GAMBLING PROMOTION

Texas Penal Code § 47.03, gambling promotion, targets the operating and profit-taking side of illegal gambling rather than mere participation as a bettor. A person commits the offense by intentionally or knowingly: operating or participating in the earnings of a gambling place; engaging in bookmaking; for gain, becoming a custodian of anything of value bet or offered to be bet; selling chances on the partial or final result of, or margin of victory in, a game or contest, or on the performance of a participant; or, for gain, setting up or promoting a lottery, or selling, offering to sell, possessing for transfer, or transferring tickets or other devices evidencing participation in a lottery. It is a Class A misdemeanor, distinguished from simple gambling under Texas Penal Code § 47.02, which addresses making bets.

Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.

Across 1,556 Texas bail settings for this charge (10 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $2,500 (middle half: $1,000 – $5,000). 19% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 21 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (79 records), the median was $2,000 and 32% got a personal bond.

Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.