Florida Gambling Laws
This page discusses the various Florida gambling laws. We will highlight every legal form of gambling and explain what is still prohibited.
What kinds of gambling are legal in Florida?
Most forms of gambling are legal in Florida, but a few noteworthy exceptions exist. Below, we have examined each type of gambling and discussed the current legal situation.
Sweepstakes/social casinos
Social and sweepstakes casinos accept players aged 18 or older in Florida. These sites allow you to play slots, table games, video poker, and live dealer games with two currencies:
- Gold Coins: These standard coins cannot be redeemed for prizes, as they have no monetary value.
- Sweeps Coins: These premium coins can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards if you complete a playthrough requirement.
WOW Vegas, High 5 Casino, Pulsz, and McLuck Casino are the best sweepstakes and social casinos. They comply with federal regulations and local sweepstakes laws in Florida.
Section 849.094 of the 2023 Florida Statutes defines a “game promotion” as “a contest, game of chance, sweepstakes, or gift enterprise, conducted by an operator within or throughout the state and other states in connection with and incidental to the sale of consumer products or services, and in which the elements of chance and prize are present.”
This means you can only play games of chance, such as slots, blackjack, and roulette. You cannot purchase Sweeps Coins. They can only be received for free via bonuses, by writing to the company and requesting them, or as a gift when you purchase Gold Coins.
In Florida, the maximum prize you can win from a single spin or hand at a social or sweepstakes casino is equivalent to $5,000. For example, if you win $6,000 worth of Sweeps Coins, you will only receive $5,000 in Sweeps Coins. This rule only applies to two states: Florida and New York.
Online casinos
Florida online casinos have not been legalized in the state. Only seven states allow real-money online casino gaming: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
The Seminole Tribe is keen to launch an online casino in Florida. In April 2024, Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen suggested that the tribe might be prepared to relinquish its exclusive rights to run online sports betting in Florida in exchange for the green light to launch an online casino.
That would require the state to agree to an updated gaming compact with the Seminole.
Online poker
Online poker in Florida has not been legalized either. You can visit lots of land-based poker rooms in the Sunshine State, but sites like PokerStars and WSOP Online are not permitted to accept Floridians.
Players in Florida can sign up with social poker rooms, such as Global Poker. They allow you to play poker tournaments and ring games with Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins, and you can compete against players across North America.
Online sports betting
Online sports betting is legal in Florida, but only via the Hard Rock Bet app. In 2021, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which owns the Hard Rock brand, agreed to an updated gaming compact with the state. A bill ratified the updated compact, which was approved by the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs in August 2021.
Under the terms of the revised compact, the tribe was permitted to offer online sports betting in Florida, provided the servers were located on tribal land. A company called West Flagler Associates (WFA), which owns Casino Miami and Bonita Springs Poker Room, challenged the decision in court, arguing that the updated gaming compact broke state law.
US District Judge Dabney Friedrich upheld WFA’s appeal, ruling that the compact violated both Florida’s constitution and the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe was forced to take Hard Rock Sportsbook offline after just 34 days of operation, but it did not give up the fight.
A two-year legal battle ensued. In June 2023, the US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Judge Friedrich’s 2021 decision, paving the way for the Seminole to relaunch an online sportsbook. WFA filed a new appeal, but the Florida Supreme Court rejected it, and the US Supreme Court also declined to take up the appeal. That allowed the Seminole to launch a new online sportsbook called Hard Rock Bet in November 2023.
No other online sportsbooks are legal in Florida. In exchange for the exclusive rights to run online sports wagering, the Seminole agreed to pay the state of Florida approximately $20 billion over the course of the 30-year compact, including $2.5 billion in the first five years of the agreement.
Retail casinos
The Seminole Tribe runs six casinos in Florida, including Hard Rock Tampa, Hard Rock Hollywood, and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. They operate under the authority of a tribal-state gaming compact. You must be 21 years of age to gamble legally in Florida at retail casinos.
The compact was updated in 2021 to craps and roulette, along with in-person and online sports betting. Tribal casinos run by the Seminole now offer thousands of slot machines, table games like blackjack and baccarat, craps, roulette, poker rooms, sportsbooks, and bingo halls.
Meanwhile, the Miccosukee Tribe runs a large casino in Miami and a travel center casino named Little Trail Casino in Ochopee. The Miccosukee Tribe has its own state-tribal gaming compact, which does not cover craps, roulette, or sports betting.
