Viva Las Texas? Not quite. But the Lone Star State does have a couple of impressive casino resorts, which you can plan to visit for an indulgent weekend away with friends and family. No online casino sites and apps are available in Texas in 2025, but there are excellent land-based gambling venues within a short drive of the Texas border.
But which casinos offer the best gambling in Texas? Where can you legally play slot machines, craps, roulette, and blackjack?
Here, we introduce you to the best land-based casinos for gambling in Texas and the surrounding areas, which provide legal and fun-filled gambling opportunities to Texans.
The Best Casinos in Texas in 2025
1: Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino | Eagle Pass, TX
- Location: 794 Lucky Eagle Dr, Eagle Pass, TX 78852
- Contact: (830) 773-2255
The top land-based casino for gambling in Texas is the tribal Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass. The resort boasts a modest three-star hotel and a huge gambling hall with over 3,300 slot machines for Texans to play from developers like Everi and Konami.
There are also three poker variants available at Kickapoo Lucky Eagle, including Bad Beat Jackpot, Limit Texas Hold’em, and No Limit Texas Hold’em. The poker room is open every day from 2 pm, while the casino is open 24/7 all year round.
Also popular with Texans is the bingo game variety at this casino, with various games running throughout the week, including specials for seniors and veterans.
But it’s not just famous for its gambling. Kickapoo Lucky Eagle is home to the excellent Que Pasa Lounge, which is a popular nightspot among locals and visitors alike.
There are also five restaurants and several bars here, ensuring an all-round experience if you’re planning a weekend of gambling in the Lone Star State.
2: Naskila Casino | Livingston, TX
- Location: 540 State Park Rd 56, Livingston, TX 77351
- Contact: (936) 563-2946
Marketed as “the luckiest spot in Texas,” Naskila Casino boasts over 30,000 square feet of gaming space, offering visitors access to 800 slot machine games. Popular slots include games like Golden Wins, Nugget Fever, and Double Wolf.
The casino is operated by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, residents on the oldest reservation in the Lone Star State situated in the Big Thicket of Deep East Texas.
Though it lacks much of the charm and resort-style features of the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Naskila is a decent place to play slots and enjoy the thrill of legal real-money gambling in Texas.
There are two eateries at Naskila Casino. The first is Timbers Grille, which serves up steaks, sandwiches, and burgers. There’s also Café ITTO, which is your one-stop shop for coffee, cakes, and other sweet treats.
While you can’t stay on-site, Naskila is only 90 miles north-east of Houston and there are various budget and mid-range hotels a short drive away from the casino.
The Best Casinos Near Texas in 2025
1: WinStar World Casino | Thackerville, OK
- Location: 777 Casino Ave, Thackerville, OK 73459
- Contact: (866) 946-7787
WinStar Casino is the biggest casino in the world, and it’s right on the doorstep of the Lone Star State. It features 400,000 square feet of gaming space, which hosts 10,500 slot machines, 100 table games, 55 poker tables, and an 800-seat bingo hall.
There are 17 on-site restaurants, a live entertainment center, and a golf course. If you visit WinStar for the weekend, you can stay in any of the 1,700 rooms located in the four distinct hotel towers. WinStar also has a huge RV park with hook-ups for 152 vehicles.
The hotel and casino are located about five miles north of the Texas border in Oklahoma. While not technically in the Lone Star State, WinStar is hugely popular among Texans looking to get away for a weekend of fun.
From Dallas, you can reach WinStar in less than 90 minutes, depending on traffic.
2: Choctaw Casino & Resort | Durant, OK
- Location: 4216 US-69, Durant, OK 74701
- Contact: (580) 920-0160
Another outstanding casino resort within a stone’s throw of the Texas border is the Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.
The four-star hotel is the nicest on this list so far, making it a more refined option than the suites available at Kickapoo Lucky Eagle and WinStar.
The game variety at Choctaw Casino in Durant is excellent, too. There are 7,400 slot machines and 100 tables featuring games like blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and Pai Gow.
There’s also a 30-table poker room at Choctaw and a racebook for sports fans in the League Bar.
The 1832 Steakhouse offers fine dining in Durant, while numerous casual dining options, including a huge food court, cover all bases.
Choctaw Casino in Durant, OK, is a similar distance from Dallas as WinStar World, and if the traffic isn’t too bad, you should be able to make the journey in under 90 minutes.
3: Inn of the Mountain Gods | Mescalero, NM
- Location: 287 Carrizo Canyon Rd, Mescalero, NM 88340
- Contact: (575) 464-7059
A candidate for the best casino name in the United States, the Inn of the Mountain Gods is one of the best casinos in New Mexico, relatively close to Texas.
Located on the Mescalero Reservation, the Inn of the Mountain Gods is a four-star gaming resort with a spa, golf course, and lake-based activities. So, you can get away from it all while still enjoying a fun-filled gaming experience.
The 45,000 square-feet casino features dozens of table games, including roulette, blackjack, and craps, while there’s also an on-site poker room offering low-and-high limit games.
Slots are abundant in the Enclave, which is open 24/7 for Vegas-style gaming on popular slots from IGT and other top providers.
4: Coushatta Casino Resort | Kinder, LA
- Location: 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder, LA 70648
- Contact: (800) 584-7263
Coushatta Casino Resort is the top casino destination next to Texas located in Louisiana, close to the Texas border, and it can be reached by road in less than three hours from downtown Houston.
It’s also Louisiana’s biggest casino resort, with approximately 2,000 slot machines and several blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat tables. There’s also a live poker room and a high-stakes room for people with big bankrolls.
Coushatta is also home to eight dining options, a 3-star hotel, and a stunning 18-hole golf course within Louisiana’s famous wetlands.
So, if you live in East Texas and want to visit a casino resort by road, Coushatta is undoubtedly your best bet.
What About Online Casinos in Texas?
Right now, online casinos are not legal in Texas. However, this might change in the coming years as legislative bills are being considered.
TOP Texas Online Casino Apps (Expected)
- bet365 TX Casino
- BetRivers
- BetMGM
- Stardust
- Hard Rock Casino TX
If you want to legally gamble by playing slot machine games in Texas, your best option is to visit Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino or Naskila Casino, both of which are located within state lines.
However, if you want to play online casino games in Texas, another option is to sign up for sweepstakes casinos in the Lone Star State, which are currently legal.
These casinos give you virtual currency to play with. If you win while playing with sweepstakes coins, you can redeem cash prizes or gift cards.
While different from real money gambling in Texas, sweepstakes casinos are growing in popularity in the Lone Star State and are a viable option if you want to play slots and table games.
View our list of the best real-money online casinos for US players here. If you are in NJ, check these sites.
The verdict: The best casinos for gambling in Texas
We highly recommend the excellent Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass as the top gambling destination in the Lone Star State.
However, if you’re happy to travel slightly beyond state lines, WinStar World Casino and Choctaw Casino & Resort in Oklahoma are perhaps better options. They’re much bigger and more modern venues with better dining and entertainment options.
No matter where you gamble in Texas or slightly beyond state lines, please do so responsibly. Always bet within your means and only wager what you can afford to lose while gambling in or outside of Texas.
