Florida may be home to a number of great tribal casinos, but for the time being there is still no legal Florida sports betting. For this reason, instead of using this guide to recommend the best Florida legal online sportsbook, we’ve focused on the current state of gambling laws in Florida.
We’ve provided an overview of the other betting options you can enjoy when in Florida, as well as discussed what the future may bring for sports betting. On this site, we will only ever recommend you only sign up to licensed online bookmakers, so we’ve also explained why you should avoid illegal offshore bookmakers at all costs.
What Betting Options are Legal for Florida Residents
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Florida is no doubt a gambling-friendly state. Residents have long been free to bet on pari-mutuel racing and the lottery, and since the advent of tribal gaming in the late 80s, players can also enjoy slot machines and table games at casinos. Poker is also legal in the state, and talks of expanding current gambling laws means legal Florida online gambling may be a reality soon.
Is Daily Fantasy Legal in Florida?
Although it is not technically legal, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is tolerated by state authorities, and most major online bookmakers such as FanDuel and DraftKings accept players from Florida. For the time being, DFS is probably about as close as it gets to legal online sports betting in Florida.
DFS requires contestants to draft fantasy lineups of players from a sports league within a set budget. Contestants score points based on the performance of their chosen players in that round, and those who score the most points win the prize pool. There are a number of reputable sports betting sites that offer these games.
Are there Legal Offshore Sites for Florida Players
Florida does not have any set of laws that criminalize the use of offshore betting sites such as Bovada and MyBookie. However, this doesn’t mean to say that they are legal. As these sites aren’t licensed by a Florida regulator, they are not trusted sportsbooks. We only suggest signing up for legal websites with government-guaranteed safety and fairness standards.
Casinos
While there may be no legal online sports betting in Florida, the state offers a huge selection of casino games options for its residents and visitors. Some of the best of these are the eight Native American casinos that offer table games, slot machines and world-class entertainment.
We particularly recommend the guitar-shaped Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. Florida also allows for slot machines and some table games at its racetracks, giving them the nickname of Racinos. These gaming facilities are not run by the tribes, meaning that tribes technically have no gaming exclusivity in Florida.
Racetrack Betting
Florida is known as being one of the best horse racing destinations in the world and is home to world-class tracks such as the Tampa Bay Downs Racecourse. At these racecourses, visitors can bet on both live greyhound and horse races that are taking place nationally and internationally.
As mentioned above, racetracks in the state also provide some great casino-style gambling opportunities. Horse racing in Florida is regulated by a state division of pari-mutuel wagering to ensure that the industry is efficient and fair, making it a safe betting option until legal online sports betting in Florida is allowed.
Card Rooms
If you’re looking for endless poker fun, then Florida is the state for you. There are hundreds of poker tables across the state located in card rooms at racinos, casinos, and individual card room establishments. These host everything from small games to huge tournaments with staggering jackpot prizes.
Poker games can be enjoyed 7 days a week, and the state even allows for no-limit games. As there is technically no law making online poker illegal in the state, some people choose to play online. However, like online sports betting, we suggest waiting for a licensed online casino before you trust an offshore site with your money.
Nearby States with Legal Sports Betting
Until there is a Florida legal online sportsbook available, state residents are free to travel to other states where sports betting is legal to place bets. Unfortunately, there are no bordering states that offer sports betting yet, though if it comes to betting on a major game like the Super Bowl, why not make a holiday of it?
Below, we’ve listed the closest states to Florida that offer legal sports betting.
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
What would Legal Sports Betting in Florida Look Like
Currently, Florida’s lawmakers are trying to come to an agreement with the tribes to decide on the terms of a sports betting bill. The tribes are unsatisfied by the proposal to allow non-tribal interests to offer sports betting, as they want their physical casinos to be the only sportsbooks in the state.
Once a Florida sports betting agreement is made, the bill will then have to be approved in a voter referendum, so the likelihood of sports betting will depend on if voters want further gambling expansion. All of these issues may mean that legal online sports betting in Florida may not happen for some time.
