Gaming in the Sunshine State has been legal in different forms since 1931, and what is on offer continues to be as diverse as the state of over 20 million. Tribal casinos entered Florida in the late 1980s, providing the Sunshine State residents with slot machines and table games.

Currently, there are seven tribal casinos in Florida, and six of them are operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Besides tribal casinos, social casinos and sweepstakes are also available in the Sunshine State.

But is Florida sports betting legal? On this page, we will provide you with everything that you need to know about sports betting in Florida, from its legal status to the list of the best Florida sports betting sites.

Sports betting sites that may launch in Florida

Once the legal battle against the Hard Rock sportsbook is settled and sports wagering law clarified, a good number of great sports betting sites will certainly be aiming to enter the Sunshine State market, especially given the potential Florida has as sports wagering state. Owing to this, we have carefully explored a few of the sports betting brands that look most likely to debut in FL when the opportunity presents itself.

BetMGM Florida

The MGM Resorts International sports betting created in part in affiliation with GVC Holding is widely recognized for its wide sports coverage, great mobile app, attractive bonuses, and promotions.

BetMGM sportsbook is among the leading online sports betting brands in the United States, and it is legal in many US states. Owing to the operator’s widespread popularity, we are pretty sure that BetMGM will be among the sports betting brands that will launch in the Sunshine State.

DraftKings Florida

When it comes to the United States sports betting market, Draftkings sportsbook is among the leaders. DraftKings is legal in many states in the US. And their daily fantasy sports are currently available in Florida, meaning that DK is already a known brand in the Sunshine State. So, DraftKings shouldn’t have any issues gaining access to the state’s sports betting market when the time comes.

Caesars Florida

Having recently bought William Hill in April 2021, Caesars sports betting brand is now viewed by many as one of the United States online sportsbooks. The operator was basically an online casino before buying William Hill.

Since the operator branched into the online sports betting landscape, its online sportsbook is currently available in more than 15 states in the US. And the number is set to increase in the future as more and more states legalize sports betting. Caesars sportsbook is known for regular promotions, odds boosts, and hundreds of sports and betting options.

BetRivers Florida

In operation since 2009, BetRivers sportsbook is owned and operated by Rush Street Interactive. BetRivers sportsbook is among the most trusted and reliable sports betting brands in the US market today. The operator is currently available in over 10 states, including Michigan, West Virginia, and New York.

When it comes to bonuses and features, BetRivers does not disappoint at all. The operator has several generous betting bonuses and ongoing promotional offers for both new and old players. Besides bonuses, BetRivers covers a wide range of sports and markets. On top of that, the operator offers plenty of banking methods, including bank transfers, e-wallets, and e-checks.

BetRivers sportsbook has always been among the early birds when it comes to launching in a newly legalized sports betting market. So we are pretty sure that BetRivers will be among the first online betting sites to launch in the Sunshine State.

Tipico Florida

Massive bonuses, competitive odds, ongoing promotions, and a wide range of betting options make Tipico a reliable partner. Although Tipico is among the new kids on the United States sports betting market, it is rapidly working itself to the top.

Tipico is popular among bettors across the globe and is considered one of the best in Germany. This operator uses a special proprietary platform designed for high-quality mobile betting. Tipico’s expertise can give it the competitive advantage it needs to make a huge splash in the Sunshine State.

Can you bet on sports online legally in FA?

No, you cannot legally bet on sports online in the Sun State. Rewinding back to 2018, the Seminole sealed their grip on any future spread of sports wagering by backing the passage of Amendment 3. The law made it possible for future lawmakers to approve sports wagering without working with the Seminole.

After almost three more years of legal debate, in May 2021 a fresh compact was approved to theoretically allow mobile apps sports betting within the borders of the Sun State. Despite the fact that the bill got published in the Federal Register, it did not account for its official approval as law. With the legal state of sports betting being unclear, the owners of the Hard Rock casino chain in Florida, Seminole pressed on to establish a Hard Rock online sports wagering platform, and the platform went live in November 2021.

However, the sports betting platform’s debut was short-lived as a group filed a lawsuit at the federal level to challenge its legality. This forced the Seminole to shut down the Hard Rock sports betting platform barely a month after its launch.

The latest news about online sports betting in Florida

In recent times, a lot has been happening in the Florida online sports betting landscape. Below we have picked a few top and latest news about internet sports wagering in the Sun State.

Cory Zeidman scammed millions of Florida residents in a sports wagering scheme

The United States authorities arrested a man for allegedly defrauding his victims of more than $25 million in a sports wagering scheme on supposedly fixed games. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charged Cory Zeidman with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. Mr. Cory Zeidman faces forfeiture of not less than $25 million, three properties, and $750,000 from bank accounts.

