The 2026 NFL Playoffs will begin with Wild Card weekend on Saturday, January 10th. The Houston Texas are the lone Texas team in the playoffs after the Cowboys struggled to a 7-9-1 record this season.
The Texans finished second in the AFC South with an impressive 12-5 record. They will play on the road in Pittsburgh on Monday, January 12th for their Wild Card game.
On this page I will look at the popular bets you can make on an NFL playoff game and explain where you can bet.
Where To Bet
Sports betting is not legal in Texas. Legalizing it would require a constitutional amendment approved by lawmakers and voters. Licensed sportsbooks in neighboring states are an option if you travel there, since you must be physically located in a legal state to place a bet.
Other options include prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, daily fantasy sports apps where they are available, and offshore sportsbooks, which accept US customers but are not licensed or regulated by any state. Our guide to sports betting in the USA breaks down every option.
NFL Betting in Texas
It is not currently legal to operate a sportsbook in the state of Texas. No progress was made this past year (2025) and the Texas Legislature only meets every other year, so it will now be 2027 at the earliest that sports betting is regulated in Texas.
Currently, Texas residents can still place bets on the NFL Playoffs through offshore sportsbooks that are licensed and regulated outside of the USA, while accepting American bettors.
2026 Super Bowl Winner Odds
Here are the odds for the Super Bowl LX winner heading into the 2026 NFL Playoffs (odds from January 8th):
The odds will change as the playoffs progress and teams are eliminated.
Check out our Super Bowl betting in Texas page for more information about betting on the big game.
NFL Playoff Game Betting
The most popular NFL playoff game betting markets are still the point spread, money line (to win), and total (over/under).
Here’s a screenshot of the Texans wild card game vs the Steelers.
Check out our NFL betting in Texas page for more detailed information on these three popular NFL bets.
How To Bet On The NFL Playoffs in Texas – 3 Step Guide
The process is similar on every regulated platform. Follow these three steps to get started.
Step 1. Pick Your Betting Option
From Texas, where there are no licensed sportsbooks, prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket and daily fantasy apps are the main options for the NFL playoffs. If you travel, licensed sportsbooks in nearby Louisiana and Arkansas take bets while you are inside those states.
Step 2. Sign Up and Fund Your Account
Open an account with the platform you picked and complete its identity check, which usually asks for the last four digits of your Social Security number. Then make a deposit, most commonly with a debit card or bank transfer, and check how withdrawals work before you send any money.
Step 3. Place Your NFL Playoff Bets
Open the NFL section and look for the NFL playoff odds. Pick a market such as a playoff game’s spread, money line or total, or a futures bet on the Super Bowl winner, add it to your bet slip, and review the payout before confirming. Only bet what you can afford to lose, and use the deposit limits most regulated platforms offer. Free, confidential help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Tagged With : NFL Betting • NFL Playoffs • Texas betting