The gambling laws in Texas are so restrictive that only one true physical casino located in Texas– the one run by the Kickapoo Indians in Eagle Pass. Texas makes it intentionally difficult to play casinos without a long drive out of the state. That really restricts the options of Texas gamblers who want the casino experience without the trip. From that perspective, online Texas casinos provide a safe, legal, and entertaining alternative. While they are not a perfect substitute for a physical casino, online casinos have other advantages, including convenience, variety, nice incentives, and accessibility. The legal environment in the state of Texas is so unfriendly to the casino gambling industry that it has not only lead to old casinos shutting down or leaving, it also discourages new casinos, making Texas online casinos the most viable opportunity for enjoying legal casino gambling entertainment.
For example, casino cruises, which involve a trip to international waters to gamble, used to operate out of Texas frequently, but all of the cruise lines that used to operate casino cruises in Texas have either closed down or moved to different states, leaving the state without any type of Texas gambling boat options. Two different Indian tribes attempted to take advantage of their special status and open casinos in Texas, but both ran afoul of the state prosecutor and the government closed them down. Part of the appeal of online casinos is that they are legal and easy to access. After such a long time without good casino options to enjoy, Texas gamblers finally have an alternative that isn’t part of a shady gray market. Of course, it is essential to do some research before signing up for an online casino, but that would be true for any new hobby.
Many online casinos have been online for decades. Their stability and reliability presents an appealing solution to the turbulent legal environment of Texas gaming laws. Consider, for example, the rise, fall, resurgence, and second collapse of greyhound and horse racing in Texas. For decades, the legality of race tracks fluctuated. By the time the state began to issue licenses in an organized way, the popularity, and therefore the market, for betting on races was much lower than it had been in the past. This was simply due to the fact that it had been illegal for so long. Similarly, any new brick and mortar casino that manages to clear the legal hurdles in Texas would quickly find that demand is much lower than expected. This is also partially due to the competition that online gambling sites provide by filling the void left by the state’s approach to this industry.
Considering the circumstances, the existence of an online option for casino gambling is a boon to Texas players It is the only feasible and legal alternative to the physical casino experience in Texas. This is no fault of the gaming public- it was the tight regulation of casinos that created this situation in the first place. The fact that online casinos are stepping in to fill the gap is just the natural progression of market forces. The wide proliferation of online Texas casinos gives gamblers plenty of options to choose from, as long as they vet their choices first using trustworthy sources. .