Michael McKean is an experienced writer with a portfolio that includes work on the subjects of sport, gambling, travel and finance. With a background rooted in journalism, Michael first ventured into the professional writing world based in Switzerland, where he wrote for a number of language and travel sites and magazines before moving into the world of sports writing and gambling sites.
As an avid soccer fan, who follows everything from the Scottish lower leagues to the European elites, he has earned himself a solid reputation as a reliable football betting tipster and predictor. Outside of work, Michael has always gotten involved with grassroutes football everywhere he has worked and lived - UK, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Brazil - and still isn’t shy when it comes to pulling the boots on himself. As well as soccer, he has also developed a love of North American sports, particularly ice hockey - a love which began in Switzerland and saw him venture across the pond to follow the NHL. Moving away from dry land, he’s also a keen longboard surfer and is happiest when writing with a view of the ocean.
Those that want to spend some time and try to make some cash, but also have fun might wonder if online gambling in Florida and other types of gambling is legal or not.
Whether you want to play in land-based Florida casinos or if you want to do a bit of online gambling in Florida, you’re easily able to learn more about the legality of the casinos and gambling within this state and what to expect from using them. Keep reading to discover all about the legalities of online casinos in Florida.
Introduction into Florida gambling industry - What can you enjoy in FL?
The Florida gambling industry is one that welcomes one and all to come to play the game. Whether you are looking into the on-site Florida casinos or the online gambling in Florida, you can be sure to find exactly where to go, but also know that this is legal to play within the state of Florida. Learn more about the legalities, history, and background of the gambling and casinos found throughout the state of Florida and all that follows.
Gambling guide - Florida gambling rules for 2021
Permitted / Offered?
Notes & Restrictions
Land-Based Casinos
Yes
Online Gambling
No
Playing in off-shore online casinos is allowed, but owning and operating your own online casino is not legal within the state.
Sports Betting
No
Horse betting and DFS are two sports betting options that are legal, all other sports betting is currently not regulated in the state.
Lottery
Yes
Both state-wide lottery options and multi-state options are available and legal to play.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Yes
House Gambling
No
The only time that house gambling is allowed is if it is for a charitable event where money is being raised.
Minimum Gambling Age
18 or 21
18 for all gambling options besides some land-based casinos that offer alcohol within their establishments, where it is 21 years of age.
Land-based casino legal situation - Legal, as long as there's a permit
Those Florida casinos that are land-based are able to operate in the state as long as they have a permit and are located on an Indian Reservation. Any other forms of casino gambling are prohibited and the licenses that are needed are unable to be granted to those that are not on these lands.
Other forms of gambling are allowed in the state, such as card rooms and horse racing, but these have to be regulated in other ways.
Some of the Florida casinos that you can expect to find in the area include, but are not limited to:
Seminole Classic and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Casino Miami
Calder Casino
The Big Easy
Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club
Casino Fort Pierce
Online casino legal situation - We're not quite there yet
Online gambling in Florida is currently not permitted, which means that players will have to resort to playing at land-based casinos and racetracks across the state. There are legislators currently working to legalize online gambling, but there's no guarantee that online wagering will be legalized.
Any players interested in wagering online will be left to other forms of online entertainment such as play casinos. Florida natives have several land-based casinos to choose from and many residents will find it easy to locate casinos to travel to and to play at.
Mobile casino gambling situation - Watch this space
There is no legal mobile wagering in Florida just as online gambling isn't legal to state residents. The only mobile wagering that residents can do is locally at land-based casinos throughout the state. Some land-based casinos offer mobile features that there users can enjoy while on location. Mobile wagering remotely is only available in certain states in the United States, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but it is unclear if this service will become available to Floridians in the future.
Online casino operator licensing process - How can online casinos legally operate in the USA?
In order for any casinos in Florida to operate and do so, well, they have to take all of the necessary legal steps. In addition to providing information on the business they want to run, their particular land and casino space, as well as other information regarding the people working within the casino and games being offered, there are a series of other documents that need to be supplied as part of the licensing process.