Racinos and cardrooms
There are lots of horse racing tracks, greyhound racing tracks, and simulcast racing venues in Florida. In Miami-Dade County and Broward County, these racetracks are permitted to host slot machines, turning them into racinos. Most do not offer poker or card games, although Harrah’s Pompano Beach in Broward County has a WSOP poker room.
Voters in both counties approved slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities in November 2004. The constitution was amended, and pari-mutuel facilities are now authorized to offer slot machines under Chapter 551 of the Florida Statutes. These racinos are required to pay a 35% tax rate on slot machine revenues, and they fall under the jurisdiction of the Florida Gaming Control Commission.
Elsewhere in Florida, racetracks are permitted to host cardrooms. These cardrooms host poker tournaments and cash games, plus games like DJ Wild Stud Poker, I Luv Suits, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. However, they do not offer slot machines or table games like blackjack and baccarat.
In July 2003, the Florida Legislature gave the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering permission to regulate cardrooms in Florida. Lawmakers determined that poker was a form of pari-mutuel betting, as opposed to casino gaming.
Cardrooms are now permitted under Florida Statute 849.086. They can only be operated by licensed pari-mutuel permit holders, who must obtain a valid cardroom license from the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Cardrooms must pay the state 10% of their monthly gross receipts in tax.
Retail sports betting
The Seminole Tribe was also permitted to offer in-person sports betting under the terms of the updated gaming compact in 2021. Plans had to be shelved while the legal battle unfolded, but the tribe was cleared to launch retail sportsbooks at all six of its land-based Florida casinos in 2023.
These retail sports betting lounges operate under the Hard Rock Bet brand. You can place bets on professional and college sports if you visit these sportsbooks. Betting on in-state college teams is legal, and you can place prop bets on college games, too.
Horse racing
The legislature approved the Florida Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act in 1931. Gov. Doyle Carlton vetoed the decision, but the House of Representatives overrode his veto. That legalized horse racing, greyhound racing, and pari-mutuel betting in Florida.
The law, which now forms Chapter 550 of the Florida Statutes, has been amended several times over the ensuing years. Pari-mutuel wagering is now authorized for horse racing, harness racing, simulcast greyhound racing, jai alai games, and cardroom poker games in Florida.
Horseplayers can place bets on live racing at various tracks in Florida. They also offer simulcast racing, allowing you to bet on races from across the country. Some venues no longer offer live racing, but they offer simulcast racing. Online racebooks like TwinSpires and TVG are also permitted to accept players in Florida.
Lottery
Florida voters authorized a state lottery when they headed to the ballot boxes for the general election in November 1986. The constitution was amended, and the Florida Lottery began operations in January 1988.
The first game was a $1 scratch-off with a top prize of $1 million. Florida Lotto, the inaugural draw game, began in April 1988 with a $2 million jackpot. In July 2008, the Florida Lottery joined the Multi-State Lottery Association. That allowed Floridians to buy Powerball tickets for the first time.
Anyone 18 or older can play three multi-state draw games in Florida: Cash4Life, Mega Millions, and Powerball. Florida-only draw games include Florida Lotto, Pick 5, Pick 4, Pick 3, Pick 2, Fantasy 5, Jackpot Triple Pay, and Cash Pop. Instant win games are also available.
Florida does not permit internet lottery (iLottery) games, and online lottery courier services are not allowed to operate in the Sunshine State. Therefore, you need to buy all tickets in person at licensed lottery retailers.
DFS
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps like DraftKings and FanDuel accept players in Florida. They have not explicitly been permitted to do so, but they have not been prohibited either, so they operate in a legal gray area.
In January 2024, Sen. Travis Huston filed SB 1568. The bill aimed to authorize and regulate fantasy sports contests in Florida, allowing the state to receive licensing fees and revenue taxes from these apps. However, the bill died in committee.
In February 2024, the Florida Gaming Control Commission ordered PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and Betr to stop running pick’em-style contests. By running those contests, they were deemed to be “offering or accepting illegal bets or wagers from residents” and “conducting any illegal lotteries.”
Bingo
The Seminole Tribe and the Miccosukee Tribe are permitted to run bingo games at their tribal casinos under the terms of their gaming compacts.
