Florida Casinos

Florida Gambling History

• 1931 – Florida legislature legalizes horse and dog racing by one vote. This act overrode the veto of Gov. Carlton.
• 1932 – Florida legalizes Pari-mutuel betting in the state to generate more revenue during the Great Depression. This milestone helped spur tourism in the state in several places, including Orlando and Tampa, to date. Additionally, the state legalized sports betting in the same year.
• 1935 – Florida state legalized Jai-Alai and slot machines. The law legalizing slot machines would then be repealed later in 1937, resulting in the removal of slot machines in the FL casinos.
• 1970 – Florida legalizes small-stake bingo.
• 1978 – A proposed constitutional amendment that would see the legalization of casino gambling saw the FL voters vote against it by 71%. Gov. Reubin Askew also supported the move.
• 1979 – A high-stake bingo hall was opened in Broward County by the Seminole Tribe after opposing the bingo games limit set in Fla.
• 1986 – Voters voted against another constitutional amendment that would see casino gambling allowed in Florida. Gov. Bob Graham had vowed to fight against the amendment terming casino gambling as a ‘magnet’ for organized crime. The same year saw the lottery approved in the state after FL voters voted to legalize it.
• 1988 – Lottery operations begin in Fla, while Pari-mutuel owners blame the sales made from the lottery as the reason behind their declining business. The same year saw FL pass the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) to give the native tribes any legalized gambling form in FL. Additionally, the act allowed the tribes to augment the games electronically. This meant that they would install lottery video machines in their facilities.
• 1989 – Penny-ante poker legalized at private homes. The requirement was that each pot would not exceed $10. What’s more, the IGRA allowed the building of poker rooms on tribal lands.
• 1996 – FL legalized poker betting, this time on pari-mutuel facilities. The $10 pot requirement was still in place here.
• 2003 – Poker betting limits on pari-mutuel facilities raised to $2 with a three-raise limit.
• 2004 – Slot machines made a comeback after FL voters approved a constitutional amendment by 50.8%. The slot machines would be hosted at the pari-mutuel facilities in two counties (Broward and Miami-Dade). Additionally, the IGRA allowed the installation of slot machines in Seminole Tribe facilities in three counties (Hillsborough, Collier, and Broward).
• 2007 – No-limit Texas Hold’em and No-limit poker tournaments legalized in Florida. In addition, the poker betting limit in pari-mutuel facilities rose from $2 to $5.
• 2010 – A gambling compact reached between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe would give the tribe rights to slot machines not in Broward and Miami-Dade pari-mutuel facilities. Additionally, the compact would see slot machines, baccarat, and blackjack games hosted in tribal facilities. The same year saw no-limit poker passed.
• 2018 – Live dog racing (greyhounds) banned in Florida after reports of animal abuse and drugging. The ban did not affect horse racing betting.

Is it Legal to Gamble Online in Florida?

The current gambling laws are unspecified, making questions such as can I gamble online in FL and is online gambling legal in Florida slightly challenging to give a precise answer. There is no mention of online gambling in the Fla gambling laws. According to Florida constitution section 849.08, any gambler who ‘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’.

However, the law has seen some experts point out the ‘device’ part to mean the state declaring online gambling as illegal. However, Florida has not charged any person for gambling online as it stands. At the same time, several top offshore casinos accept Florida players. Therefore, Fla bettors can create accounts and gamble online on these platforms. Thus, one doesn’t need to leave their homes to play their favorite casino game for real money.

Online Casino

With online casinos not licensed, how does one gamble online in Florida? As stated, one can only play online for real money by creating an account with popular offshore online casinos. A point to note is that they are not restricted to operate in the state.

While there is no mention of social casinos in the Fla gambling laws, many assume that online gambling on the social casinos is legal in FL. Users can access them directly on their websites or Facebook. However, land-based casino gambling is entirely legal in Florida.

Online Poker

Like online casinos, Florida state does not legalize any online poker site. There have been several attempts to legalize the gambling form, but the attempts have been unsuccessful, with the Seminole Tribe lobbying for all exclusive rights to the games. For now, poker lovers in Fla can only walk physically to the poker rooms in various pari-mutuel and tribal facilities in multiple counties, including Broward, to play poker games.

Those wishing to play poker at their comfort can access offshore poker sites to play. Like offshore online casinos, they are no direct laws banning any offshore online poker sites.

Online Sports Betting

Currently, FL doesn’t legalize online sports betting. However, this stance might change soon after the legislature legalized a gaming compact between Gov. DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe. The legislature voted 97-17 in favor of the compact, and should the compact pass into law, Florida could benefit from annual revenue amounting to $500 million. The remaining piece is the federal approval, and if granted, Fla bettors can start enjoying online sports betting from late 2021 or early 2022. However, some groups opposed to the compact have filed lawsuits, which may delay the tentative timeline.

The deal/compact grants the Seminole Tribe monopoly on sports betting and on roulette and craps that the state did not legalize in the past. For now, online sports betting in FL can only happen on online offshore sportsbooks.

