FloridaBetting.com is the leading source of information on where to bet in Florida, including sports, fantasy, and horse racing betting.
We rate and review online gambling sites and mobile betting apps that are licensed to operate in the state of Florida. Our team of experts also offers a complete database of information on Florida casinos, race tracks, poker rooms, lotteries, and off track betting facilities in the state of Florida.
Best Legal Florida Betting Sites
Some of the top Florida betting sites are good for real money sports betting, but their mobile casino options leave something to be desired. BetOnline offers a good selection of mobile casino games for FL players, and I like the efficient, straightforward functionality. BetOnline Review. Visit BetOnline.
Florida Daily Fantasy Sports Sites
- Florida Sports Betting At this time legalized sports wagering has not made its way to Florida. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned on May 14, 2018, allowing each state in the country to propose and create their own laws and regulations for sports betting.
- New legislation seeks to legalize sports betting in Florida Florida. By: Jake Stofan. Posted: Dec 30, 2020 / 04:07 PM EST / Updated: Dec 30, 2020 / 04:49 PM EST.
- Currently, Florida online sports betting is not available. This means that you can’t find Florida online sportsbooks (or online casinos) legally operating in this state. However, things could change in the future, as there has been recent developments as sports betting talks have begun with the Seminoles.
- Legal Online Sports Betting Age in Florida. Sports betting is currently illegal in Florida, regardless of age. The minimum age for other forms of gambling is either 18 (e.g. For horse racing) or 21 (e.g. For land-based casinos) so, if sports betting.
Florida Horse Racing Betting Sites
Sports Betting in Florida
- Where to Bet on Sports in Florida – while sports fans wait for legalized sports betting in Florida, residents have access to the most popular daily fantasy sports app – which are an entertaining real money alternative.
- Daily Fantasy Apps that are allowed in Florida – both Draft Kings and Fan Duel are accessible to anyone in FL, we love both brands for various reasons and highly recommend creating an account at both!
Most forms of sports betting are outlawed in Florida with the only exceptions being parimutuel horse racing, greyhound racing (until 2021) and jai alai. We’ll dig into those activities further down this page, but the main thing to note is traditional sports betting is not permitted.
The odds of Florida gaming laws to authorize sports betting are low over the near future, but there are reasons to be optimistic. Some lawmakers are now in support of legalizing sports betting and have introduced legislation to that end.
In November 2019, Senator Jeff Brandes introduced SB 968 seeking to authorize two forms of sports betting:
- Retail sportsbooks operated by the state lottery
- Online and mobile betting platforms operated by commercial enterprises (such as DraftKings, William Hill, etc.)
Any bill that attempts to legalize Florida sports betting in any form will have to overcome two key hurdles.
First, the passage of Amendment 3 in 2018 has removed the legislature’s ability to expand gambling anywhere in Florida. Now, any gambling expansion must be approved by 60% of the voting public via statewide referendum. Some have made the argument that Amendment 3 may not actually apply to sports betting, but gaming opponents argue otherwise.
The outcome of that debate will either make it fairly easy for the Florida legislature to approve sports betting or significantly complicate the process by requiring statewide voter approval.
Second, the state’s gaming tribes hold considerable sway in all gambling matters and have said they’re not seriously considering sports betting at this time.
The closest alternative to sports betting in Florida right now is daily fantasy sports (DFS). Major DFS sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings are open for business in Florida and allow players to wager and win real money in one-day fantasy sports contests.
Horse Racing in Florida
Horse racing is a major industry in Florida and the state is home to numerous tracks that hold races year-round. Thoroughbred, quarter horse and harness racing are conducted in the South Florida area year-round at various tracks while thoroughbred races are held in the Tampa Bay area from December through May.
Florida horse racing betting is regulated by the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which is a subdivision of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Parimutuel wagering is permitted in-person at licensed racetracks, online at licensed florida betting sites and at licensed ADW outlets located across the state.
- Tracks
- Off Track Betting Facilities
- Mobile and Online Options
Greyhound Racing in Florida
Florida is home to eleven active greyhound tracks and state law permits parimutuel greyhound betting. However, that is all set to change starting on January 1st, 2021. The fate of greyhound betting was decided by voters in the November 2018 midterm elections with a ballot initiative that asked the public if the state should outlaw greyhound racing.
