If you’re in Texas and wondering whether you can legally use bet365 to place sports bets, the answer is no, at least not in the sense of a site properly licensed and regulated under Texas law. Texas has not yet legalized statewide regulated online sports betting, which means sportsbooks like bet365 are not operating under a Texas gaming license. Texans may still access certain offshore or unregulated sites, but doing so carries risk and does not equate to being “legal” in the regulated sense.
What Texas Law and Industry Sources Say
- According to the Texas State Law Library, online sports betting is still illegal in Texas.
- SportsBetting states trackers show Texas among the states where sports betting remains illegal (whether online or retail) as of 2025.
- Sources specifically list bet365 as not available or not “legal” in Texas. For example, a listing of “legal states” for bet365 shows Texas among those where it is not listed.
What That Means for a Texan User
✅ What you can do:
- You might be able to open an account with bet365 if the website allows it and you provide your details—but that does not mean you are protected by Texas regulatory laws or that the site is licensed in Texas.
- You can continue to follow sports betting offers, promotions or apps, but you must understand the difference between “available” and “legal under state licensing.”
❌ What you shouldn’t assume:
- You should not assume you are using a fully regulated and state-approved sportsbook when using bet365 in Texas.
- You cannot assume that the protections (consumer protection, regulated payouts, state oversight) you’d have in a legalized state apply in Texas.
- You cannot assume Texas law guarantees legality of your activity just because the site “works” in Texas. The state has not authorized online sports betting.
Why bet365 Isn’t Legal Under Texas Regulation (Yet)
- Texas still requires either legislative approval and/or a constitutional amendment to legalize and regulate online sports betting. Without that, sites like bet365 cannot obtain a Texas license.
- Because the state has not passed a law enabling online/mobile sports betting, the market is unlicensed and operators cannot claim to be legally authorized in Texas under state statute.
- Industry commentary notes that Texans still placing bets are doing so outside the regulated model.
Important Considerations for Texans
- Even though bet365 is not legally licensed in Texas, there may still be “sweepstakes” or alternative-model betting apps that claim legality under different rules—but those are distinct from a traditional sportsbook.
- If you place bets on an unlicensed sportsbook, you may have limited legal recourse if something goes wrong (e.g., non-payment of winnings) because the operator is not regulated in Texas.
- If Texas legalizes online sports betting in the future, the landscape for bet365 could change—operator partnerships, licensing, regulation could bring it into the legal fold.
- Always verify the website’s terms, whether the operator states it is licensed in Texas, and whether they operate under Texas gaming law or only allow access via offshore model.
Final Take
In Texas, bet365 is not legally licensed as a regulated sportsbook under Texas law because the state has not yet legalized online sports betting. Using the site in Texas means you are participating in an unregulated environment, not one backed by a Texas license and consumer protections. If you choose to use bet365 while in Texas, you do so at your own risk. If you prefer fully legal, regulated options, you should wait until Texas passes a law and issues licenses for online sports betting.
