Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Florida

Like most states, Florida gambling laws have no specific legislation regarding online gambling so it will not be prosecuted any differently than land based gambling rings. Since honest Florida residents who merely like to gamble run no real risk of prosecution, there is no real risk for a Florida residents who uses online networks to gamble on poker, games of chance, or even to bet on sports. Florida does not support an online casino platform, leaving all Florida gamblers to look to licensed offshore online casinos for legal casino entertainment. It is not illegal by state or federal law to participate in online casino gambling from an Internet destination that is based outside of the United States and which is licensed, regulated. Types of Online Florida Gambling Allowed There are a number of gambling options that are legal in Florida. Players will find that online gambling establishments oversees offer all the gambling forms that are legal in the state. These are the types of web-based Florida games players will find. Is Online Gambling Legal in Florida? The legality of online gambling in Florida is entirely dependent upon the activity in question. Online horse racing betting, greyhound betting and daily fantasy sports are all permitted in Florida. Other forms of online wagering such as mobile sportsbooks and casinos are prohibited under state law. Legality Of Online Gambling In Florida Florida does not play around when it comes to operators of unlawful forms of gambling, which means anyone who is not operating a form of gambling specifically licensed and regulated by the state.

  • Casino Gambling: Legal
  • Poker: Legal
  • Horse Racing Betting: Legal
  • Dog Racing Betting: Legal
  • Lottery: Legal
  • Daily Fantasy Sports: Unspecified
  • Charitable Gaming: Legal
  • Social Gambling: Restricted
  • Online Gambling: Unspecified
Gamble

Florida gambling law is ever-changing, as citizens and lawmakers wage constant war to push their various agendas. Legislation is perpetually being introduced to ban one form of gaming or expand some other type. While this creates an exciting dynamic for fans of politics on the state level, it also makes it difficult for the average fan to stay on top of things.

In order to provide a clearer picture, we’ve put together this overview of the current laws as they apply to gambling in Florida. Some or all of these may be different in a few years, which is why we suggest that high rollers or anyone planning on getting into the gambling business supplement this material with a visit to an attorney.

Our goal, however, is to keep this page on Florida gambling as updated as possible. So as we learn new information or new laws are passed, we will do our best to update this page. We want to make sure that our readers have the most accurate information so that they can make the best decisions of what to do when it comes to gambling in their state.

If you live in the state of Florida, we recommend bookmarking this page and any other resources that we suggest here so that you can keep up-to-date with what’s going on and make sure you’re informed about any new legal issues or better places for you to gamble.

We’ll dig into Florida’s gambling laws further down the page, but first we’d like to share some contextual information to help you put the whole story about the state’s betting regulations into perspective. You’ll see from the information below that Florida’s statutes related to gaming are an odd mix of ultra-progressive and ultra-conservative.

You’ll also see the clear influence of local anti-tax politics; though the state’s betting options bring in a couple billion a year, Florida lays claim to well under $500 million. The state’s relatively-paltry 20% casino revenue tax is mainly to blame.

Age Requirements
18 in venues where no liquor is served; 21 otherwise
Approximate Annual Gambling Revenue
$2 billion
Approximate Annual Gambling Taxes
$393 million
Number of Commercial Casinos
2
Number of Rancinos
25
Number of Tribal Casinos
8
Casino Regulatory Body
Florida Div. of Consumer Services
Lottery National Rankings
3rd

The two commercial casino properties mentioned in the Key Info box above are casino cruise ships that embark from Florida, enter international waters, and allow customers to engage in traditional forms of gambling. That long list of racinos should tell you something about the state’s gambling market – it is generally disorganized, small-scale, and heavily-regulated. That’s pushed many Floridians interested in operating a gaming venue out of the market, and left a vacuum that only outside investment can fill. The result is a gambling-friendly state that’s never created an identity for itself.

Part of Florida’s low-revenue problem has to do with its oddball gaming laws. Below you’ll find our detailed guide to Florida law, at least as it pertains to real-money betting.