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Online gambling in Florida

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Unlike most of the states situated in the southern parts of the United States, Florida’s embraced the gambling industry with much willingness and keenness despite its slow progress.

Today, online gambling in Florida and land-based tribal casinos are working well to provide players with endless opportunities in the area of gambling. For a comprehensive look into how online gambling looks in Florida, you can continue reading for more.

Best online gambling sites in Florida

DraftKings Florida Best gambling site for DFS
FanDuel Florida Best gambling site for live wagering
PointsBet Florida Best gambling site for mobile wagering
BetRivers Florida Best gambling site for bonuses

With the right guide, finding the best online gambling site in Florida can be easy to do. By knowing what to look for, key points can be used in reviewing and rating an operator to deem it as exceptional. Below is a list of the best online gambling sites in Florida:

BetMGM Florida

Founded in 2018, BetMGM is an operator that’s seen years of revolution so it can blend into the newly formed industry. Well on its way to offering some of the best online gambling experiences across the US, including Florida, the operator has lots to offer.

On BetMGM Florida, players have options in sports betting, poker, and online casino games. It hosts a comprehensive library of games with partnerships between leading software providers. And in addition to this, it also offers several rewarding experiences through generous welcome offers and progressive jackpots.

PointsBet Florida

One of the most unique operators to run across the US is PointsBet. With a distinctive sports betting site and an orthodox online casino, its game selection comes with standard menus of table games, slots, live dealer games, and video poker.

All of these are accessible on a desktop and across mobile devices. After facing a lot of regulatory scrutinies, it continues to thrive in all its endeavors.

FanDuel Florida

As a prolific name in the gambling industry, FanDuel is known to lead when it comes to an online daily fantasy sports market across the US. It has several partnerships with online casinos in various parts of the US and has undergone significant changes in accordance with gambling regulations set over the years.

Among its key features, players can expect live games, quick withdrawals, same-game parlays, various online casino games, and of course, daily fantasy sports.

Online gambling is regarded as illegal in Florida. However, there are no clear laws that explicitly state whether or not it’s legal to use offshore gambling sites that are not located or licensed in the state.

To this day, there’s been no evidence of any prosecution or fine being issued to anyone that’s participated in any form of online sports betting in Florida. But the same cannot be said when it comes to launching an online casino. Should anyone be found launching an online casino of their own, they can face imprisonment of up to five years.

Is it illegal to play at offshore gambling sites in FL?

Presently, no jurisdiction allows state lawmakers to penalize any player that wishes to play through an offshore casino. This explains why a majority of online casinos in Florida are based in other countries. While it’s always the player’s final decision to choose where they would like to place their money, we encourage all players to avoid playing on any offshore operator.

As a customer based in Florida, you are able to play for real money on an offshore operator. This can be done through deposit methods like cryptocurrency and e-wallet services. Here, the game selection remains unlimited and you have loads of welcome bonuses to take advantage of.

Despite all these benefits, there are many disadvantages to take into consideration. This is because the US federal government doesn’t recognize jurisdictions that offshore operators operate on. Therefore, a lot of risks are involved the moment funds become a part of the picture as there can be very limited recourse should something go wrong. So, to sum up, key points worth keeping in mind, reasons to avoid offshore online casinos include:

  • The payouts and various bonuses listed may not be honored
  • Offshore operators run their services outside of US jurisdiction
  • There’s been evidence of poor customer support for players based in the US
  • Audits on software may not exist
  • The Random Number Generators used on their games may not be trustworthy

How to gamble online in Florida

Gambling online in Florida is an easy and straightforward process to follow. While some operators will differ in the information they will require, the process should remain similar. Otherwise, you can expect the process to go as follows a new player searching to register on an operator in Florida:

