Complete Guide to Gambling in Florida

Florida gambling flourishes among people who take advantage of the laws permitting land-based casinos and other betting establishments. In addition, you can wager on your favorite sports and casino games via Florida online gambling sites which cater to the state. Knowing about the scene will make a big difference to you as you set out to make your wagers.

Rank	VA Gambling Site	Deposit Bonus	Products	Get Started
#1	Las Atlantis	280% Up To $14,000	Casino	Visit Site
#2	Wild Casino	250% Up To $5,000	Casino	Visit Site
#3	BetUS	125% Up To $2,500	Sports Casino	Visit Site
#4	BetOnline	50% Up To $1,000	Sports Casino Poker	Visit Site
#5	MyBookie	50% Up To $1,000	Sports Casino	Visit Site

In terms of gambling laws, Florida is relatively advanced compared to other states. The scene continues to rise as legislatures on the local and national level start to ease up even more on restrictions. If you’re looking to do some gambling in the state, you should know what you’re in for before getting settled.

In the following article, we have you covered with this extensive guide to Florida gambling. We’ll take a look at the land-based establishments in the state and go over the online gambling sites you can utilize. On top of that, we’ll explain how to choose the best Florida gambling sites and answer any questions you have about gambling in the Sunshine State.

Best Florida Gambling Sites for 2024

Florida is a big state, and although it features many fine gambling establishments, they can be spaced out throughout hundreds of miles at a time. As a result, the most convenient way to take part in real money gambling in the state of Florida is to do so via online gambling at betting sites.

These sites represent the top of the heap of gambling sites which can be used by those who are either living in Florida or visiting there for a short time. Sites like these are used by people all over the world, as they cater to all locations. That’s because they are legally run and licensed in areas where online gambling is legal.

What Makes These the Best Florida Gambling Sites?

We mentioned above that we’ve done the research necessary to determine that the sites we listed above are the best gambling sites in Florida. But it’s a good idea for you to know what it takes to make our list. The following qualities are found in the best Florida online gambling sites. We ensure that they are well-rounded and can give you the complete online gambling experience.

Security and Safety

It’s hard to stress this too much, especially if you’re new to the online gambling world, but it is crucial that any site that you choose to use for your Florida gambling is one that you can trust. Remember that you’ll be keeping your gambling money there. That money is therefore vulnerable if you leave it with a site that isn’t quite on the level.

All of that can mean disaster if it’s in the wrong hands. That’s why we urge you to make sure that you stick with the Florida gambling sites that we recommend, as they have proven over the years to be safe and secure environments for gamblers.

Experience in the Industry

You might be under the impression that a hot new site is the way to go. But when you go that route, you’re running the risk that the site either won’t know what it’s doing or that it might not have your best interest at heart. More than that, they might not be able to fulfill all the promises that they make.

By contrast, when you choose a site such as BetOnline, an all-purpose casino and Florida sports gambling site, you’re getting one that has been in business since 2004. When a site has that kind of experience, you can feel pretty safe in knowing that they’ve handled the needs of thousands of customers. And that means they’ll be well-equipped to handle yours as well.

Generous Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses are one of the key reasons why you should be using online Florida gambling sites instead of gambling at land-based establishments. The bonuses that online gambling sites can offer are usually much higher than any casino or other brick and mortar establishment could give. It’s something that can really give you a boost as you try to offset the house edge of all gambling games.

For example, if you signed up at Super Slots to play at their Florida online casino, you can get 250% on you first $1,000 deposited and 100% on the next five deposits of up to $1,000. That’s what you might call a running start to your online gambling. And it can make a big difference in your bottom line, especially when the bonuses keep coming when you’re at the site.

Variety of Betting Options

Florida gambling sites often give you a little bit more in terms of a complete gambling experience. When we get to the section about the legality of gambling within the state, you’ll see that you cannot gamble on traditional sports like football or basketball in land-based gambling locations in the state. That is not at all an issue when it comes to Florida online gambling options.

