If you came here asking “Is gambling legal in Florida?”, then let’s answer the question: online gambling is legal in Florida. Residents who bet online at a casino site, sportsbook, or play online poker in Florida are neither prosecuted or fined. While United States residents would be prosecuted for launching an online gambling site, they do not face punishment for gambling online. No Floridian has ever been prosecuted for gambling online.
Read this guide to Florida online gambling to learn the history of the state’s gaming laws, along with other pertinent questions about online gambling in Florida. You also can read our list of site reviews for Florida online casinos, sports betting books, and poker sites that you can play at safely and legally.
In a nutshell, this is what we look for when we’re reviewing real money gambling sites. To learn more, visit our how we rate sites page.
We’ve listed our favorite casinos, sportsbooks and poker sites accepting players from Florida below. Pick a site and start playing!
Those who wish to research Florida gambling laws should pay special attention to the following parts of the Florida Statutes. Title XLVI focuses on criminal law, while Chapter 849 focuses on gaming laws and enforcement. We’ve included key excerpts of the law.
Because of federal regulations passed by the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, Native American tribes can host casino gambling on their sovereign reservations if they sign a gaming compact with the state. The Seminole Tribe holds a virtual monopoly over most forms of casino gambling in the state, such as the Seminole Hard Rock Casino (the largest Seminole Casino in the state), though racinos (a racetrack/casino) exist.
Whoever plays or engages in any game at cards, keno, roulette, faro, or other game of chance, at any place, by any device whatever, for money or other thing of value, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Florida does not partake in wagering on unregulated games of skill. Jai-alai is an exception, but most games of skill remain banned under Florida laws.
With all the fantastic sports teams in the state of Florida, there is no wonder why sports betting is so popular in the Sunshine State. You are all set to gamble online in Florida with plenty of gambling options from the pros to the college level. Our sports betting reviews will point you to the safest books with the best sports odds, from the NFL to soccer, golf, hockey, and everything in between.
Online casinos are also very popular in Florida as it is more convenient than going to a land-based casino. Play your favorite online slots and blackjack variants from the comfort of your own home, or where you are with your mobile phone. Our Florida online casino reviews will show you where to go to play.
Finally, online poker in Florida is booming and you can sign up at all the best sites with the best tournaments, most lucrative jackpots and excellent welcome bonuses. Read our online poker reviews to get the best bang for your buck.
For all pari-mutuel betting and poker rooms, the minimum age to bet in Florida is 18. At tribal casinos, the bingo and poker rooms are available if you are over 18, while all other games are 21 and up. Any other gambling has a minimum age of 21.
Again, let us reiterate: you will not go to jail for gambling online in the Sunshine State. As long as you are not running your own online poker sites (or any other card game), operating your own online slot machine or table games, or your own online sports betting book, you are fine online gambling in Florida.
Florida features Native American casinos spread throughout the southern part of the state. There are also numerous racinos with simulcasting, card rooms, and jai alai frontons. The racinos and card rooms are scattered more evenly throughout the Sunshine State. This list will focus on the top full-service casinos in Florida. For now, these locations are unable to offer a full-suite of table games, with options like craps, roulette, and baccarat prohibited.
| Casino | Address | Region |
| Seminole Hard Rock Tampa | 5223 Orient Road Tampa, Florida 33610 |
Tampa Bay |
| Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee | 506 South 1st Street Immokalee, Florida 34142 |
Southwest Coast |
| Seminole Casino Coconut Creek | 5550 NW 40th Street Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 |
Broward County |
| Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood | 1 Seminole Way Hollywood, Florida 33314 |
Broward County |
| Seminole Casino Brighton | 17735 Reservation Road Okeechobee, Florida 34974 |
South Central |
| Seminole Classic Casino | 4150 North State Road 7 Hollywood, Florida 33021 |
Broward County |
| Miccosukee Resort and Gaming | 500 SW 177th Avenue Miami, Florida 33194 |
Miami-Dade County |
| Florida Statutes Section | Chapter 849 of the Florida Statutes covers gambling and related activities. It does not mention internet or online gambling in Florida. |
| Definition of Gambling | The Florida Uniform Crime Reports program defines Gambling as unlawfully betting or wagering money or something else of value; assist, promote, or operate a game of chance for money or some other stake; manufacture, sell, purchase, possess, or transport gambling devices or goods, tamper with the outcome of a sporting event, or contest to gain a gambling advantage, or possess or transmit wagering information. |
| Betting/Wagering Definition | To unlawfully stake money or something else of value on the happening of an uncertain event or on the ascertainment of a fact in dispute. |
| Casino Gambling | Florida is home to some world-class land-based casinos, which are legal. However, these casinos do not allow craps or roulette to be played within them. |
