Are Skill-Game Apps Legal in Texas?
This page covers skill-game apps you play on your phone in Texas. Skill machines in Texas bars, gas stations and convenience stores are a separate question this page doesn't cover.
Yes, cash play is on in Texas. Skillz, operated by Firy Inc. (NYSE: FIRY), runs our cash matches and has not switched it off there. 11 of our 12 games offer cash matches in Texas; Carrom has none anywhere yet. Next door, Arkansas and Louisiana are on that no-cash list, so cash matches stop when you cross into them. Texas has no state income tax.
That status is Skillz's platform decision for Texas, not a court ruling, and states use different skill-versus-chance tests.
Which Atay games offer cash play in Texas
| Game | Cash play in Texas | US App Store listing, checked Sep 24, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Solitaire Real Cash | Available | Lists 7 states, not Texas |
| Gin Rummy Cash | Available | Lists 7 states, not Texas |
| Ball Pool Cash | Available | Lists 11 states, not Texas |
| Sugar Cash | Available | Lists 5 states, not Texas |
| Word Money | Available | Lists 5 states, not Texas |
| Bingo Prizes | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Texas |
| Block Puzzle | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Texas |
| Bubble Prizes | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Texas |
| Crossword Cash | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Texas |
| Pachinko Cash | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Texas |
| Word Search Cash | Available | No state list printed; Skillz allows Texas |
| Carrom | Free play only | Cash not yet enabled (open beta) |
Play in Texas
Every game plays free first, so Texas players can learn one before any entry fee.
Browse the gamesHow prizes are taxed in Texas
Texas is one of nine states with no state income tax, with Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming. Texas doesn't tax prizes won there, though a home state elsewhere may tax its residents. Federally, prizes are taxable income for Texas players with or without a tax form; see 1099s and Skillz winnings under $2,000.
Cash play in states bordering Texas
Crossing from Texas into Arkansas or Louisiana switches cash matches off.
Questions about skill-game apps in Texas
Can I play Atay games for cash in Texas?
Yes, 11 of our 12 games offer cash matches in Texas. Carrom has no cash play yet.
Does it matter where in Texas I am?
No. Skillz sets eligibility by state from your phone's location, so Houston and Austin get the same answer.
What happens if I cross from Texas into Arkansas?
Cash matches switch off once your phone is in Arkansas. Free play keeps working, and cash play returns when you are back in Texas.
Does Texas tax prizes from skill-game apps?
No. Texas has no state income tax. Federal tax still applies to the prizes, whether or not a tax form arrives.
Texas status per the Skillz help center (eligibility, cash-disabled areas, skill-game legality) and US App Store listings. General information, not legal advice; Skillz can change cash availability.