  1. Find a licensed gambling site in Florida: Before proceeding to register on any gambling site in Florida, it’s important that you conduct thorough research. This is because not all sites are licensed to operate in the state. While this will obviously place you at risk of losing your funds unexpectedly, it’s also worth noting that gambling on an unlicensed site can also put you at risk of compromising your personal and financial details, and playing rigged games that don’t use RNG systems.
  2. Sign up with your personal details: Once you’ve chosen your ideal pick, you can then move on to sign up. Access to this option can easily be located on any gambling site. After selecting the option to sign up, you will immediately be introduced to the registration process. Registration processes are pretty quick and straightforward to go through. By simply inputting your personal details, you’ll be prompted into each step gradually. You must remain truthful and accurate. This is because it’s likely that you’ll be asked to confirm these details through verification and authentication. Should any of these details be incorrect, you could risk either having your account suspended or delayed.
  3. Enter a promo code to get the latest bonus: If you were directed to an operator from an external site, then it’s likely that the site would have issued you with a promo code. By making use of this, you’ll receive an immediate bonus that you can use during your gaming experience. Having or using a promo code is optional. Should you not have one, you can simply ignore this step by selecting the option to skip it. However, should you have one, then you can enter the code’s details here to receive the latest bonus. Be sure to enter the code as is since these are case-sensitive.
  4. Deposit money: After going through the process of registration, your account should be approved as successful. Here, you’ll have full access to all the features and functions that come with having an online gambling account with the respective operator. You need to have funds in your account to play for real money. To initiate a deposit, you can go to the banking or cashier section of your account. Here, you’ll find a deposit option which you’ll select. Once you’ve selected this option, you will find a list of deposit options to choose from. Each operator will differ in what options it offers; therefore, it’s in your best interests to register with a site that will provide you with the option you’re looking for. After choosing your deposit option of choice, you’ll enter the relevant details and the amount you’d like to deposit. Submit your request and if all the details entered are correct, the deposit will be successful.
  5. Start gambling: It’s in the best interests of the operator to ensure that it provides deposit options that offer instant action. This means that immediately after submitting your request to make the deposit, your funds should be available to you within an instant. Right after seeing an update on your balance, you can start gambling from the game selection that will be available to you at int the Florida betting app or website.

Types of online gambling that may come to Florida

There are many forms of online gambling that could come to Florida once the state chooses to legalize it. Read more about the most popular ones below.

Sports betting

Online sports betting in Florida is very popular as a type of online gambling. With select renowned platforms that offer extensive FL sportsbooks, players have a range of domestic and international competitions to participate in. Once you’ve signed up on any of these platforms, you’ll be able to claim attractive welcome bonuses. You’ll then have a selection of bets to wager on and these will include sports like:

  • NBA
  • NFL
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Olympics
  • Champions League
  • World Cup
  • Six Nations

With any of the sportsbooks we’ve made mention of, these platforms will allow you to place in-play and pre-game bets. Some operators, however, will be unique in this department as they will provide their players with streaming services for certain events. This means that, in addition to wagering on bets, players will be able to watch all the actions they desire directly from their accounts.

Casino

Florida has seen many of its operators provide truly comprehensive game selections, especially in the area of online casino games. This means that apart from just offering the standard selection of online slot games and classic table games, these online casinos also offer bingo, keno, a Florida state lotto, craps, and more. Some sites even go as far as offering specialty games.

Horse racing

Florida has legalized horse betting since the early years of 1900s. This explains why it’s continued to offer several high-quality race tracks. This includes Peninsula Racing Center, Tampa Bay Downs, and Gulfstream Park Racing.

To some, it remains a mystery as to why greyhound racing isn’t available, and yet horse racing is. This comes after noting that the state once had the most greyhound racetracks among all the states in the US. However, all this changed in 2018 when the state amended its constitution which then resulted in the outlawing of greyhound racing. This amendment comes after raging over animal cruelty from activist groups. Here, they believed that greyhounds would undergo great suffering because of the conditions that they were being subdued to in competitions. This concern even extended to what would happen to these greyhounds after their use ended.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Presently, daily fantasy sports remain illegal in the state of Florida. For years, campaigns have been launched in an attempt to try and legalize daily fantasy sports. This has been the case since 2015; however, to this date, none of these bids have received any success.

Lottery

On the 12th of January 1988, Florida saw the first launch of its own lottery. Back then, all proceeds would go into funding public schools. This would happen through scholarships, grants, and other meaningful campaigns. Simply issuing players with $1 scratch tickets known as Millionaire, would help the state generate over $95 million in sales.

Over the years, the Florida state lotto grew in popularity. This then helped the state expand its lottery to also include several different types of scratch-off tickets. These were made up of a variety of lottery opportunities including the Jackpot Triple Play, Cash4Life, and the Florida Lotto.