Amendment 13 needed a 60% or greater yes vote in the election and easily cleared that with a final vote of 69% in favor and 31% against. With that vote, live greyhound racing will be prohibited beginning in 2021. Additionally, it will be prohibited to wager on live grey hound races held in Florida.
One bit of good news for greyhound racetrack operators is Amendment 13 included a decoupling measure that will allow the tracks to continue to offer other forms of gambling even after live racing is discontinued in 2021.
Under current Florida gambling law, racetracks are required to hold a minimum number of live races every year in order to offer other, more profitable forms of gaming. That is set to change with the decoupling measure.
Existing racetracks will still be able to offer those games, but nevertheless the long-term future is clear: greyhound racing will slowly wither and die in Florida. While existing racetracks continue forward as long as they can, no new tracks will be built and eventually the whole industry that once lived around greyhound racing will crawl to a stop.
Racing fans will still be allowed to bet on races held in other states via simulcasting, but greyhound racing as it occurs in Florida has a clear expiration date: 1 January 2021. Horse racing betting and online greyhound betting will be unaffected.
Poker, Slots, Blackjack, and Casino Games in Florida.
Florida is home to many casinos with slots, blackjack, roulette, craps and other standard gambling games. The types of games offered at any one casino vary depending on where that casino is located and who runs it due to a complex myriad of state laws, county laws and tribal gaming compacts.
There are three major types of casinos in Florida: tribal casinos, parimutuel facilities or “racinos” with attached casinos, and excursion casinos located on cruise ships.
Tribal casinos offer the most game variety of all land-based casinos in Florida. The Seminole tribe has exclusive rights to offer slots, blackjack and other casino-backed card games. The Miccosukee Tribe operates one casino in Florida, but otherwise the Seminoles dominant Florida tribal gaming.
Horse tracks, greyhound racing tracks and jai alai frontons are permitted to offer poker and video gambling machines such as electronic blackjack and electronic roulette. Additionally, racetracks and jai alai frontons located in Broward County and Miami-Dade County are allowed to host slot machines.
Cruise ship casinos offer the greatest variety of gambling options in Florida because they navigate to international waters where they may offer all types of casino games and sports betting.
Florida once had multiple cruise ship casinos to choose from, but the industry has hit hard times and now just a single cruise ship casino operates in the state. Victory Casino Cruises still sail seven days a week on five and six-hour excursions from Port Canaveral.
Florida Lotteries
Florida lotto games can be played in three main formats – draw games, scratch off games, and fast play games. A legal framework for a Florida online lottery does not exist, so players will have to visit an authorized retailer to purchase tickets in person.
Many states have legalized online lotteries and we hope Florida legislators will do so soon.
Florida Gambling Laws Explained
Most forms of land-based gambling are legal in Florida. The state has legal poker rooms, casinos, racing, jai alai betting and even sports betting if you count the casino cruise ship that travels to international waters every day.
Online betting in Florida is also allowed in the form of daily fantasy sports and online racing betting. Online sports betting, casino games and poker are prohibited – but we are hopeful that will change soon.
Where it gets confusing is understanding exactly when and where the various forms of gambling are legal in Florida. A combination of state law and tribal gaming compacts restrict certain types of gambling to certain locations.
We’ll dig into the details on another page, but the key points to understand Florida gambling laws follow:
- Horse racing tracks, greyhound racing tracks and jai alai frontons may offer racing/jai alai betting and host player-vs-player poker games
- In Miami-Dade County and Broward County only, those same facilities may also operate slot machines and electronic table games not run by human dealers
- The Seminole Tribe of Florida has the exclusive right to offer slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties
- The Seminole Tribe of Florida has the exclusive right to offer house-backed card games such as blackjack, baccarat and three card poker run by human dealers
- The Miccosukee Tribe is permitted to offer slots and poker at its casino in Miami
The Seminole gaming compact plays an important role in shaping Florida betting law and the tribe holds considerable sway over lawmakers due to the amount of money it pumps into state coffers every year.