Charities, nonprofits, and veterans’ organizations are also permitted to offer bingo games in Florida. Except for instant bingo prizes, which are limited to the amounts displayed on the ticket or the game flare, a jackpot must not exceed the value of $250, and other prizes cannot exceed $50.
There are various other regulations for charities to follow, which are laid out in Florida Statutes 849.0931.
What are the penalties for breaking Florida gambling law?
Florida Statute 849.08 forbids players from engaging “in any game at cards, keno, roulette, faro or other game of chance, at any place, by any device whatever, for money or other thing of value.”
If you break this law, you will be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor. The punishment for this crime is a fine of up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail.
A penny-ante exception under Florida Statute 849.085 states that you can play certain games provided the winnings do not exceed $10 for a single round, hand, or game.
The game must take place in a dwelling and have no admission fees, commissions, or advertising. This exception covers poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes, or mahjong.
If the penny-ante exception does not cover you, you will be punished if you are charged with illegal gambling.
Understanding the legal landscape of gambling in Florida is crucial. For more insights into gambling regulations and compliance, check out our Florida Gambling Taxes page.
What legal gambling locations are available in Florida?
There are currently 36 legal gambling locations in Florida. They include tribal casinos, racinos, and cardrooms.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa is the largest casino in the state, with more than 5,000 slot machines, 179 table games, a 46-table poker room, and a sportsbook. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood is also huge, as is Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.
Venue | Location | Games Offered |
---|---|---|
Bestbet Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Bestbet Orange Park | Orange Park | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Betsbet St. Augustine | St. Augustine | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Bonita Springs Poker Room | Bonita Springs | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Calder Casino | Miami Gardens | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
Card House Port St. Lucie | Port St. Lucie | Jai-alai, poker |
Casino Miami | Miami | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
Creek Entertainment Gretna | Gretna | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
Derby Lane | St. Petersburg | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Ebro Greyhound Park and Poker Room | Ebro | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino | Hallandale Beach | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
Hamilton Downs | Jennings | Pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood | Hollywood | Slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, 3 Card Poker, Let It Ride, Casino War, poker tournaments and cash games, sportsbook |
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa | Tampa | Slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, 3 Card Poker, Let It Ride, Casino War, poker tournaments and cash games, sportsbook |
Harrah's Pompano Beach | Pompano Beach | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
Hialeah Park Casino | Hialeah | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
Little Trail Casino | Ochopee | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
Magic City Casino Miami | Miami | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
Melbourne Greyhound Park and Club 52 Poker Room | Melbourne | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Miccosukee Casino & Resort | Miami | Slots, blackjack, baccarat, table poker games, bingo room |
Ocala Gainesville Poker | Citra | Jai-alai, poker |
OcalaBetS | Ocala | Pari-mutuel betting, poker |
One-Eyed Jacks Poker Room | Sarasota | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Orange City Racing and Card Club | Orange City | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Oxford Downs | Summerfield | Pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Palm Beach Kennel Club | West Palm Beach | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Pensacola Greyhound Track and Poker Room | Pensacola | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Sanford Orlando Kennel Club | Longwood | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
Seminole Casino Brighton | Okeechobee | Slots, bingo room, sportsbook |
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek | Coconut Creek | Slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, 3 Card Poker, Let It Ride, Casino War, poker tournaments and cash games, sportsbook |
Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee | Immokalee | Slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, table poker games, sportsbook |
Seminole Classic Casino Hollywood | Hollywood | Slots, blackjack, baccarat, table poker games, bingo room, sportsbook |
Tampa Bay Downs | Tampa | Pari-mutuel betting, poker |
TGT Poker and Racebook | Tampa | Simulcast pari-mutuel betting, poker |
The Big Easy Casino | Hallandale Beach | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
The Casino @ Dania Beach | Dania Beach | Slot machines, pari-mutuel betting |
If a venue is not featured in this table, it is likely to be illegal. Taking part in illegal gambling is punishable by a fine of up to $500 or up to 60 days in jail.
However, it is worth noting that bingo, sweepstakes, and drawings for chance are legal in Florida. Charities are permitted to run raffles, sweepstakes, and bingo games, provided they comply with state law, so you may find charitable gambling events outside of the venues listed above.
Timeline of legal gambling in Florida
These are the key legal developments that have shaped the modern gambling industry in Florida.