The Florida casino company has to make sure they also apply for the relevant permits if they are going to be selling alcohol at their establishment or providing other entertainment. Casinos in Florida are regulated through the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering (PMW) of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). This department provides information for the casinos that wish to provide gaming and gambling solutions to those in the area.
The department may request that you send in additional information or documentation along with your application to open your casino in Florida and this information should be sent as soon as possible to reduce the chances of stopping or slowing down the application process.
The process may be different for some casinos in Florida, as compared to others, for various reasons. Completing the information and handing it into the appropriate offices is the first step to receiving a license to operate the casino.
The history of gambling in Florida - A brief overview of Florida's gambling past
Gambling in Florida is not unheard of. With many Native Americans running casinos throughout the state, and online casino games in Florida, you can expect that many people have come to know more about the games offered and the money you can win with them.
Horse and dog racing was voted on in 1931, and the votes were in favor of opening up this gaming and gambling avenue to those that wanted to put cash down, watch the races, and win a little. Gambling and pari-mutuel betting and gaming was legalized in the state of Florida in 1932. This was to help bring more revenue to the state after the Great Depression had left the state devastated. A few years later in 1935, slot machines were then added to the list of legal gaming and gambling options for those in the area.
However, come early 1973, these same slot machines that were once legalized within the state had to be removed and were later banned except in Native American ran casinos in Florida.
As gaming and gambling becomes more accepted across the country, Florida may end up legalizing other forms of gaming and casinos in Florida further to what they currently provide to those visitors. This will later be put to a vote to see if it is something that the state would want to introduce to the area.
Our most frequently asked questions - All you need to know
⛹ Can I gamble online in the state of Florida?
No, you cannot legally gamble online in Florida at this time. Instead, you must wager at land-based casinos throughout the state.
🥇What is the best online Casino Site in Florida?
Since online casinos cannot be owned or operated within the state there are no options to choose from at the current time.
⚽ When did legal online casinos in Florida open?
There are currently no legal online casinos operating in Florida; players are still waiting for the laws to change in the state before they can legally wager online.
🗺 Where can I play using my mobile device or tablet?
There currently aren't any casinos that support online mobile play because online wagering isn't legal in Florida just yet.
❓ Who is responsible for regulating Florida online gambling?
There is currently no division or department that is responsible for regulating Florida’s online gambling industry, but the department that is responsible for on-site casinos is the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering (PMW) of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
Those that want to ensure that they are gambling responsibly should always take into account how much they want to spend while playing, how much they can safely lose and know when to walk away. To help with this, online casinos typically offer gambling controls that can help you set parameters that limit the time and money you spend. We can strongly recommend that you set these controls whenever you join an online casino.
Social casinos - Try for free
Those that want to play in Florida casinos, but want to do so without having to spend money can play in a social casino. This is where you go to spend time with those that also want to have a good time, but do not want to put money down.
Social casinos are generally harder to find, as it is not true gambling that you are doing, due to the lack of money involved. When it comes to choosing a casino, you have to consider where social casinos are operating. These services can usually be found on the main floor of casinos in Florida.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) - Great for sports fans
Those that love sports are highly likely to enjoy playing daily fantasy sports. DFS is a great way to enjoy the fun of putting together your own sport's teams and pitting your wits against fellow fans. If you have specific players that you prefer over others, then you can put them in your teams and see if they perform to your expectations.
Daily Fantasy Sports is thought of as a skills-based game, making it legal because it is not thought of as pure gambling. Due to this, those that like to play fantasy sports are able to do so as it is perfectly legal.
Unfortunately, Florida is still lagging behind many other states when it comes to gambling laws. Whilst you can legally bet at racetracks and on-site casinos, online gambling and sports betting are still prohibited. If you do enjoy online gambling then you do have a couple of options available - Daily Fantasy Sports and social casinos allow you to try out various games and contests online, without the risk that comes with online gambling for money.
Of course, like many states, Florida may see a change in gambling regulations in the future, but for now, players are somewhat limited in their options. But watch this pace and check out our reviews for all the latest developments in Florida gambling laws.