- Seminole Tribe: Florida’s largest gaming tribe and operates six casinos. The Seminoles pay the state more than $300 million a year in return for the exclusive right to offer dealer-operated card games such as blackjack and to be the only provider of slots outside of Miami-Dade County and Broward County
- Miccosukee Tribe: Operates one casino in Miami with slots, poker and bingo. The Miccosukee Tribe has refused to pay taxes on gaming revenues for years and is now fighting the federal government over a $1 billion tax bill
Legal Sports Betting Online Florida
The sport of jai alai is unique to Florida in the USA and although the industry has certainly seen better days, there are still a few places to bet on jai alai. For the most part, jai alai serves as a means for Miami-area casinos to stay compliant with state law that requires gambling venues to host horse races, greyhound races or jai alai matches.
Actual jai alai betting is somewhat rare, but the following facilities do still support jai alai betting markets:
- The Casino at Dania Beach: Evening matches Wednesday – Sunday at 7 PM, matinee matches Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 PM
- Magic City Casino: Matches every Wednesday – Sunday at 3PM and 7PM
- Casino Miami: Weekend matches at 12PM and 7PM (seasonal availability only)
- King’s Court Jai Alai & Poker Room: Jai alai coming June 2019
Choosing Where to Bet Online in Florida
The online sports betting industry is already full of options and increasing all the time. We want to give you more information on what to look for when choosing a sportsbook to bet with. There are a few things to consider when finding the right sportsbook for you.
What to consider when choosing a sportsbook
So what should you be looking for from an online sportsbook?
One of the main points to check is the sports markets available from the bookmaker. You want to make sure that they offer bets for your preferred sports. Once you have ascertained this, you should also check out the bet types on offer. Again, you want to know that a sportsbook is offering the wagers you would choose.
Online Sports Betting Reviews
With the online sportsbook industry being so competitive, you can find many bonus offers available at bookmakers. These will often be sign-up offers, and sometimes recurring bonuses such as free bets. Once you’ve found a sportsbook, check out the bonuses that they offer. Make sure that you’re benefiting from placing bets with that bookmaker.
One last thing to take note of is the operator’s terms and conditions. This includes things like wagering requirements, deposit and withdrawal fees, and any limits for certain payment methods. Don’t sign up for a sportsbook that isn’t offering you transparent and fair options.
Registering to an online sportsbook
Registering to most online sportsbooks is a straightforward process.
- Once you’ve found one that suits your preferences, you will need to fill in some basic details to create your account. This will usually involve your name, age, and address.
- Often, you will also need to provide some proof of identification, in the form of a photo of your ID, passport or driving license. You may also be asked for proof of billing address in the form of a recent bank statement or utility bill.
- Once your account is set up and verified, you’ll be able to start placing your bets!
Understanding Sports Betting Odds
Sportsbook odds are the way that bookmakers tell you how much money you will make from winning a bet. It’s always important to check what odds are available and make sure you’re getting the best offer. Odds can be displayed in a few different ways, as we’ve explained below.
Decimal Odds
Decimal odds are also known as European odds. They are most commonly seen at sportsbooks based in Europe, Australia, and Canada. They are straightforward to understand and compare and are therefore a preferred representation for many sportsbooks around the world.
The odds shown for decimal odds represent the profit you would make from a bet of $1. So the formula for calculating the winnings is as follows:
Stake x Odds = Payout.
For example, if you place a successful $100 bet at odds of 2.75, then the calculation would be:
100 x 2.75 = $275.
Therefore, you would make a profit of $175 on a successful bet.
Fractional Odds
Fractional odds are the original form of odds used in horse racing bets. They are most commonly used in UK or Ireland based casinos.
Fractional odds represent the profit yielded, without the inclusion of the original stake. The denominator represents the amount wagered, and the numerator represents the potential profit, so they would be written as follows:
profit/stake
As an example, let’s say you’re betting on a football game with 10 to 15 fractional odds. This means you would win $10 for a successful bet of $15. Below is an example with a wager of $150:
Odds 10/15: $150 bet + $100 profit = $250 winnings.