Online Lottery

Offline lottery in Florida is legal, with players provided various fast play games, draws, and scratch-offs to play. One can have a taste of Powerball and Mega Millions in over 13,000+ retail shops listed under the FL lottery official website. However, the online lottery is not available at the moment to Fla players.

Online Bingo

Florida legalizes bingo. Therefore, players can play live bingo games operated by commercial bingo halls and charitable organizations in various venues. However, Florida has not legalized any online bingo at the moment. Bingo lovers can only access bingo rooms and tournaments on offshore bingo sites accepting Fla players. The only drawback with offshore sites is that they are not regulated in Florida, and should a dispute arise, the state cannot be an intermediary.

Online Horse Racing Betting

The state doesn’t illegalize online horse racing betting. Therefore, some horse racing betting sites accept FL players to place bets on the horses for real money. Additionally, offline horse racing betting is also legalized and allowed in Florida. Some of the horse racing tracks in the state include Tampa Bay Downs, Oldsmar, Pompano Park, Pompano, and Gulfstream Park, Hallandale.

Online Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes are popularly known as game promotions in Florida and are legal, provided the sponsor awards the prizes based on chance. For prizes going above $5,000, the state requires that the sweepstakes register with them. One major rule for every game promotion in Florida is that players should not pay any entry fee to participate. However, there is no mention of online sweepstakes in Florida, and as it stands, players can only participate offline.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Currently, there is no law legalizing or restricting daily fantasy sports in Florida. This has seen heavyweights such as DraftKings and FanDuel operate in Florida. For now, if the legislature passes the SB 16A bill, DFS would be legal in Fla, with the bill also outlining the authorized and prohibited contests.

Can You Play Slots Online in Florida?

Slot lovers can play FL online slots at their comfort. Social casinos are neither legalized or banned in Florida, and just like regular online casinos, these social casinos offer a vast range of online slots with the same functionality. The only exception is that players cannot play them for real money. Instead, slot lovers who opt to spin them will use the virtual currency offered on the sites and proceed to play for fun and to socialize. In some cases, the casinos may award gifts.

So, what software providers power these online casinos to provide top-notch online slots. Some of the highly-rated ones include:

• Iron Dog Studio: Launched in 2017, Iron dog Studio has done well in the gambling scene for its virtual games and high-quality slot games. The slots come with high RTP, favorable volatility, and standout features such as expanding wilds, free spins and respins, among others.
• Red Tiger Gaming: The provider’s slots are filled with unique and creative graphics, including 3D mechanics, and offer a superb gaming experience. Compatible with desktops, tablets, and mobile, the provider is one of the top software providers.
• Barcrest: Barcrest is one of the most experienced software providers operating since the 60s. The ability to adapt to the current customer demands and modern technology places Barcrest a notch higher than some of its rivals. The highlight is that they power both online and offline casinos.
• Pragmatic Play: Slots from Pragmatic Play are packed with standout features and graphics. Among the features include bonus rounds, free spins, multipliers, and progressive jackpots. Some of the top Pragmatic Play include Magic Crystals, Hot Safari, and Mighty Kong.

Gambling Age Law

The gambling laws in Florida require that any person visiting a poker room or making any pari-mutuel bet must be aged at least 18 years. The same applies to bingo and lottery. All other games and forms of gambling on tribal casinos can be played by players aged above 21.

With online gambling not legalized in the state, there are no specific Florida online gambling laws. The offshore casinos accepting Fla players set their age requirements between 18 and 21. However, the majority sit at 21-years-old. Underage gambling is highly discouraged in Florida, and the state advises all the licensed facilities to have measures in place to ensure no underage person gets inside their premises.

Most Reputable 18+ Online Casinos for Florida Players

The offshore online casinos allowing Florida players are many, but few stand as the most reputable. We have provided a list on our guide of the best that players can join to play top casino games. Remember that Florida sets the minimum gambling age of its land-based casinos at 21. This means that while players aged 18 can play at offshore online casinos, it is vital to adhere to the state laws.

Land-Based Casinos in Florida

One can play Florida land-based casino games at the six tribal casinos operated by the Seminole Tribe and one other casino operated by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians. These casinos are home to several slot machines, table games such as baccarat and blackjack, and video poker games. One can walk in many of the casinos at any time to play. 

They are:

Will Florida Regulate Online Gambling in the Future?

The chances of regulating FL online gambling are looking high. Currently, the legislature has approved a gaming compact between Gov. DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida that will see online sports betting legalized in the state. Players can start gambling once federal approval is given. Besides sports betting, there have been plans to legalize online casinos to improve revenue.

The current land-based casinos have helped generate huge revenues, and the legislators are looking at strategies to improve the revenue collection, with online casinos seen as one. However, when weighing the chances of online sports betting and online casinos, the former chances look higher and better. Generally, the Seminole Tribe operating Hard Rock Casinos in states like New Jersey are pointers of the great future awaiting Fla players in the online space.

Talks of online poker, online lottery, online sweepstakes have not dominated, and while this might change in the future, it doesn’t look like it’s close. 

If passed, bettors can enjoy more accessibility and will not be required to only walk to any tribal casino to play games. Instead, they can access via desktops, tablets, or mobile phones either directly on the website or via FL online casino apps.