Where to Play Blackjack Near Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas, except gambling establishments, which are pretty much non-existent in The Lone Star State. Despite Texas getting associated with the most popular poker variant ever, it boasts some of the strictest US betting laws. It only allows its residents to indulge in lotteries, bet on horse/dog races, and enjoy gambling machines at its Native American casinos.
All forms of casino-style betting are off-limits in Texas, with its Penal Code defining the activity as placing a bet on something based purely on chance. Though, Texans are free to engage in this pastime via the internet at offshore platforms that accept them. Note that blackjack games that can be played online feature live dealers, with many of the same hubs offering them also providing sports wagering. That is also illegal in Texas. Juggernauts from these two industries have attempted to push through legislative changes allowing the state’s residents to enjoy both activities. Yet, they have not managed to pass the Capitol finish line. The Las Vegas Sands recently made such an unsuccessful effort.
Thus, for now, Texans who hope to test their luck on the world’s most popular table game will have to venture outside of their state’s borders or play online. Those looking for an authentic blackjack feel who are not afraid of long drives can visit the following establishments in neighboring states that offer twenty-one-table action.
Harrah’s New Orleans – Louisiana
Opened in 1999, Harrah’s casino in New Orleans is the brainchild of Christopher Hemmeter, a Hawaiian hotel developer who also created the nearby River City Casino. The gaming floor of this venue sprawls 115,000 square feet, and it offers 1,500 slots and over 130 table games. Texas gamblers can find it at 8 Canal Street in New Orleans and enjoy classic blackjack in its Saints Party Pit. They have spiced up the basic version with Blazing 7’s progressive, Royal 3, and Bonus 3 options.
Coushatta Casino Resort – Louisiana
Located in the town of Kinder in Allen Parish, the Coushatta Casino Resort features three hotels, eleven dining options, an 18-hole championship golf course, and a 100,000 square foot casino. The latter is home to sixty-five croupier tables, including Three-Card Blackjack, 21+3 Blackjack, and the original six-deck version.
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort – Arkansas
Formerly known as the Oaklawn Park Race Track, the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is a gaming complex and racetrack in Hot Springs on 2705 Central Avenue. This venue has been running since 1905, owned by the Cella family, operated through the Oaklawn Jockey Club. The venue’s gaming area is not vast (35,000 square feet), fitting thirty-two table games, running from 11 AM to 6 AM. The Oaklawn Jockey Club aims to make blackjack more exciting by adding a TriLux side-bet that considers the dealer’s up card and the first two cards the player receives. If a player gets one of the listed winning three-card hands, they will win this wager.
Southland Casino and Racing – Arkansas
Another racetrack and casino destination. Unlike the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Southland Casino Racing, located on 1550 North Ingram Blvd in West Memphis, is a greyhound race track, one with a history dating back to 1956. Its owners recently announced that they would cease running dog races by December 2022 to focus on the casino side of things, investing in an expansion project that began in 2019. Southland currently features over two thousand slots and forty-one live tables. They advertise their croupier games as the hottest ones in the South, operating an exclusive high-limit room.
WinStar World Casino and Resort – Oklahoma
Construction on the WinStar World Casino and Resort, a tribal venue in Thackerville, began in 2003, finishing in 2004. It underwent a massive expansion in 2013 and now boasts an added 1000-room hotel tower, 8,600 gambling machines, and one hundred table games. The WinStar is an enormous facility, possessing a 617,000 square foot gaming floor, with its blackjack tables located in its Vienna, Beijing, London, and Regal High Stakes plazas.
Kiowa Casino & Hotel – Oklahoma
The Kiowa are an indigenous people of the Great Plains of the US, nowadays, acting as a federally recognized tribe with headquarters in Carnegie, Oklahoma. They operate three casinos in the Sooner State in Red River, Verden, and Carnegie. All three offer similar six-deck blackjack tables, with a few featuring a 21+3 side bet.
Fire Rock Navajo Casino – New Mexico
There are a few New Mexico casinos that have blackjack tables. One that locals and Texans most seem to fancy is on the historic Route 66 in Church Rock. In 2008, the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise launched the Fire Rock Navajo Casino, a decently sized establishment offering dining, live entertainment, and casino gaming. Its blackjack and Spanish 21 tables are available for play each day, offering varying minimum limits.
About the Author
Shelly Schiff has been working in the gambling industry since 2009, mainly on the digital side of things, employed by OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com. However, over her eleven-year career, Shelly has provided content for many other top interactive gaming websites. She knows all there is to know about slots and has in-depth knowledge of the most popular table games. Her golden retriever Garry occupies most of her leisure time. Though, when she can, she loves reading Jim Thompson-like crime novels.