With most of Florida’s lotteries, players are constantly presented with the opportunity to win thousands of dollars. Some lucky players, may even win lottery prizes that even reward ranges as high as seven figures. It’s worth noting that to participate in the state’s lottery, you don’t have to be a resident of the state.

A history of online gambling in Florida

It was in 1931 that the state of Florida puts legislation in place to approve horse racing. This decision receives approval by one single vote and dog racing follows shortly after. By the time it’s 1937, players now have access to slot machines since it’s now legalized. Years go by and no other significant milestones take place within the state’s gambling industry.

In 1970, bingo becomes legal. It was in 1986 that the state’s voters approve the quest to add a state lottery to the gambling options. Two years later, the federal government goes on to pass the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Here, native tribes are given permission to establish casinos on various reservations located across the state.

In 1996, poker is legalized at various Floridian pari-mutuel facilities. However, this comes with a pot limit that only goes up to $10. It was only in 2003 that the bet limits set at poker rooms increased. This increase goes up to a maximum of $2 with permission to only have three raises. By 2010, the bet limits at poker rooms increase to no limits. This applies to pots and bets.

In 2018, the state sees betting on live dog racing be prohibited. Then, in 2021, the state moves on to establish the Florida State Gaming Commission.

Who oversees online gambling in Florida?

The Florida Gaming Control Commission is responsible for overseeing online gambling that takes place in Florida. It’s a relatively new commission; however, all casino gambling that takes place on Seminole properties will not be overseen by this commission. For now, the primary regulatory body that’s operating in Florida consists of the Divison of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. This division forms the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

A guide to taxes for online gambling in Florida

With Florida gambling, the general tax rate is set to be 24%. However, it’s worth noting that there are various thresholds and these are based on different criteria. For instance, if a player should win a prize that’s valued at $5,000 or more, the act of tax withholding will come into effect. You’re also allowed to deduct itemized losses so you can reduce the value of your tax bill. But this can only happen if you do this strictly according to the rules.

When will online gambling launch in FL?

The Sunshine State has proven to show a lot of resistance when it comes to deciding to finally acknowledge online gambling, which makes it tough to say when Florida will legalize gambling. This is despite states, like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, located further up the east coast having long-established laws of their own. In the meantime, players can enjoy having access to online casino games at sweepstakes casinos and social casinos.

Over the years, Florida has struggled greatly in attempting to expand its gambling options and this has been the case for more than 20 years. Because of the unique combination of stakeholders and the visible conservative resistance to the idea of casinos, the state’s lawmakers haven’t been able to make much progress in passing comprehensive gambling reforms.

It was in 2019 that the Seminole tribe withdrew its gambling compact with Florida’s government. As a result, Florida suffered the loss of millions of dollars each year. This comes after the Seminoles tribe won a lawsuit that said Florida had failed in reinforcing the exclusive gaming rights that had been set by the Tribe.

It was then in 2021 that the Tribe and the state of Florida came to an agreement. This agreement then led to transfers to the value of $500 million a year. In return, the Tribe would get exclusive rights to operate and license all sports betting that takes place across the nation. The Tribe’s casinos could also offer players games like craps and roulette.

After careful consideration, the state legislature approved this compact just like the federal government. But, towards the end of 2021, the lawsuits began to threaten any establishment of Florida’s gambling expansion that it’s been anticipating for a long time.

FAQ

Do I need to be 21 to gamble online in Florida?

Like many of the other states in the US, gambling ages depend on the games being played. This rule applies to Florida as well. For players to participate in poker, lottery games, pari-mutuel betting like jai alai and horse racing, or bingo, they have to at least be 18 years of age. When it comes to other forms of gambling like betting on races, slots, and table games, these games require players to at least be 21 years of age.

Will I be arrested for gambling online in Florida?

You won't be arrested or prosecuted as there isn't any explicit act or law that prohibits gambling online in Florida. But, should a resident of Florida choose to launch an online gambling site, they will face punishment for doing so.

How to check if a gambling site is licensed in Florida?

There are various ways you can check to see if a gambling site is licensed in Florida. This won't even require you to involve a third party as it can be done by virtually anyone if you know what to look for. All gambling sites have proof of their licensing listed at the bottom of their gambling sites. Online casinos tend to be very open and transparent about their licenses as this builds trust and credibility in showing that the site is licensed and regulated to operate.