texas
Thrillzz In A Nutshell
When you join Thrillzz for the first time, you’ll automatically receive a free sign-up bonus of 3,000 Thrillzz Coins (GC) and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps (SC). You can get additional free SC through a generous referral program. For every friend you refer who registers at Thrillzz, you receive 1 free SC, and if they make Thrillzz Coins purchases totalling over $30, you receive an additional 30 free SC.
I was also impressed by the selection of sports here, including the big leagues like the NFL and the NBA, but also more niche options like the NCAA, WNBA, and Olympic sports. There are even cool social features like Squads, where you can have discussions with friends about your picks in one big group chat.
How To Sign Up
- Visit the Website: Navigate to the official Thrillzz website on your desktop or mobile browser.
- Click on “Sign Up”: Look for the “Join Now” button, found at the top right corner.
- Provide your personal information, email address, and create a secure password.
- Verify your email address and complete any KYC requirements.
- Once signed up, you’ll automatically receive your free Thrillzz Coins and Sweeps!
BONUS
Claim Bonus
Kickr – Plenty of social betting options
Kickr In A Nutshell
After completing the registration and verification process at Kickr, I received a whopping 150,000 Bits (GC) and 4 free Bucks (SC). There’s a solid selection of sports at this site, including NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL, and Golf. For each of these sports, I found a similar variety of markets, including moneylines, props, spreads, totals, parlays, and plenty more. Despite the huge selection, this site was surprisingly easy to navigate, thanks to a range of accessible filters and menus used across the site.
Pick’em – Predict esports games
Pickem In A Nutshell
The sign-up bonus at this social sportsbook includes a huge 50,000 Gold Coins and 1 free Sweeps Coin. Pick’em is available through a high-performance mobile app, which can be downloaded on iOS or Android and has some impressive ratings from previous users in each store. I particularly liked the ability to enable push notifications, as it helped me track the progress of live bets.
This social sportsbook also has a good variety of betting options; you could be predicting Patrick Mahomes’ passing yards or Saquon Barkley’s rushing yards. There’s also a much larger range of sports, as this is one of the few social sportsbooks to offer esports games like CoD, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2.
Prophet X – Deep coverage of your favorite sports
Prophet X In A Nutshell
What I really like about Prophet X is its deep coverage for each of its sports. Take soccer as an example, you’ll get everything from the American Major League Soccer to the English Premier League, the European Champions League, and the Spanish La Liga. You can also choose from a wide range of pick types, including moneylines, spreads, totals, and the recently added parlays and same game parlays.
The site also offers an impressive selection of ongoing promotions, helping boost your account balance. Popular options include the referral bonus, mail-in request, and social media giveaways
How To Sign Up
- Click 'Register'
- Enter emaill address, password, referral code, click 'Continue'.
- Enter personal details such as address and date of birth.
- Tickboxes for age verification and T&C agreement. Click 'Register'
BONUS
Claim Bonus
Onyx Odds – A top-rated social betting app
Onyx Odds In A Nutshell
When you join Onyx Odds for the first time, you’ll kick things off with a generous 1,000 free Onyx Coins (GC). What impresses me with this app is its clean design and interface. Even the sports lobby has a variety of filters and menus so you can personalize what you see to your tastes. If you want to top up your balance with an Onyx Coin purchase, there’s also a long list of secure payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Skrill, and more. Plus, if you encounter any issues at the site, the support agents are always happy to help via email. This is just a great all-around social sportsbook and a great option for newbies in Texas.
How To Sign Up
- Click 'Sign Up'
- Enter email, username and password. Tickboxes for T&C's. Click 'Create Account'.
- Enter personal details such as full name, date of birth, address.
- Click 'Verify Identity'.
What promotions are available at TX social sportsbooks?
If you were paying attention earlier, you caught me mentioning that promotions are your ticket to free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. But what kinds of promos can new and experienced social sports bettors actually grab? Let’s break it down
🎁 Welcome Bonuses
Extra Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins just for signing up.
🔄 Daily Reloads
Grab free GC and SC every day to keep the fun going.
👫 Referral Bonuses
Bring a friend, get bonus virtual currencies. Everyone wins!
📱 Social Media Giveaways
Follow, like, or share for surprise rewards.
🎉 Special Event Promos
Extra virtual currencies or prize boosts during big games or tournaments.
✉️ Mail-In Requests
Some sites even let you request Sweeps Coins via snail mail.
Can you still win real money at these sites?
If you’ve checked out Tennessee sportsbooks or other sites before, you might be used to placing real money bets and cashing in wins. But remember, none of that’s legal in Texas. Sweeps sportsbooks keep it safe and fun, so no real money betting is allowed here.
However, Sweeps Coins are the key to a viable alternative, as any SC winnings you generate can potentially be redeemed for real money prizes. To do this, you’ll need a fully verified account, which requires submitting proof of ID and address. You’ll also need to play any promotional Sweeps Coins at least once, but potentially higher depending on the site’s requirements. Finally, you must meet the minimum threshold of Sweeps Coins before you can request a redemption.
Here’s how it all works at Thrillzz, Kickr, Pickem, Prophet X, and Onyx Odds:
| Sweepstakes sportsbook | Playthrough requirement | Minimum SC for cash prize |
| Thrillzz | 1x | 50 SC |
| Kickr | 1x | 100 SC |
| Pickem | 1x | 100 SC |
| Prophet X | 1x | 10 SC |
| Onyx Odds | 1x | 20 SC |
What sports are available at Texas social betting sites?
You’ll find no shortage of sports to bet on at Texas social sportsbooks; they’ve got all the fan favorites covered. Think football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and soccer, plus extras like golf, tennis, and even esports. Whether you’re predicting NFL touchdowns or NBA buzzer-beaters, there’s always action waiting. Some sites also toss in fun niche options like MMA or motorsports for a little extra variety.
Can you make picks on live sports?
At Texas social betting sites and apps, making picks on live sports is half the fun. During the game, you can jump in and make predictions as the action unfolds. Will your team pull off that last-minute win? Whether it’s football, basketball, or any other live event, you’ll be right in the middle of the action, calling the shots and testing your instincts as the game heats up.
My final verdict on the Texas sports betting scene
Texas might not have opened its doors to real-money sports betting yet, but sweepstakes sportsbooks are a fun, legal way to get involved. You can make free predictions on tons of sports using Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. And the best part? Sweeps Coins winnings can actually be redeemed for real cash prizes if you meet the requirements. These social sportsbooks also offer a range of extras, including generous promotions, mobile apps, responsive support, and secure payment methods.
The best sites out there? Thrillzz, Kickr, Pick’em, Prophet X, and Onyx Odds. You can follow any of the relevant links on this page to grab your free sign-up bonus and jump in on the fun.
Our favourite social sportsbook bonuses for 2026
Claim Bonus
- Solid variety of sports and markets
- Social “Squads” feature adds competition
- Live in-play betting options
+3
Claim Bonus
+1
Claim Bonus
+5
Claim Bonus
+1
Texas sportsbooks FAQs
Can I place real money bets on Texas sportsbooks?
Nope! Real money betting isn’t legal in Texas. But sweepstakes sportsbooks let you play safely with virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
Which sites are best for legal Texas sports betting?
Check out Thrillzz, Kickr, Pick’em, Prophet X, and Onyx Odds for the ultimate legal sports betting fun. These sites operate under the sweepstakes model, where Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins are used instead of real money.
Can I make predictions on any sport at a TX social sportsbook?
Social sportsbooks cover football, basketball, baseball, and more. Whether you’re a diehard fan or just in it for the fun, you can place predictions with Gold or Sweeps Coins on pretty much any major sport.