Looks like a bunch of animals have now been rescued and a lot of people have been arrested. Cockfighting Has Been “Illegal” in Texas Since 2011. Since 2011, if you profit from a cockfight, breed cockfighting birds, or own cockfighting paraphernalia you can be charged. Before 2011, you could not be arrested for watching a cockfight in Texas. Basically, if officers became aware of a cockfight the ones running the show got arrested. Everyone else, basically just went home. Nowadays, everyone on the scene gets charged and we had a HUGE cockfight get busted in Potter County, Texas.