| Poker | Playing poker in Florida is legal if you are playing within a licensed pari-mutuel permitholder establishment. “Penny-ante games” played within your home, where the winnings of any player in a single round, hand, or game do not exceed $10 in value, are also legal. |
| Horse Racing Betting | Betting on horse racing is legal in Florida, but must be done at a licensed facility. |
| Dog Racing Betting | As of December 2020, dog racing is illegal in Florida. |
| Lottery | It is legal to participate in the lottery in Florida as it is regulated by the government. |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Daily fantasy sports are illegal in Florida. A campaign to legalize DFS was started in 2015, but as of 2021 it hasn’t gotten very far. |
| Sports Betting | Sports betting is not mentioned directly in the Florida Statutes, however, bets on any “trial or contest of skill, speed or power or endurance of human[s]” are forbidden. Most sources simply state that sports betting is not legal in Florida. |
| Charitable Gaming | Charitable gambling is able to be offered by nonprofit organizations legally. |
| Social Gambling | Social gambling is strictly prohibited in Florida. As written in the Florida Statutes, “Whoever plays or engages in any game at cards, keno, roulette, faro or other game of chance, at any place, by any device whatever, for money or other thing of value, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.” |
| Online Gambling | Chapter 849 of the Florida Statutes, which covers gambling laws, does not mention internet or online gambling. Online casinos are not permitted to operate from within Florida, but Floridians can gamble online at offshore casinos. No one has ever been arrested or prosecuted for online gambling in Florida. |
Florida has struggled to expand its gambling options for 20 years. Due to a unique combination of stakeholders as well as deep-seated conservative resistance to casinos, lawmakers have been unable to pass comprehensive gambling reform.
In 2019, the Seminole tribe pulled out of its gambling compact with the state government. This is costing Florida hundreds of millions of dollars a year. The Seminoles had won a lawsuit claiming the state did not enforce the Tribe’s exclusive gaming rights. Reinstating the compact is essential to any new gambling legislation.
The Seminole Native American Tribe pulled out of a gambling compact with the state government in 2019.
Until a new compact is renegotiated, Florida will struggle to expanded gambling. On April 13, 2021, the Seminoles rejected Governor Ron DeSantis’ latest offer.
As part of the rejected compact, the Seminole Tribe would have control over regulated sports betting. Florida would have become the largest state with regulated and online sports betting.
While details are unknown, the offer was rejected due to the details of how revenue would have been split between the Tribe and the state.
One interesting sticking point in the 2021 legislative gambling negotiations is billionaire Jeffrey Soffer’s attempt to transfer a casino license to his Fontainebleau Hotel.
The current owner of the Big Easy racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida wants to offer gambling at the historic hotel in Miami Beach. He enlisted lobbying help from Tom Brady and feted lawmakers on his superyacht.
The Miami Beach government adamantly opposes a casino. And the Seminole Tribe would need to sign off on the deal.
Time is running short for a legislative Florida gambling solution in 2021. Though Gov. DeSantis presented the rejected offer as a last attempt, time still remains to iron out differences.
However, any hope for more Florida casinos, Florida online sports betting, or more table games is dwindling.
Online casinos regulated by Florida do not exist, but players can enjoy top offshore online casinos without fear of prosecution. Florida online casino gamblers sign up for offshore online and mobile casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks. Those who register accounts should remember to do their due diligence. Research an online gaming site’s licensing, software, and player reviews.
Yes. Online sports bettors face no threat of prosecution if they engage in real money gambling in Florida. State lawmakers have not regulated and licensed online bookmakers, though, so betting on sports takes place at an offshore sportsbook website. Bettors must do their research for safe, legit sportsbooks, which is why you need to read honest reviews.
Yes. Online card players must bet in the offshore online card rooms, but those who do their due diligence can find safe, reputable poker sites. Florida’s land-based casinos still do not have licensed online poker rooms.
Bovada is the best online sportsbook for Floridians. Bovada offers a $250 bonus on your first deposit with a wagering requirement of 5X Sports/5X Horses/30X Casino. Players have 30 days to clear the wagering requirement. Bovada Sports offers a full range of point spreads, moneyline bets, and prop bets.
The gambling age for pari-mutuel wagers or poker betting in Florida is 18. If you wish to play the slot machines in the casinos, you’ll need to be 21 or older. Jai-alai is open to spectators of all ages, but if you wish to make a bet, you’ll need to be 18. Online gamblers also need to be 18.
Cafe Casino is the best Florida online casino. Cafe Casino features a welcome bonus of up to $2,500 for new players. It also offers over 230 instant play casino games, including over a hundred online slots and dozens of table games.
Ignition Poker is the best cardroom for playing online poker in Florida. Ignition has one of the largest online poker communities in the US gaming market. They are currently offering a combined poker and casino welcome bonus where you can receive up to $3,000 when you make your first deposit with Bitcoin, and up to $2,000 when you make your first deposit with a credit card.