Florida Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act of 1931
The Florida Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act was approved in 1931 after the House overrode the governor’s veto. The law authorized live horse racing and greyhound racing, and pari-mutuel betting was permitted on these races. Jai-alai was added in 1935.
Since then, the law has been amended many times and now forms Chapter 550 of the Florida Statutes.
In May 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 8-A, a measure allowing pari-mutuel operators to drop harness racing, quarter horse racing, or jai-alai while keeping cardrooms.
Florida Public Education Lottery Act of 1987
Floridians approved a state lottery in 1986. Gov. Bob Martinez signed the Florida Public Education Lottery Act in 1987. The law now forms Chapter 24 of the Florida Statutes.
By 1999, the Florida Lottery had set a national record by transferring $9 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund after just 11 years of operation.
The Florida Lottery joined the Multi-State Lottery Association and added Powerball to its portfolio in 2008, followed by Mega Millions in 2013 and Cash4Life in 2017.
Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 843 in April 2012. The bill authorized the Florida Lottery to utilize Full Service Vending Machine technology. An initial 350 machines were distributed statewide.
In August 2023, a Floridian won $1.6 billion from a Mega Millions ticket, the largest win in the game’s history.
Cardrooms Authorized in 2003
In 2003, the Florida Legislature determined that poker was essentially a form of pari-mutuel wagering. That allowed venues with pari-mutuel permits to apply for cardroom licenses.
Cardrooms are now covered by Chapter 849.086 of the Florida Statutes. This law enables horse racing tracks, former greyhound racing tracks, and jai alai venues to host poker rooms.
When Gov. DeSantis signed SB 8-A in 2021, these pari-mutuel facilities were permitted to drop racing and focus solely on cardrooms. Many now only host cardrooms and simulcast racing, with live racing no longer held.
Constitutional Amendment Allows Slot Machines Vote in 2004
In November 2004, Florida voters authorized Miami-Dade and Broward counties to hold referenda to determine whether slot machines could be placed at pari-mutuel facilities.
The referenda were held in 2005. Voters in Broward County approved slot machines at jai-alai fronton, horse racing tracks, and greyhound tracks. Gulfstream Park, Pompano Park Race Track, and Mardi Gras Racetrack and Gaming Center rolled out slot machines in 2006.
Voters in Miami-Dade rejected the proposition. However, a second referendum took place in January 2008. Miami-Dade voters then approved the installation of slot machines at Miami Jai-Alai, the Flagler Sports and Entertainment Center greyhound track, and Calder Race Course. They are no longer required to host live racing, allowing them to focus on cardrooms.
No other counties have held referenda on slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities. Racetracks in the rest of Florida host cardrooms instead of slots.
Tribal-State Gaming Compact Signed in 2010
The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988. However, Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles refused to negotiate to allow the Seminole Tribe to offer Class III gaming in the state.
The tribe sued, and a prolonged legal battle ensued. Gov. Charlie Crist finally signed a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe in July 2010, permitting the tribe to offer slot machines and card games such as blackjack and baccarat on tribal land.
The state-tribal gaming compact was overhauled in 2021, allowing the Seminole to offer craps and roulette games, plus land-based sports betting and in-person sports wagering.
Florida Gaming Control Commission Created in 2021
In May 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 4, which created the five-member Florida Gaming Control Commission.
The commission members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. They serve four-year terms and oversee pari-mutuel wagering, cardrooms, and slot machine facilities in Florida.
The commission also oversees gaming compacts with the Seminole Tribe and the Miccosukee, but it does not cover the state lottery.
Resources
These are the resources that we used to compile the information on this Florida gambling laws page:
- 2021 Gaming Compact Between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida
- American Gaming Association – Florida
- Class III Gaming Compact Approved for Seminole Tribe of Florida
- Federal Register: Indian Gaming; Approval by Operation of Law of Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact in the State of Florida
- Florida Amendment 4 of 2004
- Florida Gaming Control Commission – Locations
- Florida Gaming Control Commission – Tracks and Frontons
- Florida SB 1568
- Florida Statutes 551 – Slot Machines
- Florida Statutes 849 – Gambling
- Florida Statutes 849.08
- Florida Statutes 849.085
- Florida Statutes 849.086
- Florida Statutes 849.094
- Governor Ron DeSantis Strikes Historic Gaming Compact with Seminole Tribe of Florida
- Implementation of the 2021 Gaming Compact Between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida