Online Gambling Florida Casinos Guide
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.
- Florida Online Casinos: We recommend that Florida gamblers avoid offshore online casinos. These don't have the legal protections and consumer protections that Florida's land-based casinos have.
- Tribal Gaming: Florida gaming laws allow patrons to play at brick-and-mortar casinos on Indian reservations, in addition to allowing bets on horse racing.
- Florida's Definition of Florida: Florida law defines gambling as "playing or engaging in any card game or game of chance, at any place, by any device, for money or another thing of value."
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: Horse racing and dog racing is permitted with pari-mutuel wagering both inter-track and off-track.
- 1988 Indian Gaming Act: It is a similar story for live casinos, which are all run under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
- Florida Legal Gambling Age: The legal gambling age in the state of Florida is 18 years old for poker and bingo, but 21 years old for all other forms of casino activity.
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.
- Online Gambling Operators: That being said, Florida authorities search for and shut down online gambling operators within Florida.
- Dangers of Foreign Online Casinos: Individuals might not be prosecuted but they don't have legal protections. They're at the mercy of offshore online casinos' terms of use.
- Florida Online Casinos: With no online casinos within the Florida state boundaries, playing at FL online casinos is dangerous and we don't recommend doing so.
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.
- USA's 3rd Highest Population: Gambling industry experts predict Florida will be one of the next US states to follow suit and create a state-wide legal gambling industry. Florida has a population of approximately 21.5 million, making it the third most populous in the United States of America.
- $20 Billion Gambling Tax Prediction: The potential tax revenue from Florida online gambling is immense, with Florida state governor Ron DeSantis working out that the state would receive $20 billion in gaming tax over the next 30 years.
- The Seminole Tribe of Florida: Governor DaSantis is keen to enter a compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, who already have several casinos in the state. If passed, the bill permits online wagering via computers and apps so long as all the data is routed through a Seminole Tribe-owned property, effectively making Seminole Florida’s gambling hub.
- No Online Gambling Anytime Soon: Until that happens, which could take several years, the only online gambling Florida residents can engage in is offshore online casinos. Players should visit the state's land-based gambling operations instead.
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.
- Class III Gambling: Seminole is the only tribe permitted to run Class III gambling games; it has a compact that runs through 2030. The compact gave the Seminole exclusivity to run house-banked card games such as baccarat and blackjack in Florida.
- Florida Gaming Compact: The tribe pays huge sums to the Florida government for the right to host these games, including $2 million per year for being allowed to have slots on its property, and at least $1 billion between 2010-2015 for exclusivity in house-banked cards.
- House Banked Table Games: The Seminoles' deal with the Florida government regarding house-banked cards was terminated in 2015, but Seminole still offers these games due to a dispute over the state’s violation of the tribe’s exclusivity.
- Seminole Online Gambling Sites?: It is with the Seminole Tribe that all legalized and regulated online casino play in Florida will go through once the relevant paperwork is processed and bills are passed.
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.
- Credit Card Deposits: MasterCard, Visa, and American Express debit and credit cards are by far the most popular online casino banking options. They are widely accepted by merchants globally, are almost always free to use, and your deposits and withdrawals are processed in a timely manner. Some banks and card providers have begun blocking transactions to gambling companies, which is why it is important to have other banking methods at your disposal.
- Prepaid Cards: Prepaid Visa and MasterCards are a great option for getting money onto online casinos. You can purchase them from convenience stores and gas stations, load them up with money, and use the prepaid card at the website of your choice. However, be aware that you cannot make a withdrawal to most of the prepaid cards currently on the market.
- Bitcoin Deposits: An increasing number of internet gamblers use cryptocurrency to deposit into and withdraw out of their casino accounts. Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash are the two most popular cryptocurrencies used for casino gambling, but Ethereum is also in the top five.
- More Crypto Deposits: More and more online casinos Florida natives use are accepting other cryptocurrencies for banking, including Litecoin, Stellar Lumens, and Ripple. Using cryptocurrency for deposits usually comes with a special welcome bonus. Furthermore, cryptocurrency payments negate the need for your bank to know you are participating in online gambling in Florida because it is completely anonymous.
- Crypto Pros and Cons: The cryptocurrency world was once massively complicated, but it is far more streamlined today. That said, it is worth fully researching how to buy, store, and transfer the various cryptocurrencies before you jump in at the deep end. Mistakes made with cryptocurrency usually cannot be rectified.
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.