American Odds
American odds are the ones you will see the most on sites that offer betting in Florida. These are also known as moneyline odds. American odds are the easiest to understand and compare. The odds shown represent the amount of money required to make a profit of $100.
In the odds for each match, one team will be the favorites and one team the underdogs. The odds for the favorites will be prefixed with a minus (-) and the odds for the underdogs will be prefixed with a plus (+). The higher the number for the favorite, the more likely their chances of winning. The higher the number for the underdogs, the less likely their chances of winning.
If the favorite odds are -$150, then you need to bet $150 to win $100. If the underdog odds are set at +300, then you would win $300 on a successful wager of $100. So remember, for favorite odds you are risking that amount to win $100, and for underdog odds you are risking $100 to win that amount.
Types of Bets
While some sportsbooks will offer special bets for certain events, there are several common bet types that you will find available for most events. We have listed these for you to have an idea of what’s on offer:
Win Bets
These are by far the most common and most wagered bet available. This is the traditional bet where you simply select which player or team you are expecting to win the match.
Point Spreads or Straight Bets
These are a popular bet in the US, and you will find many on offer at Florida sportsbooks. With these bets, the bookmaker will decide on a point spread for both the favorite and the underdog.
The favorite needs to win by a greater margin than the spread for a successful bet. The underdog needs to either win or lose by less than the margin for a successful bet.
Handicap Betting
This form of betting is intended to either increase your chances of winning, but at lower odds, or lower your chances of winning, but at higher odds.
The bookmaker will offer some different options for handicap bets. This will usually involve awarding ‘extra goals’, or removing goals from the final score to change the outcome of the match. Each handicap option will have its own, adjusted odds.
Mobile Betting Apps
Many sportsbooks nowadays will also offer a downloadable app. This will allow you to view the available odds and place your bets from your iPhone or Android device. Most apps will also be available for android devices.
Using a mobile app is a great way to take your online sportsbook on-the-go. It can be especially useful when placing live bets, as you can place your wagers from wherever you are. Some sportsbooks will also offer live streaming of matches through their mobile apps.
Types of Sports to Bet on in Florida
There are many types of sports available to bet on at online sportsbooks. The following sports are those most popular with online bettors in Florida.
Bet on Football
Many sportsbooks will offer a huge range of betting markets for American football. This is the most popular sport for bettors in Florida and the US. You can find betting lines both for Professional level teams and for college football tournaments within the state. There will be a huge range of bet types offered for the majority of football games.
Bet on Basketball
Again, you can find betting lines available for both professional and college basketball tournaments. Basketball is another huge market for US online sportsbooks. You can also find plenty of bet types available for basketball. You will be able to bet on the top Florida teams, including Gainesville Galaxy and the Jacksonville Giants.
Bet on Baseball
Florida has a plethora of teams for Baseball, and all bettors will want the opportunity to back their favorite. Luckily, this is another popular sport at US bookmakers. You will be able to find various bets available on games with the Jacksonville Suns, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and the Bradenton Marauders, among others.
Sports Betting Bonuses
All online sportsbooks will offer some kind of bonus to entice or hold onto their customers. These will range from matched deposits to free bets, to bonus cash. It’s always worth checking the current bonuses on offer from a sportsbook, especially when you’re signing up for a new account.
What are welcome bonuses?
Welcome bonuses will be available at the majority of online sportsbooks. These will usually be the most competitive offers available. Sportsbooks want to offer new customers a reason to join them over a competitor.
The most common form of welcome bonus is a matched deposit offer. The bookmaker will offer to give you a percentage of your initial deposit for free. This will then either be available for free bets or can be withdrawn as cash. Bonus money will be subject to wagering requirements, so read the terms and conditions when claiming a bonus offer.
What are Free bets?
Free bets will be offered either as part of a welcome bonus or to continuing customers as a loyalty reward. The sportsbook will offer you a certain amount of money, usually dependent on a deposit, to place on bets.
These allow the customer to have the opportunity to make a profit without losing their stake on an unsuccessful bet. You won’t receive the stake with your winnings on a free bet. The only money you make is profit.
