DFS, an abbreviation for daily fantasy sports, appeals to those who desire a quicker and more fast-paced alternative to traditional season-long fantasy sports. Moreover, these platforms offer one of the few online gambling options accessible to Texas residents at present.
The legality of operating DFS in Texas is uncertain. While Texas state law does not explicitly allow or prohibit it, there is ambiguity. Despite a negative opinion from the attorney general, ongoing legal cases have allowed most DFS providers to continue offering their contests to Texas players for a significant period of time.
The following information offers a complete summary of the present state of DFS in Texas and addresses its legality. While DFS is currently accessible in Texas, there exists a chance that DFS platforms may cease their operations in the state in the future. Nevertheless, until such a time arrives, you can continue to enjoy daily fantasy sports in Texas by adhering to these guidelines.
Best daily fantasy sports sites in Texas
What are daily fantasy sports contests?
Feeling uncertain about how DFS works is common for newcomers. Yet, if you have prior experience with traditional fantasy sports, grasping the concept of daily fantasy sports contests should come easily to you.
In summary, fantasy sports contests involve choosing professional players from various teams and forming a roster. These players’ performance in real-life games earns points for fantasy players. At the end of a designated period, like a full NFL season, the player with the most accumulated points is declared the winner.
The main distinction between DFS contests and standard fantasy contests lies in their duration. Standard fantasy contests extend throughout an entire season, whereas DFS contests are usually confined to a single day, hence their name. This shorter timeframe in DFS results in a greater financial turnover when compared to the traditional version. Furthermore, standard fantasy leagues often consist of a circle of friends, while DFS contests entail online competition amongst strangers.
Is daily fantasy sports legal in Texas?
I really don’t feel like discussing it. Even the government can’t figure out the answer.
DFS has been operating in Texas for many years, but it has faced continuous conflict. In 2015, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed his view that daily fantasy sports are a form of gambling and therefore banned by state laws. This viewpoint had a notable effect, leading prominent DFS provider FanDuel to cease allowing Texas players to participate in its contests.
In contrast, DraftKings, the primary rival of FanDuel, opted not to remain passive and instead decided to take an aggressive approach. They countered Paxton’s perspective by initiating a lawsuit. Despite the ongoing legal battle, DraftKings chose to allow Texans to continue participating in their activities. Given the typically slow pace of the legal process, the question of legality remains unsettled.
FanDuel, emboldened by the informal agreement, returned to Texas in 2018 and joined forces with its competitor in the legal battle. Despite the lack of official acknowledgment by current legislation, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) remained legally practiced in Texas until the case was resolved.
Top Texas daily fantasy sports apps for 2025
At present, there is a wide range of top DFS sites available for Texans to select from. Among the leading options are DraftKings and FanDuel, both of which are active in the state. Additionally, several other DFS platforms extend invitations to Texas players to participate in their competitions. The following are some of the best DFS sites accessible to Texans:
- DraftKings shines in the market due to its vast array of sports and events that surpasses the offerings of nearly all other websites.
- FanDuel differentiates itself from its rivals by offering a wide selection of sports and diverse formats.
- Outlast, a DFS provider, offers a diverse selection of options for individuals who have a preference for totals (over/unders), although it may not be widely acknowledged.
DFS betting vs Sports betting: Key differences
Critics of DFS can argue that it bears similarities to sports betting, suggesting that DFS is merely another type of gambling. However, it is essential to recognize that DFS exhibits significant differences from conventional sports betting, establishing it as a distinct concept in its own right.
DFS and sports betting have distinct competition dynamics. While sports betting involves wagering against the sportsbook, DFS involves players competing against each other. In sports betting, the sportsbook’s role is to balance the wager liability by setting odds. Conversely, DFS is similar to online poker or video games, where players directly compete against each other. Therefore, DFS platforms are more comparable to Fortnite than traditional sportsbooks such as Caesars.
DFS operators do not care about your performance in contests or have any interest in the games. Their primary responsibility is to collect fees from players and manage the contests. Conversely, sportsbooks may experience unexpected losses if they have an uneven exposure to unfavorable outcomes. Unlike sportsbooks, DFS sites do not need to worry about all bettors favoring the same result.
To summarize, DFS can be compared to prop betting rather than conventional sports wagers such as point spreads, moneylines, or totals. Rather than predicting the game’s outcome, DFS players earn points in real-time. This implies that a player’s success in DFS is only loosely related to the actual game result, similar to how prop bets are often unaffected by the game’s outcome.
How to play daily fantasy sports in Texas
In Texas, you can find various popular types of DFS contests, each with its own unique features. However, there are several commonly found contests across multiple platforms that differ in structure and format, but not in the criteria used to determine a winner. Ultimately, the outcome of these contests always relies on the total points accumulated by the leader, although the specific method employed to reach this conclusion may vary.
- The DFS provider guarantees a fixed prize amount that will be distributed from a substantial pool of players or more. As players accumulate points, those with the highest scores will receive larger portions of the prize pool. The distributed amount will be either the guaranteed amount or the actual pool size, depending on whichever is greater. These guarantees are frequently applicable to large-scale DFS contests, where thousands of participants vie for the ultimate prize.
- A head-to-head contest is a DFS competition that allows only two participants. In these contests, the victor claims the entire prize, which amounts to twice the entry fee. Although head-to-head contests offer higher chances of winning compared to guaranteed prize pool contests, it is crucial to understand that a single match cannot lead to substantial wealth accumulation.