For example, at BetUS, you get all your favorite online casino games. But you also get to partake in sports betting via their fully-functioning sportsbook. In other words, you don’t really have to go anywhere else if you want to satisfy your gambling needs, no matter what they might be.

Mobile Gambling or Dedicated Gambling Apps

Again, this comes down to a convenience factor. Having a site for online gambling in Florida at your disposal ups that convenience a great deal. But you can take that to another level with a mobile betting option or a dedicated mobile gambling app.

Luckily, the sites for real money online gambling in Florida that we’ve listed among the best in the state provide you with that option. Some do so through a mobile version of their site, while others have downloadable apps that can be put directly onto your phone, tablet, or other portable device.

In any case, mobile betting means that you won’t miss out on your action no matter where you are and no matter what time of day it might be.

Banking Flexibility and Security

As we mentioned above, there will be times when you’re not gambling yet you’ll have money parked in a gambling account at the site. That’s when the betting site acts as a kind of de facto bank for you. It’s a dynamic that will also come into play as you make deposits and withdrawals to and from your gambling account.

This sets up the fact that you should look for Florida gambling sites that give you a lot of flexibility. Las Atlantis, for example, is an online casino available to state residents that allows you to deposit or withdraw with credit cards or through cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. As a result, you can choose the banking method that makes the most sense to you in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Rapid Payback of Winnings

As you play at FL online gambling sites, both in terms of casino and real money sports gambling, you’ll likely come up with a few big wins here and there. Even if that’s not the case, you still might come to a point where you want to take some money from your gambling account and get your hands on it. Ideally, your Florida gambling website will make this process as smooth and streamlined as possible.

For example, if you want to withdraw some funds, you should have access to clear guidelines telling you how and when you can do this. And once you make your request for the funds, it should be honored as soon as possible. In that way, you can realize your gambling winnings without having to wait around forever.

Solid Customer Service

There are times when problems or questions might arise when you’re gambling at Florida online casinos or Florida online sports gambling sites. When those times arrive, you’ll ideally have access to customer service that really works hard to help you out. Having that in your corner will allow you to gamble without any angst about problems arising.

When you get help from any Florida betting site, you should be able to play your games and place your bets without having to worry about any issues.

Easy-to-Use Interface

When you log onto a Florida gambling site, figuring out where you need to go shouldn’t be an issue. You should be able to glide from page to page and find exactly what you’re looking for in just a few moments every time you visit the site. That’s also the case if you’re dealing with Florida gambling apps and have to do everything by hand.

On top of that, you should make sure that the site you use is always in working order. If you’re in the middle of a casino game or making a sports bet, you need to have confidence that there won’t be any glitches. The best Florida gambling sites prevent you from having any issues in this department.

Different Types of Florida Gambling Sites

Some Florida gambling sites do it all and bring you every type of gambling you could imagine. Others are more niche-oriented and concentrate on one aspect of the experience. Knowing which type of site you want to use will help save you a lot of time and heartache.

Gambling Laws in Florida

Gambling laws are always changing in the United States, both on state and federal levels. In the case of the state of Florida, they have eased restrictions over the years to allow for more and more legal forms of gambling. It’s a good idea to take an overview of the situation before you get involved in any real money gambling action.

Before we hop into the current gambling laws in Florida, lets check out the history of Florida’s gambling laws.

History of Gambling Laws in Florida

• 1828: A lottery is held to benefit the Union Academy in Jacksonville.
• 1832: All forms of gambling are banned in the region.
• 1931: Gambling essentially begins in the state with the legalization of both horse and dog racing.
• 1935: Slot machines and jai alai are added to the list of gambling options in the state.
• 1937: Slot machine gambling is short-lived, as the law allowing it in the state is repealed.
• 1979: Native American bingo halls are allowed in the state.
• 1986: The Florida State Lottery is legalized in an amendment to the state constitution.
• 1988: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, at the federal level, opens the door for the Seminole Tribe to build casino facilities in Florida.
• 1996: Poker rooms are okay at pari-mutuel wagering facilities (racetracks).
• 2004: The state voters narrowly pass an amendment allowing slot machines at pari-mutuel locations as well.

