The top six gambling locations to visit in Texas
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If you love gambling and are in Texas, you won’t be spoiled for choice, unfortunately. Texas has some of the strictest gambling policies within the United States. This means that you’re limited to gambling on horse and hound racing, entering lotteries, and visiting one of the two Indian casinos. The only reason the two casinos exist is because they are protected by federal law instead of state law. However, in 2022, the supreme court is set to make a ruling around whether other tribes can open casinos on their land. All of this doesn’t mean that you can’t find places to enjoy gambling in Texas. Below, you will find a rundown of the most popular locations.
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, Eagle Pass
Owned by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino is one of the only operating casinos in Texas. Holding a Class II, this casino is located at Eagle Pass, which is around 100 miles away from San Antonio. The casino is open 24-hours a day and boasts over 3000 machines that cover everyone’s favourite games. Alongside this, there is a live poker room that holds daily Texas Hold’em. Further, the casino operates regular bingo nights.
If you are lucky enough to pay a visit to this casino, you can also make the most of their entertaining nightlife, which includes dancers and other live acts. Given the remote location, you might as well make a weekend of it and book a room at their luxury hotel.
Naskila Gaming, Livingston
The Naskila Gaming Centre has had a tough time with the state of Texas, with plenty of attempts to shut them down since 2001. Luckily, in 2015/16, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas gained the support of the National Indian Gaming Commission, which granted them permission to operate a Class II casino. Within the casino, you will find various forms of bingo, including electronic forms. This year (2022), the Supreme Court will examine the case of the Tribes Vs. Texas and decide whether or not they can all operate Class II casinos.
While not being a Vegas-style casino, there is still plenty of fun to be had. They operate the regular truck and SUV giveaways. Further, there is an excellent restaurant on-site, allowing you to dine on steak while you win. If you’re able to visit regularly, you can join the Players Club and benefit from various rewards, including gas, bonuses, and VIP Lounge access.
Online gambling
The existing casinos in Texas are located on tribal lands, far from large cities. Therefore, they aren’t accessible to all. To counteract this, you can look to online casinos to enjoy your favourite casino games. You can find top reviewed sites at OnlineCasinos, which means you don’t need to worry about safety. While you’re busy comparing online casinos, you will find that some sites offer instant withdrawals. Luckily, the Texas gambling laws don’t explicitly ban offshore online gambling. However, if you wanted to operate an online casino out of Texas, you would be breaking the law.
Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie
If you enjoy horse racing, you should pay a visit to Lone Star Park. The luxury glass grandstand is visited by a staggering 700,000 guests per year, all looking to place their bets. While you bet and enjoy the races, you can dine in at the luxury silk restaurant or book a stay in a luxury Penthouse. Adjacent to the grandstand is a Vegas-like simulcast facility called Bar & Book, which is open seven days a week. Alongside the horse racing, you will find all your favourite sports cast onto HD projectors.
Valley Race Park, Harlington
Set on eight acres of land, the Valley Race Park is considered the home of greyhound racing in Texas. You will find an impressive 91,000 square-foot structure with seats overlooking the track, floors dedicated to simulcasting, restaurants, bars, function rooms, and private rooms. Outside, the 2500 capacity car park has played host to many concerts, and there are state-of-the-art kennel facilities to house 1080 greyhounds.
Sam Houston Race Park, Houston
Sam Houston Race Park, which also operates Valley Race Park, is a premium horse racing venue located in Houston. There are plenty of simulcast options available from across the world, as well as live racing events. You can book tickets to events online, and they even host concerts and other family events. While you gamble, you can enjoy fine dining, which includes carving stations, pasta dishes, dessert bars, and delicious steaks. If you’re traveling to Sam Houston Race Park and need accommodation, there are plenty of hotels within walking distance.
Retama Park Horse Racetrack, Selma
Retama Park Horse Racetrack, which specialises in thoroughbred and quarter-bred horse racing, is typically open from Wednesday until Sunday and is located in Selma. Typically, live horse racing events take place between June and November annually. As well as live racing, you can make the most of their simulcast program, which operates all year round. During your visit to Retama Park, you will find yourself getting hungry and should check out the Clubhouse 95 sports bar and the Terrace Dining Room. Once you’ve filled your appetite and made a winning, you can enjoy drinks at the Double Deuce. If these food options don’t suit you, you can visit the Winners Circle, Trifecta Express, and Brutus Burger.
Texas has extremely strict gambling laws which prohibit Vegas-style casinos from operating. If you love horse racing and greyhounds, Texas is the state for you because it’s 100% legal, and there is plenty of venue choice. Currently, there are only two functional casinos, with the top pick being at Eagle Pass. Hopefully, with the Supreme Court hearing set to take place later in the year, Texas tribes will be able to operate Class II casinos without needing to fight big legal battles. If you can’t find a land venue to fit your needs, remember that you can access offshore online casinos without breaching the harsh laws.