Sports betting halted in Florida

Owing to the fact that a United States Federal judge ruled that the Sun State’s gambling compact violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) it was thrown out the Sun State sports wagering deal with the Seminole Tribe was.

In-person and internet sports wagering has therefore been discontinued in the state. Also, mobile betting is unlikely to continue until 2023. As of the first quarter of 2022, the Seminole Tribe is still pleading the court verdict. And there is a green light showing that the Sun State residents would finally be able to place legal bets on their favorite sports. However, that may not be possible till 2023.

Who regulates online sports betting in FA?

The Florida Gaming Control Commission regulates gambling activities in the state, including internet sports wagering. In 2021 the body within the Department of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General created the Florida Gaming Control Commission.

The commission has the responsibility of performing the tasks listed below by 1 July 2022.

Exercise all executive and regulatory powers of the Sun State on all forms of gambling authorized by the state, such as slot machine facilities, pari-mutuel betting, and card rooms, as well as the oversight of gambling compacts under the federal IGRA (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act), however, except state lottery games approved by the state law.

  • Make sure that residents do not interpret state laws to expand gambling.
  • Directing the criminal infringement of the Sun State gambling laws to the right Florida attorney or to the Office of State Prosecution, as applicable.
  • Examining any issue within the sphere of authority of the Department of Business Services Division of Pari-mutuel betting.

Brick-and-mortar sports betting locations in Florida

In addition to the online sports betting sites, there is also the potential for loads of retail-leading US sportsbooks that will be debuting in the Sun State. Currently, you will find seven Native American Casinos that are likely to top the list of retail sports betting locations. Besides these Native American Casinos, there are plenty of racinos that will possibly be accepting bets on sports.

Also, Sun State could also permit sports wagering at professional sports venues, such as NBA, NHL, NASCAR facilities, NFL, and PGA. When the legal issues surrounding legal sports betting in Florida are finally settled, below is the list of the casinos that are likely to offer retail sports betting in the Sun State.

  • Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
  • Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood
  • Seminole Classic Casino, Hollywood
  • Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek
  • Seminole Casino Brighton, Okeechobee
  • Seminole Casino Hotel, Immokalee

Do you pay taxes on online sports betting wins in FA?

In the United States sports betting winnings are considered income. Hence, players must report their gambling winnings. Keep in mind that these betting winnings can be subjected to both state and federal taxes. Reporting gambling winnings is the sole responsibility of the punters, only winnings of $600 and above will prompt the wagering brand that you are using to send you a 1099-MIS form.

Since betting winnings are taxable, players are required to report their winnings on their tax returns in accordance with the Internal (Revenue Service) IRS prescribed manner. Players are not just required to report their sports betting winnings, they also need to report other betting incomes, including horse races, lotteries, casinos, and raffles. Whether you are a full-time gambler who makes all his income wagering on basketball or a casual punter who wagers once a month on NBA, all income generated from gambling must be reported.

FAQ

What is the minimum age you can bet on sports in FA?

In general, the minimum betting age is 21 years for casino games and sports betting. Other sports like poker, bingo, lottery games, and pari-mutuel wagering is 18. This implies that you must be 21 years before you will be able to wager on sports or casino games in the Sun State. However, if you are not up to 21, you can enjoy bingo, lottery games, poker, and pari-mutuel betting such as jai alai and horse racing until you are 21 years. Although there are offshore sports betting sites that accept players who are 18 years or older. But the issue with many of these offshore sites is that they can be trusted since they are not regulated by reputable gambling authorities.

Does Florida allow college sports betting online?

Yes, the compact agreed upon by all the parties involved includes the ability to wager on college sports in Florida. But since a federal court ruled out the compact towards the end of 2021, there are no available sports betting platforms within the Sun State. Hence, we are just going to wait for all the legal issues to be resolved, so we'll know if there will be changes. We will constantly update our readers on what is happening in the Florida sports betting landscape, so ensure that you constantly visit this site.

Does Florida have strict sports bet licensing laws?

Yes, Florida has strict sports betting licensing laws. These strict licensing laws are to ensure that Sun State residents are protected from fraudulent sports betting sites that will cheat them. The Florida Gaming Control Commission has been charged with the responsibility of ensuring that sports betting brands operating within the borders of the Sun State comply with all FA gambling rules and regulations. That is why we always recommend playing with online sports betting sites licensed in the state. When playing with Florida sports betting sites, you won't have to worry about the security of your funds and personal details because the commission mandates them to employ the best security facilities, such as firewalls and the latest encryption technology.