Florida’s Casino Gambling Laws

There are two main areas where casino gambling has been legalized within the state of Florida. First of all, Indian casinos were legalized in 1988 by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which compelled states to authorize casinos on Native American lands even without an act of the state legislature. The other main area of casino action is based in race tracks within the state that host pari-mutuel wagering, thanks to Florida statute 551.01:

“Any licensed pari-mutuel facility located in Miami-Dade County or Broward County existing at the time of adoption of s. 23, Art. X of the State Constitution that has conducted live racing or games during calendar years 2002 and 2003 may possess slot machines and conduct slot machine gaming at the location where the pari-mutuel permitholder is authorized to conduct pari-mutuel wagering activities pursuant to such permitholder’s valid pari-mutuel permit provided that a majority of voters in a countywide referendum have approved slot machines at such facility in the respective county. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is not a crime for a person to participate in slot machine gaming at a pari-mutuel facility licensed to possess slot machines and conduct slot machine gaming or to participate in slot machine gaming described in this chapter.”

Hence, you have both the commercial casinos connected to racetracks and Indian casinos, most of which are run by the state’s Seminole tribe. That has led to a recent boom within the state in terms of casino revenue. According to numbers accumulated by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, the following occurred at commercial casinos between 2015 and 2024:

• Revenue rose from $531 million to $575 million.
• Revenue did not fall in any of those years from the previous year.
• In 2024, the casinos generated tax revenue of over $200,000.

When it comes to online gambling laws in Florida, it seems like the laws are a bit vague and nothing really stands out. A legal expert parsing the language could probably make a case that online gambling for real money is illegal in the state. But considering that Florida residents are likely to do their online gambling on top gambling websites located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal, it seems unlikely that Florida lawmakers would ever go after these gamblers in any way, shape, or form.

Sports Betting Laws in Florida

The status of sports gambling is very much in flux at the time that we write this. A recent compact between the governor of Florida and the Seminole Tribe seems to have removed a major hurdle from the possible legalization of sports betting. If that goes through, online sports betting is also a possibility, although the compact seems to indicate that it will only happen if the online establishments are on Seminole lands.

The issue is that the state legislature ultimately has to pass a law allowing sports gambling regardless of any compact. As a result, the timeline for when legal sports bets can be placed in the state remains murky. It could be soon, or it could be several years down the road.

In any case, when it does get the go-ahead, expect there to be a brisk business almost immediately. Florida is a robust state when it comes to both college and professional team sports, and it is also the home to many major sporting events in the state. Here are the professional teams that call Florida home:

Poker Laws in FL

Obviously, poker is a big part of the legal casinos that we’ve already mentioned are housed in the state. But there are also card rooms that operate within Florida as well. That comes from Florida Statute 849.086, which reads:

“It is the intent of the Legislature to provide additional entertainment choices for the residents of and visitors to the state, promote tourism in the state, and provide additional state revenues through the authorization of the playing of certain games in the state at facilities known as cardrooms which are to be located at licensed pari-mutuel facilities. To ensure the public confidence in the integrity of authorized cardroom operations, this act is designed to strictly regulate the facilities, persons, and procedures related to cardroom operations. Furthermore, the Legislature finds that authorized games as herein defined are considered to be pari-mutuel style games and not casino gaming because the participants play against each other instead of against the house.”

Note the final statement there about games “against the house” being prohibited. That means no blackjack, baccarat, or other games where it’s you against a dealer or a “house.” But poker doesn’t fall into that category because you’re playing against other players.

