Online gambling in Florida is booming, with tens of thousands of Floridians heading to the internet every day and enjoying some of the best online casinos on the planet. They try their luck on state-of-the-art slots, take on the dealer at blackjack, and spin the exciting roulette wheel morning, noon, and night. You have come to the right place if you want to learn about the best online casino Florida has to offer, because our guide covers all the bases and sheds light on some little known Florida gambling facts.
Florida Gambling Laws
While Florida has not fully legalized online gaming, the state law is vague and actually does not address online gambling anywhere.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Florida?
Florida has not legalized online casinos in Florida that the state government has legalized. Since the state doesn't have online gambling regulations, no laws make Internet gambling strictly illegal.
Future Developments
The entire gambling industry in the United States is in a state of flux after the United States Supreme Court ruled the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was unconstitutional in May 2018. This opened the doors for states to offer fully legal and regulated sports betting, online casinos, and online poker. As a result, operations in several states are already up and running.
Tribal Gambling Laws
There are two federally-recognized tribes in the Sunshine State: The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and the Seminole Tribe. It is the latter that is by far the largest and most powerful in terms of gambling and gaming.
Popular Online Deposit Options
It is all well and good having a vast portfolio of slots and casino table games to play online in Florida, but gambling loses some of its luster if you cannot play for real money. Worse still, imagine beating the house and enjoying a huge win only to struggle to get your money off the casino and into your hands.
This is why it is important to avoid online casinos in Florida. Once online gambling comes to the state, players will have several of options available. Here's a preview of those options.
Top Florida Land-Based Casinos
There are almost three dozen land-based casinos dotted around the Sunshine State of Florida, meaning you are never far away from a venue should you wish to participate in some gambling. Most land-based casinos in Florida are considered racinos, which are essentially horse or dog racing tracks that have the facilities for slots and some casino table games where permitted.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is the most powerful indigenous tribe in the state and, unsurprisingly, the most active when it comes to casinos. The tribe has six reservations, most of which have been developed with extensive hotels and gaming facilities.
Seminole operates seven different casinos, including two Seminole Hard Rock locations in Hollywood and Tampa. The tribe bought the Hard Rock Cafe franchise in 2007 for a cool $965 million, which included four Hard Rock hotels, two combined casino-hotels, and 14 Hard Rock Cafes. It is the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa and Hollywood locations where the tribe’s biggest and most popular casinos are based. Both venues are well known for hosting massive poker events, with the long-running World Poker Tour (WPT) frequenting each casino a couple of times each year.
In addition to the Native American and racino venues, Florida has a casino ship in Cape Canaveral in the county of Brevard. This casino ship offers slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, three card poker, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Let it Ride, bingo, and has a sportsbook that residents over 21 can use. The Victory Casino Cruises operate legally because they set sail in Florida waters, and no gambling takes place on land!
CASINO NAME | LOCATION | NUMBER OF SLOTS |
---|---|---|
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa | 5223 Orient Rd, Tampa, FL 33610 | 4,000 |
Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood | 1 Seminole Way, Davie, FL 33314 | 2,000 |
Seminole Coconut Creek | 5550 NW 40th St, Coconut Creek, FL 33073 | 2,000 |
Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Center | SW 177th Ave, Miami, FL 33194 | 2,000 |
Seminole Casino Immokalee | 506 S 1st St, Immokalee, FL 34142 | 1,300 |
Seminole Casino Brighton | 17735 Reservation Road Northeast, Okeechobee | 433 |
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | 1 Seminole Way, Fort Lauderdale | 3,100 |
Online Gambling Florida FAQ
Can you gamble online in Florida?
Yes, you can gamble online in Florida. That being said, the state does not have legalized online gambling and there are no Florida-based casinos that offer online betting.
While there are no specific laws or regulations saying that online gambling is illegal and no Floridians have ever been arrested or prosecuted for gambling online, players don't have legal protections when they play at offshore online casinos. Avoid them.
What is the legal gambling age in Florida?
The legal gambling age in Florida depends on the type of game you are looking to play. If you are interested in playing poker, bingo, or the lottery, the legal gambling age is 18; otherwise, the legal gambling age is 21. Those under 18 can attend, but not participate in, pari-mutuel betting events such as horse racing and jai-alai if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Can I play online casinos in Florida?
Yes, you can gamble at online casinos in Florida. However, you will need to play at offshore casino sites in order to do so. When it's time to cash out winnings, you're at the mercy of those sites' terms and conditions. We suggest avoiding FL online casinos.
Can you gamble real money online in Florida?
Yes, you can gamble real money online in Florida. Many offshore online casinos allow you to play both for free and real money. In order to gamble for real money, you'll be putting your money in offshore casinos. It's not a safe proposition for Florida gamblers. Try the land-based casinos instead.
What casino sites are legal in Florida?
Florida online casino sites exist in a grey area -- not technically prohibited, but also not technically legal. Many Floridians chose to play at offshore casino sites and no Floridians have ever been arrested or prosecuted for doing so.
The danger is getting paid. If a site decides they don't want to pay, you'll never see your winnings. Avoid online casinos in Florida.
Is gambling at home illegal in Florida?
Yes, but under very specific rules. Florida limits home poker games to penny ante games. Also, the maximum pot size is $10. Everyone must be 18 years or older. Also, the organizer cannot charge fees of any kind: he or she cannot take a rake of the pot, cannot charge an entry fee, and cannot charge a participation fee.
What gambling is legal in Florida?
Most forms of gambling are illegal in Florida, though in restricted settings. The Seminole Tribe of Florida hosts a number of land-based casinos under the Hard Rock Casino brand. Games include slots, table games, poker rooms, and Keno.
Florida has a state lottery, while it's a member of the Powerball and Mega Millions multistate lottery associations. It has horse tracks and dog tracks, plus pari-mutuel wagering.
Florida doesn't allow online gambling, though. After a series of legal battles with local operators, sweepstakes cafes are strictly banned, too.
Where can I gamble in Florida?
Florida has 7 land-based casinos, which are located in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Hollywood, Immokalee, Okeechobee, and Coconut Creek.
Florida also has 107 different casino cruise ships, including cruise lines that leave from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral, Port Richey, Deerfield Beach, and Pembroke Pines. Miami itself has 75 different casino cruise ships, including casino cruises hosted by Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Sea Dream, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Celebrity Cruises.
Florida has a huge number of bingo halls in dozens of cities, plus jai-alai frontons with legal betting. It does not have legal and licensed online gambling, though.