Game rooms are permitted by state law, as long as they do not contain any illegal gambling devices. State law gives counties the authority to regulate game rooms. Counties are authorized to:

• restrict the location of game rooms to specified areas of the county, including the unincorporated area of the county;
• prohibit a game room location within a certain distance, prescribed by the commissioners court, of a school, regular place of religious worship, or residential neighborhood; or
• restrict the number of game rooms that may operate in a specified area of the county.

Counties are also authorized to adopt regulations that require game rooms to be licensed or permitted. They also have the authority to inspect game rooms in their area.

Note If you suspect someone is running an illegal game room, contact the county sheriff's office where the game room is located to report it.

Texas Law

Understanding the Law