Often, there will be limits on free bets, such as minimum odds or particular types of bets. This is to encourage bettors to try something new or take a bigger risk with their free bet.
What are Risk-free bets?
This is again usually offered to new sportsbook users. If a player places an unsuccessful bet, then the sportsbook will credit them bonus money of the same amount of the wager. This means that if you have a successful bet, you can keep the stake and the profit. However, if you’re unsuccessful, the bookmaker will return your money so you can try again.
Top Florida Sports Betting Events
There are certain events in the sporting season that bettors do not want to miss. We have listed the most popular events for sports bettors in Florida. Make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to back your favorite.
Super Bowl
Most people won’t need to be reminded of the biggest annual event of the National Football League (NFL). The super bowl is enjoyed by spectators around the world and is hugely popular with sports bettors. This is the championship game of the NFL and is played every year between mid-January and early February.
Many online sportsbooks, particularly those that have customers in the US and Florida, will offer special markets for the super bowl. This gives an even wider range of options than usual. Bettors can be very specific in their choices and have the option to try out new betting types for this significant event in the sporting calendar.
NBA Final
Again, this is a huge event for sports bettors. Anyone who regularly bets on basketball will not miss the opportunity to have their say on the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The teams will play the best-of-seven game series, which will decide the league champion.
This is the biggest basketball event of the year. Similarly to football, many sportsbooks will offer special bet types for this event. The odds for these prestigious events are often very competitive, so make sure you’re getting the best offer for your wager.
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship for Major League Baseball (MLB). It is a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champions and the National League (NL) champions.
This series is played by the best basketball teams from two different leagues. These are extremely competitive matches and so offer huge excitement for baseball bettors. Again, you will often find special markets available for World Series bets.
Florida Top Sports Teams
Florida has teams playing in all major league sports. If you’re interested in betting in Florida, it’s natural to want to show support for your local teams. Here, we’ve given you some more information about the top sports teams in Florida, so you can be sure you’re placing the right bets.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the most notable names in American Football. The Jaguars compete in the NFL, playing their home games at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars originally joined the league as an expansion team in 1995. They were winners of the division championships in 1998, 1999, and 2017. They have also qualified for the playoffs on seven separate occasions.
Orlando City S.C.
Soccer in America has been rising in popularity in recent years. The Orlando City Soccer Club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Orlando City SC began playing in 2015, becoming the first Florida MLS team since Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny.
Miami Heat
Miami Heat is Florida’s top NBA basketball team. They began playing as an expansion team in the 1988-89 NBA season. The team gained notoriety throughout the 1990s under head coach Pat Riley, whose trades brought the team four division titles in the following years. From 2010 until 2016, Miami Heat attended the NBA Finals every year and has won the championship three times.
Payment Methods for Sports Betting in Florida
Online Sports Betting App Florida
Individual online sportsbooks will offer various payment methods for placing betting deposits. However, there are a few payment methods found at most casinos. The most popular payment methods are listed below.
Credit or Debit Cards
The most straightforward and most used form of payment for betting sites. Online sportsbooks will usually support fully secure transactions for both VISA and MasterCard.
Bank Transfer
This is again widely available at online sportsbooks. The downside of bank transfers is that they generally take longer than other methods for withdrawal and deposit.
E-wallets
This is an extremely popular form of payment for online sportsbooks. It includes online payment methods, such as Skrill and Neteller. While a lot of sportsbooks support these methods, they are sometimes excluded from deposit offers.
Prepaid cards
The most common of these is Paysafecard, which you can buy in many local stores. It’s worth knowing that this is only available as a deposit method, and can’t be used for withdrawal.
PayPal
Unfortunately, PayPal isn’t available at all online sportsbooks. However, for those that do support it, it’s an extremely reliable and secure method of payment.
Sports Betting in Florida - the Legal Situation
Face-to-face sports betting is illegal in Florida, due to agreements between the state and the Seminole Tribe. However, placing online bets with bookmakers based outside the state is a grey area in the law. You are not breaking any legal statutes by placing online bets on a variety of sports from the state of Florida.