Here’s some information about the poker scene in Florida:

• There are more than 400 poker tables in the state.
• Poker can be played at Indian casinos, racetrack casinos, and specialized card rooms.
• Top pro tournaments in the state include the WPT Poker Showdown and several circuit events of the World Series of Poker.

Horse Racing Betting in Florida

Florida was an early adopter of horse racing wagering when it was legalized back in 1931. It was just a year later that Hialeah Park in the state became one of the first to institute a pari-mutuel wagering system. This system bases the odds for various bets on the pools of wagers made, and it is the predominant system of horse racing betting in America today.

Perhaps the most famous of all Florida tracks is Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. This establishment is the winter racing home for many of the top thoroughbreds who are preparing for the spring and summer action ahead. Other race tracks in Florida include:

• Gulfstream Park West in Miami Gardens
• Hialeah Park in Hialeah
• Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa
• Pompano Park in Pompano Beach (this is the lone harness racing track in the state)

Florida Lottery Laws

The Florida Lottery became legal in 1988 thanks to a constitutional amendment that was approved by voters with a comfortable margin. As is the case with most states, a portion of the proceeds would be taken out each year and used to support education within the state. Soon, Florida had instituted an impressive variety of scratch-offs and drawings to entice lottery gamblers.

According to a 2020 article from the Tampa Bay Times, lottery sales are broken up as follows:

• 65% for prizes
• 26.9% for education
• 5.6% for retailer commissions
• 1.4% for ticket vendor fees
• 1.1% for administrative costs

Bingo Laws in Florida

In the state of Florida, bingo is permitted as a fund-raising activity. It’s covered by the state’s statute 849, and it defines the charitable organizations that can host the game as the following:

“Charitable, nonprofit, or veterans’ organization” means an organization which has qualified for exemption from federal income tax as an exempt organization under the provisions of s. 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or s. 528 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; which is engaged in charitable, civic, community, benevolent, religious, or scholastic works or other similar activities; and which has been in existence and active for a period of 3 years or more.”

It’s a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo, but it’s basically a way to say that you can’t run a bingo game in Florida for profit. You can however do so as a way of raising money for a charity. That puts Florida in line with most US states in this matter.

Chartable Gaming Laws in FL

Charitable gaming in Florida is covered in the same Florida statute section 849 as bingo. It prohibits individuals from conducting any kind of lottery or bingo action on their own. But there is a provision for charities to have these games:

“None of the provisions of this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or prevent charitable, nonprofit, or veterans’ organizations engaged in charitable, civic, community, benevolent, religious, or scholastic works or other similar endeavors, which organizations have been in existence and active for a period of 3 years or more, from conducting bingo games, provided the entire proceeds derived from the conduct of such games, less actual business expenses for articles designed for and essential to the operation, conduct, and playing of bingo, are donated by such organizations to the endeavors mentioned above. In no case may the net proceeds from the conduct of such games be used for any other purpose whatsoever. The proceeds derived from the conduct of bingo games shall not be considered solicitation of public donations.”

Florida’s Social Gaming Laws

In terms of social gaming laws in the state of Florida, they are somewhat restrictive in terms of the level of action that they allow. In Statute 849 of the state’s law code, gambling is prohibited on premises unless the following is true about “penny-ante games.”

“ ‘Penny-ante game’ means a game or series of games of poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes, or mah-jongg in which the winnings of any player in a single round, hand, or game do not exceed $10 in value.”

Other restrictions include the following:

• The person hosting must not receive a commission.
• The person hosting must not charge admission.
• The person must host in a dwelling and not a place of business.
• The host mustn’t solicit participants or advertise their game.
• No one under 18 must be permitted to play.

In other words, if you do want to have a home poker game or something like that in Florida, you should keep it small. If you try to pump it up, you do run the risk of legal issues should the authorities find out about it.

Where to Gamble in Florida – List of Florida Gambling Venues

As we mentioned above, there’s a number of different gambling operators within the state of Florida, from card rooms to casinos. While new establishments are always opening and others are closing, it’s a good idea to know where you can get your legal action. Here is a partial list.

