Florida Legal Online Gambling 2022

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To reach Florida legal online gambling sites, FL players can find legal offshore online gambling options that accept players over 18 on this page. At this time, Florida has not moved on legalizing state-regulated online gaming. 

The state of Florida has not legislatively allowed the operation of any type of online gambling site within its borders. Therefore, Floridians seeking online gaming options will need to access reputable, legal, and secure international gambling sites. This guide was designed to provide that assistance while explaining the legal status of participating in this type of entertainment, as well as what types of gambling options are legally available to Florida gamblers.

Florida Gambling Laws

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Florida permits multiple land-based gambling options, including Indian tribal casinos, stand-alone card rooms, lotteries, bingo, and pari-mutuel racetracks. At this time, Florida has not considered online gambling regulation at the state level. However, there are no state laws in place that make it illegal to use a legal international gaming platform.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Florida?

At this time, no state-regulated online gambling destinations exist in Florida. Keep in mind, however, that there are no state laws or federal laws which prohibit Florida residents from engaging in gambling at legal and regulated offshore gambling sites. The reach of federal jurisdiction stops at US borders and hence has no bearing on the legally sanctioned and legitimate offshore gambling sites that accept US players. So while FL players will not find any state-regulated options at this time, Sunshine State residents and visitors do still have these other options.

FL State Facts & Quick Jump Menu

State Facts

  • State Motto: In God We Trust
  • State Population: 19.89 Million
  • Land Casinos: 5+
  • Land Poker Rooms: 30+
  • Legal Gambling Age: 18/21
  • Projected Year for Sports Betting: 2022

Best Online Gambling Site For Floridians

Bovada Sportsbook, Poker Room, & Casino
#1 Rated Legal Online Gambling Site For USA Players

CertifiedBovada is the premium online gambling destination that welcomes players from Florida and all around the United States, delivering a reliable, high quality gambling experience from your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Bovada caters to US players exclusively, and the site provides a secure environment for enjoying your favorite types of betting action. Operating legally within the Costa Rican governing jurisidciton, Bovada is actually considered to be the most reputable online gambling site by many different review sites, including ours!

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Site Rating

Bovada $1000
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Compability

Pros
  • Attractive Welcome Bonus

  • Bet all markets from just one account

  • Bovada mobile betting app available

  • Prop Builder & Live in-play sports wagering

  • Hundreds of casino games available

  • Around the clock poker tournaments

  • Operating 100% legally within Costa Rica jurisdiction

  • Accepts credit cards, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum

  • P2P payments via Bovada Vouchers + Bovada MatchPay

Cons
  • Fewer crypto options than many sites

  • Excluded States: NV, NJ, DE, MD

How To Gamble In Florida

Floridians and visitors to the region have a few different types of options for gambling in Florida.  Are there casinos in Florida?  There are some great tribal casino properties in FL, several of which also offer nice poker rooms on-premises. There are also card rooms, racinos, and racetracks sprinkled throughout the state, so domestic, in-person options are definitely on the table.

If there's one thing we've learned from having to weather a global pandemic, it's that 'in person' entertainment is not always all that it's cracked up to be.  Gamblers in the Sunshine State have access to some fantastic legal online betting sites that accept Florida players, ranging from Florida-friendly online casinos to sports betting sites, poker, and horse racing.

Florida Online Gambling

As mentioned previously, online betting in Florida does not include any state-regulated gambling sites. Is online betting legal in Florida? Yes! Just because lawmakers have not yet authorized online and mobile betting at the state level does not mean that legal online betting sites that accept FL players and operate legally outside of the US are off the table.

In fact, there are no federal or Florida state gambling laws that prohibit using these sites for real money gambling, as long as they are operating legally within the industry. The sites you see listed on this page fall into this category and have been providing FL gamblers with online betting services for years. Below we go into a little more detail on each type of legal online betting option available to Floridians.

Are Casinos Legal in Florida?

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Local casino gambling venues in Florida are only permitted in the form of tribal casinos. Commercial casinos are not permitted to be established or operate in the state. Two tribes run all of Florida's gaming opportunities: the Seminole Tribe (six venues) and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida (one venue). One company runs casino cruises off the coast in international waters, though these are less than ideal for casual players.

The following seven FL casinos and one cruise line only permit 21-year-old players on their casino floors:

  • Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood (Hollywood)
  • Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa (Tampa)
  • Seminole Casino Brighton (Okeechobee)
  • Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Coconut Creek)
  • Seminole Casino Immokalee (Immokalee)
  • Seminole Classic Casino (Hollywood)
  • Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Center (Miami)
  • Victory Casino Cruises

Florida Online Casinos
Legally Accepting FL Players

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Is Sports Betting Legal In Florida?