- A 50/50 contest, or “double-up” contest, is a competition where multiple participants go head-to-head. However, there is no designated opponent to face. Instead, once the contest concludes, the top 50% of participants are rewarded with a payout.
- The Showdown contest imposes restrictions on the player pool, leading to a situation where your predicted outcomes often clash within the same game. To emerge victorious, you must make smart player choices, assign multipliers accurately, and count on outstanding performances from your highest-ranked athletes. Consequently, this intense showdown will challenge your timing and strategic abilities.
What sports are offered in DFS?
DFS players have a vast array of choices at their disposal, spanning different sports such as NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Certain DFS platforms even provide Esports competitions for enthusiasts. Moreover, entertainment occasions like The Bachelor, the Academy Awards, and the Emmys can also serve as potential sources of DFS content.
DFS players typically prefer the following sports for their daily fantasy sports contests, although any event with a potential winner or loser can be eligible for consideration.
Daily Fantasy Baseball
Regardless of your allegiance to the Astros or Rangers, there are multiple ways to participate in fantasy baseball. You can choose to create a team of your favorite players and strive to turn a $2 entry fee into a guaranteed $20 pool win. Alternatively, you can demonstrate your baseball knowledge by going head-to-head against a friend and asserting your superiority.
To enjoy a wider range of games, it’s essential to expand your knowledge beyond Texas. This is because many games impose limitations on the number of players you can have from a single real team.
Daily Fantasy Basketball
If you’re looking to enjoy the excitement of a virtual basketball court with players from the Dallas Mavericks or Houston Rockets, then fantasy basketball is the ideal option. The key to achieving success in these competitions is to thoughtfully assemble your team, ensuring a mix of players who can make meaningful contributions in different aspects of the game. Even if you don’t have the top scorers on a specific night, your team can still earn valuable points through rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.
Daily Fantasy Football
Are you eagerly anticipating standout performances from specific players on the Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans in an upcoming game? You have numerous options to choose from to engage in the nation’s most beloved fantasy sport.
You are given the freedom to limit your choices in showdown contests to only include the games featuring Dallas and Houston for a particular week. Alternatively, you can take part in contests specifically tailored for Monday night or Thursday night games.
Daily Fantasy Golf
Even though golf is typically played as an individual sport, in LPGA or PGA tournaments, you will still create a team of players. The more birdies and eagles your selected players achieve on the course, the higher the points your team earns. On the other hand, bogeys often deduct points from your overall score.
Daily Fantasy Hockey
If you have an interest in DFS hockey, there is a possibility that certain players from the Dallas Stars may excel in your team. You can participate in a contest, select your goalie(s) and skaters, and immerse yourself in the thrilling NHL action. As every assist, goal, and save occurs during the game, you will either progress closer to or move farther away from the ultimate reward. Fortunately, with NHL games taking place frequently throughout the season, Texans have plenty of fantasy hockey opportunities to explore.
Daily Fantasy Soccer
Are you inclined towards supporting the Houston Dynamo or FC Dallas? Or perhaps you’re favoring Austin FC instead? You have the opportunity to choose these players and more in fantasy soccer competitions. Furthermore, numerous DFS platforms offer fantasy contests that encompass players from international leagues. With soccer’s immense global popularity, there is an extensive array of options for player selection and engaging in various games.
Daily Fantasy Tennis
Fantasy tennis brings the benefit of non-stop action all year round, eradicating any breaks in the offseason. Construct a squad of skilled ITF and WTA players whom you anticipate will thrive in upcoming tournaments. Each point, game, set, and match they conquer will add to your team’s cumulative score.
Make sure to stay alert for any seasonal sports events if you want to give DFS a try. The NBA playoffs or March Madness, for example, provide numerous chances to engage in daily fantasy sports.
How popular are DFS contests in Texas?
While the exact figures remain uncertain, it is undeniable that DFS enjoys immense popularity. Moreover, by observing various behavioral patterns, it becomes evident that DFS has firmly established itself as a permanent fixture in the state.
- DraftKings remains steadfast in its commitment to enter into a legal dispute with the state Attorney General.
- FanDuel’s return to Texas.
- DraftKings has recently launched its first-ever retail location in Texas, all thanks to its collaboration with the Dallas Cowboys. Known as the DraftKings Lounge, this spot provides a fantastic environment to watch games or engage in contests while enjoying some entertainment.
- Their local TV advertisements are showcasing the anticipation of DraftKings and FanDuel as they prepare to welcome a surge of Texas players and money.
As long as sports betting remains illegal, DFS is anticipated to maintain its popularity in Texas.
Outlook for Texas and daily fantasy sports
A few key factors hold the ultimate fate of daily fantasy sports in Texas.
The involvement of FanDuel in the ongoing court case between the state and DraftKings is the initial aspect to consider. If a resolution is achieved, it could potentially result in a judicial decision on the legality of daily fantasy sports in the state.
The introduction of new bills related to DFS during the 2025 legislative session in Texas has the potential to affect its future. However, the likelihood of this occurring is low, given the Texas Legislature’s historical opposition to gambling expansion. Nonetheless, if a bill concerning daily fantasy sports successfully advances through the legislative process, it could potentially lead to the explicit legalization or prohibition of DFS in the state.