Click Here to View the Full List of Places to Gamble in Florida

Commericial Florida Casinos

The Big Easy Casino

831 N Federal Hwy

Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Calder Casino

21001 NW 27th Ave

Miami Gardens, FL 33056

Casino Miami

3500 NW 37th Ave

Miami, FL 33142

The Casino @ Dania Beach

301 E Dania Beach Blvd

Dania Beach, FL 33004

Gulfstream Park Casino

901 S Federal Hwy

Hallandale, FL 33009

Hialeah Park Racing and Casino

100 E 32nd St

Hialeah, FL 33013

Isle Casino Pompano

777 Isle of Capri Circle

Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Magic City Casino

450 NW 37th Ave

Miami, FL 33125

Tribal Casinos in Florida

Miccosuke Resort & Gaming

500 SW 177th Ave

Miami, FL 33194

Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee

506 S 1st ST

Immokalee, FL 34142

Seminole Casino Brighton

17735 Reservation Rd

Okeechobee, FL 34974

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

5550 NW 40th St

Coconut Creek, FL 33073

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

1 Seminole Way

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

5223 Orient Rd

Tampa, FL 33610

Seminole Classic Casino Hollywood

4150 N State Rd 7

Hollywood, FL 33021

Florida Poker Rooms

• bestbet Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL
• bestbet Orange Park in Orange Park, FL
• Bonita Springs Poker Room in Bonita Springs, FL
• Casino Fort Pierce in Ft. Pierce, FL
• Creek Entertainment Gretna in Gretna, FL
• Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club in Daytona Beach, FL
• Derby Lane Poker Room in St. Petersburg, FL
• Ebro Poker Room in Ebro, FL
• Melbourne Greyhound Park in Melbourne, FL
• Ocala Gainesville Poker in Reddick, FL
• One-Eyed Jacks in Sarasota, FL
• Orange City Racing and Card Club in Orange City, FL
• Oxford Downs Poker Room in Summerfield, FL
• Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, FL
• Pensacola Greyhound Track in Pensacola, FL
• Silks @ Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, FL
• TGT Poker and Racebook in Tampa, FL

Florida Gambling Online vs. Gambling in a Casino

We’ve given you the lowdown on the different types of land-based gambling establishments that you can find in the state of Florida. And we’ve also told you a little about the online gambling world in the state. Let’s take a look now at how the two entities stack up against each other, which might help you choose if you’re trying to decide between the two formats.

Florida Gambling FAQ

What Is the Future of Online Gambling in Florida?

As we write this article, it’s very possible that there are things being discussed somewhere in the state of Florida that can change up the landscape. It’s always a very malleable situation, with proponents of widening the boundaries or online gambling going up against opponents. Here are some future developments that you might encounter if you’re a Florida gambler.

• One potential issue that is causing controversy in the state is the possibility that Florida race tracks will no longer be a necessity for a gambling license in the state. That could make it easier for an online site to step into the void if the state starts to allow them to be licensed in the state. Such a development would likely to major damage to horse racing tracks, however, as they tend to depend on the casinos for their purses.
• It seems just a matter of time for sports betting to break through and be legalized within the state. Whether that means that online sports betting companies located within the state are in the future remains to be seen. But it should open up the playing field, figuratively and literally, in the state.
• Mobile betting figures to continue to grow by leaps and bounds. It’s a fertile field that hasn’t yet reached anywhere near its saturation point in the state. Look for a greater emphasis on mobile bonuses to draw more gamblers to this sphere.

Final Words on Gambling in Florida

We hope that this Florida gambling overview gives you a better idea what gambling is like in the state, both in person and via online real money gambling sites. If you’re going to be putting money on the line, you should know as much about the landscape as you possibly can. In that way, you’ll be able to make the best decisions about what types of gambling in the state suit you best.