For the time being, you may be tempted to place bets at offshore bookmakers. In our experience, we have found that the safest betting sites are those that are regulated by state licensing agencies. These ensure that vulnerable players such as underage and problem gamblers are protected, and demand a certain degree of fairness.
It may seem that Florida sports betting legalization is a long shot, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. Both the tribes and lawmakers understand that there is money to be made from legal sports betting, and there are doubtless millions of Floridians wanting to bet on major sports leagues teams such as the Miami Dolphins or Miami Heat.
What are the Florida Gambling Laws
Florida’s history is dotted with huge milestones that have led it to have one of the richest gambling cultures in the United States. In fact, Florida sports betting was first legalized in 1932, though this was later repealed by subsequent governments. It was also the first place to allow for legal Native American gaming.
The Florida Lottery was established in 1986 and has since grown to be incredibly popular. Slot machines were legalized in 2004 at Seminole Tribal gaming facilities, resulting in an explosion of casino gaming popularity. This was boosted in 2010 when the $2 limit on poker games was lifted.
In many respects, Florida offers a gambling experience that few other states do. Aside from sports betting, players can enjoy almost all forms of popular gambling activities. Additionally, where many states’ tribal casinos are located in reservations away from large populations, a number of Florida’s casinos exist in major metropolitan areas.
| Betting Type | Law |
|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Online Casino | Not Legal |
| Poker | Legal |
| Racetrack Betting | Legal |
| Florida Gambling Age | 18+ for Lotto, Poker, Racing. 21+ for Table Games, Electronic Gaming Machines |
Florida laws stipulate that players must be over the age of 18 to participate in the lottery, place bets on pari-mutuel races, or to legally play poker. As alcohol is served in most casinos, players need to be over 21 to enjoy table games and electronic gaming machines in Florida.
It’s likely that if in-person sports betting or legal online sports betting comes to Florida, players will need to be over the age of 18 to bet. However, this will all depend on where betting is available, as 18-year-olds can bet at Racinos freely but may have difficulty at a Seminole tribal casino.
What is the Future of Sports Betting in Florida?
For the time being, it seems as though legal sports betting in Florida may take a few more years to materialize. This is because there are major disagreements between the current state governor and the tribes. Even when an agreement is made, a strong campaign will need to convince state voters to approve it.
Nevertheless, if legal online sports betting in Florida happens, we have no doubt that it will be one of the most popular legal sport betting states in the country, as the state is represented in every major sports league. For the time being, bettors will need to travel out of state to safely and legally place sports bets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any more questions about Florida sports betting and whether or not you are able to make legal online bets? In this section, we have answered a number of questions that are commonly asked about Florida gambling laws.
Is online gambling and sports betting legal in Florida?
Both online gambling and sports betting are not legal in Florida. Although there is no law that technically says they are illegal either, the lack of legalization means these activities are not licensed. For this reason, there is nothing stopping dangerous websites from taking advantage of players and ripping them off.
What is the Florida legal gambling age?
This depends on what you bet on. There are two minimum gambling ages in Florida. Firstly, players must be over the age of 18 to gamble at racetracks, to play poker, to sign up for DFS or to play the lottery. Players must be over the age of 21 to play at the state’s Seminole gaming facilities.
Are offshore bookmaker sites legal and safe?
Though offshore bookmakers are not technically illegal, this does not mean that they are safe. Any website that accepts players from unlicensed or illegal markets is not trustworthy, as it proves that they are more concerned about profiting than respecting local laws.
Can I use the FanDuel or DraftKings app in Florida?
Players can use both FanDuel and DraftKings in Florida, making them the closest thing to a legal Florida sports betting app available. However, players can only use them to play daily fantasy sports, with their sportsbook functions disabled in the state until legal online sports betting in Florida is legalized. So it is currently not possible to bet on NFL until new laws are put in place.