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At this time, Florida has not regulated state-licensed sports gambling but has shown interest via various submitted sports bills in the state legislature. State regulation of sports betting in Florida could boost wide-spread engagement with local and regional teams like the Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Marlins, and prominent NCAA teams (Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes, etc.). The main hurdle to FL sports betting legalization is the issue of tribal exclusivity, and the timeline for working this out is anyone's guess.

Legal Florida Online Sportsbooks
Only The Most Reputable Sites Listed

SiteReviewBonus OfferUSAVisit
Bovada Sportsbook And CasinoRead Review50% Max $1,000Play now
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Is Poker Legal in Florida?

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Locally, poker gambling is a lawful gaming activity in Florida for players who are 18 or older within establishments not serving alcohol. Poker rooms in Florida serving alcohol (like casinos) may only allow players who are at least 21 to play poker.

Can you play online poker in Florida? There has been historic interest in legalizing online poker gambling, but nothing from the state has come to fruition. Currently, non-tribal poker venues use a player-banked rather than a house-banked system, which has caused friction between the state and the tribes.

Thankfully there is a handful of legitimate, trusted, and safe online poker rooms that accept Florida players and are located and operated legally outside of the USA.  You will find a list of these below.

Legal Florida Poker Sites
Top Rated In The Industry

SiteReviewBonus OfferUSAVisit
Bovada Sportsbook And CasinoRead Review100% Max $500Play now
Ignition LogoRead Review150% Max $1,500Play now
Betonline LogoRead Review100% Max $1,000Play now
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FL Online Gambling FAQ's

Will I get in legal trouble if I participate in offshore online gambling?

As long as you restrict your gambling activity to legally licensed and regulated offshore destinations that are operating legitimately within the industry, then you are not breaking any type of law, in Florida or federally.

Should you become involved in any type of local online gambling operation, however, then you will be participating in unregulated gambling which is illegal. Still, law enforcement is more concerned with curtailing illegal gambling operators than they are players.

Nevertheless, it's never worth the risk to gamble with unlicensed entities. At the very least, when you play with unregulated gaming operators, you have no recourse if the operator fails to pay out your winnings.

If a legal Florida online casino accepts players at age 18, do I still have to wait until I'm 21 to participate?

No! Florida gambling laws regulate operations within Florida and have no jurisdiction re the minimum age requirement for any offshore licensed platform. While the minimum gambling age in Florida is 21 for casino and most poker, licensed offshore online sites set their own minimum age. The platforms recommended on this page gladly accept 18-year-old Florida players.

How do I collect my winnings if the online gambling site is in another country?

Most online gambling sites overseas have multiple options for withdrawing your winnings. Usually, the most economical option is to request a check by courier or a Bitcoin payout. Our featured sites have also added numerous other crypto options, including litecoin, ethereum, cardano, dogecoin, tether, and many others. You'll also find third-party app features for cashapp, Venmo, PayPal, and others. 

Bitcoin has really changed the industry for the better, as nearly all of the big sites have now integrated Bitcoin and various other cryptocurrencies, and offer these as both deposit and payout options, which streamlines the entire process of both getting money into and out of legal FL gambling sites.

Other online gambling withdrawal options include bank wire transfers or person-to-person transfers, though these come with added fees and multi-day wait times.

When will state licensed online gambling be legal in Florida?

That is hard to say. It depends on the current political climate and who is in office as Governor, as well as whether or not the tribal operators wish to force the issue (which remains a big question mark).

Regardless, a motion made in 2018 required that any changes to Florida gambling laws be put to a voter referendum and receive 60% of the votes in order to pass. This means public opinion toward online gambling must be in support of legalization for it to occur.

What legal forms of gambling are available in Florida?

Florida residents who are 18 or older can play bingo, the lottery, poker outside of a casino venue which does not serve alcohol, pari-mutuel wagering on horses and jai alai, and other charitable games like raffles and pull tabs.

To play casino games at any of the land-based casinos with slots, electronic casino games, poker, table games, and video poker in FL, players must be 21 or older.

Offshore gamblers using any of the FL-legal sites listed here only have to be 18+ in order to sign up and play for real money.

When is Florida getting sports betting?

As far as state-regulated sportsbooks go, the Florida Senate has worked on legalizing sports gambling in Florida but has to negotiate with the Seminole Tribe first, as they hold the most influence over gaming in the state. In addition, the state may need to put the option up for a vote in the next November election in order to pass legal sports betting, unless they can find a way to bypass Amendment 3.

In the meantime, Floridians are free to enjoy real money sports betting at any of the trusted online sportsbooks listed on this page. Each of them is operating legally within the industry and offers a premium betting experience.

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