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Texas regulators have ordered TwinSpires to stop accepting online wagers from residents inside the state, only days after the platform reopened access. The cease and desist action highlights ongoing friction around online horse racing betting in Texas.
Good to Know
TwinSpires, owned by Churchill Downs Inc., quietly resumed taking bets from Texas customers earlier in February. Move marked the first attempt to reenter the market since 2013. Back then, the company left after a federal judge dismissed a legal challenge to Texas restrictions on internet wagering tied to an in person requirement.
Less than a week after reopening, the Texas Racing Commission stepped in. According to Horse Racing Nation, regulators directed the platform to stop processing any online horse or greyhound wagers placed within Texas borders.
The order came from interim executive director David Holmes on Feb. 7. Letter went to Andrew Archibald, president of United Tote, which operates TwinSpires. United Tote and TwinSpires both fall under the umbrella of Churchill Downs Inc.
Holmes instructed United Tote to immediately halt any activity that enables or facilitates electronic wagering through TwinSpires outside the physical boundaries of licensed racetracks in Texas. Texas racing rules limit certain betting activity to on site wagering at approved facilities, and regulators argue online processing from inside the state violates those provisions.
Texas online gambling law remains restrictive compared with other large states. While some jurisdictions allow advance deposit wagering on horse racing, Texas maintains tighter controls tied to racetrack premises. Debate over sports betting legalization and broader online gambling expansion continues in the state legislature, yet no sweeping reform has passed.
Holmes outlined potential penalties if TwinSpires fails to comply. Administrative fines could reach up to $10,000 per violation. Regulators could also suspend or revoke licenses and refer the matter to the attorney general for enforcement action.
Letter further warned that continued operations may expose the company to criminal liability. Concerns include the possibility of facilitating wagering by minors inside Texas.
Churchill Downs Inc. has not publicly detailed next steps following the order. Company previously attempted to challenge Texas restrictions more than a decade ago but withdrew after losing in federal court. Current dispute again places Texas horse racing wagering rules in focus.
Search interest around TwinSpires Texas ban, Texas Racing Commission order, online horse betting Texas, and Churchill Downs wagering platform has climbed since the cease and desist became public. Operators and bettors alike now watch to see whether legal action, compliance, or another strategy follows.