Understanding Florida Betting Laws

In-Person Betting In FL

Local players in the Sunshine State who have reached the age of 21 can visit a local Class III casino and play Vegas-style games at Hard Rock Casinos, run by the Seminole Tribe. The Indian Gaming Act of 1988 allowed all federally recognized tribes to construct gaming facilities on their lands. There are a few racinos attached to pari-mutuel facilities in South Florida that offer poker and slots as well.

There are also in-person sportsbooks located within the Tampa and Hollywood Hard Rock Casinos.

• Florida Statute 285.710 authorizes the signed gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe and the state that allows them to offer land-based casinos, and in-person and mobile sportsbooks.
• Florida Statute 285.710 also permits blackjack and games of chance (craps and other dice games, roulette) to be offered in tribal casinos.

Florida has numerous poker rooms where players can pull up to a table at 18 years old. Anyone eighteen or older can also partake in horse race betting at the state's racetracks, as well as Jai Alai wagering at a few locations in South Florida. Technically, betting on in-person greyhound races remains legal, although the sport has been phased out due to a lack of popularity.

18 is also the minimum age to play bingo or purchase lottery tickets in FL.

• FL Statute 849.086 permits local poker rooms to exist that offer poker games and dominoes to anyone aged 18 and up.
• FL Statutes 550.375 & 550.3551 legalize in-person and off-track pari-mutuel wagering in the state and jai alai betting for anyone over 17.
• FL Statute 849.09 provides that the Florida Lottery shall be the only operator in the state and that the minimum age to purchase tickets is 18.

Florida Online Gambling Laws

At this time, the only local online gambling that is allowed within the state of Florida is web-based sports betting. The Seminole Tribe of Florida offers online sports betting through the Hard Rock Bet sportsbook application and holds a monopoly on the sportsbook industry within the state.

• Florida Statute 285.710 upholds all agreed-upon gaming compacts between the state and the Seminole Tribe of FL.

As long as the Seminoles hold a gambling monopoly in FL, domestic online casinos are not likely to become legal. In the few states where iGaming has become legal, local casinos have experienced extreme losses of business, resulting in a reduction of workforce and some locations ceasing operations.

There are no state or federal laws that prohibit FL-based players from visiting and engaging in gambling activity at offshore-based websites that are legally licensed, certified, and regulated by a legitimate governing jurisdiction. These legal Florida online casinos attempt to mimic the land-based casino and sportsbook experience in a virtual, online version.

Casino Laws In Florida

The current gaming compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida allows the tribe to operate six casinos on their lands. These locations permit anyone 21 or older to enter and play slots, table games (blackjack, craps, roulette), poker, and bet on sports. There are locations in Tampa, Immokalee, Coconut Creek, Okeechobee, and Hollywood.

There are also a few racetrack casinos that include cardrooms, table games, slots, and local and off-track pari-mutuel betting located near Hallandale Beach, Miami Gardens, Dania Beach, Hialeah, Pompano Beach, Port Richey, and Port Canaveral.

State law does not allow for local online casinos to exist. The chances of web-based or mobile casinos becoming legal are slim because of their impact on retail locations. However, locals can access offshore casino sites that are located outside of the country, and many of them accept players aged 18 and up.

Fl law does not address these international gambling sites and have no ability to govern businesses operating in other countries. The sites we recommend here are based offshore and are regulated by their local governments or a gaming commission that oversees iGaming institutions.

Florida Sports Betting Laws

The domestic sports betting industry in the state of FL is entirely controlled by the Seminole Tribe. A 2021 revision to the gaming compact between the state and the Seminoles permitted them to operate in-person sportsbooks inside their retail casinos and to provide mobile sports betting via the Hard Rock Bet app. 

The local minimum age to bet on sports is 21, but there are numerous offshore sportsbook sites that will accept players in FL starting at 18. International sports betting sites skirt state and federal gambling laws because they do not reside within the USA. 

These websites are based in countries that permit online sports betting and the acceptance of international customers. They only need to adhere to their local gambling laws, which is why some of them can accept players at 18 instead of the FL minimum age of 21.

Florida Poker Laws

Current law allows for poker rooms to exist in FL and has set the minimum age to play at 18. There are a few cardrooms located throughout the state. Some are standalone, while others are housed within casinos or racetracks. Some of these locations also feature games of real money dominoes.

Domestic online poker is not legal in the Sunshine State for players of any age. There is a chance that it could become legal in the future, but not likely due to the reduction of business it would cause at local cardrooms.

Online poker is legally accessible in FL through the use of offshore gambling sites. Current law does not address these entities, making them a viable option for local players who want to play poker over the web or on their mobile devices.

Many offshore poker sites accept players at the age of 18, but some of them require a minimum age of 21 due to the laws in their country of origin.

Betting On Horse Races

Betting on horse races at area racetracks is legal in FL for anyone 18 and older. Locally hosted races and off-track betting are both legal. Greyhound racing betting is also legal, but only available off-track as no local races are held in the state at this time. There are no locally regulated options for online race betting.

Another legal option for horse race betting is international gambling sites. These online racebooks can accept Floridians because there are no laws that suggest they cannot. These offshore racebooks provide odds for races happening around the planet. They also offer betting on virtual horse races that are created by gaming software and feature randomly generated results, similar to a slot machine.

The Florida Lottery

The state-regulated Florida Lottery can lawfully sell scratchcards and tickets for lottery drawings to anyone 18 and older. They also sell various lottery options via their website. The lottery is managed by the Florida Lottery Corporation and has raised billions for education since it was first established in 1988.

Charitable Gambling (Bingo & Raffles)

Bingo games for real money are legal in FL as long as they are run by a non-profit organization. It is not uncommon to see bingo games hosted by local chapters of the Elks Lodge or similar operations. Raffles are also legal in FL if offered and run by a non-profit organization for the purpose of raising funds.

• FL Statute 849.0931 details the dos and don'ts of legal bingo games in the state.

How Do I Identify Online Gambling Sites Operating Legally Within the Industry?

As we mentioned above, FL betting laws are in place to protect the state's residents. This is why when you head to an offshore web casino or sportsbook, you should ensure that its certification comes from a reputable and respected online gambling license provider, and a thorough review of that particular operation needs to be undertaken. Online betting laws in Florida provide a lot of freedom and possibility for the responsible adult gambler, and due diligence is a key component to successful and secure online gambling.

This guide is very respectful of the law and only recommends gambling sites that are verified to be legitimately operating within the industry as licensed and certified operations that are subject to strict regulatory oversight by a respected governing authority.

Sources:

USA Gambling Laws