Sports Betting in Florida (2023)

Florida Sports Betting Guide

Florida also referred to as the Sunshine State, is home to over 21 million people. This figure makes it the third most populous state in the United States. The USNews websites and many other sources refer to its numerous eye candies as a popular tourist attraction; over 122 million tourists visited the state in 2021. 

The number of tourists per year surpasses the number of residents in the Sunshine state. So, if you do the maths, it doesn't take much to know that sports betting in such a state would greatly benefit the state, an absolute knockout. But the online gambling nature of things has been a bit messy. So, technically, sports betting in Florida is gone. 

In this article, we will be discussing the current situation of sports betting in Florida. There will also be an FAQ section where we provide answers to your pressing questions.

Overview of Online Sports Betting in the Sunshine State

Sports betting in Florida is within the group of people's monopoly called the Seminole Tribe. The Seminole Tribe is a group of Native Americans indigenous to the state of Florida. The tribe has the exclusive right to offer all forms of casino-style gaming. This right includes sports betting in the state. 

Operation control also extends to the Hard Rock Sportsbook in Hollywood, the largest casino complex in the region. In November, Hard Rock partnered with the Seminole Tribe to launch the first sports betting app in the state. Additionally, other sportsbooks such as BetMGM and DraftKings had to pay a certain percentage of their revenue to the Seminole Tribe to operate in Florida. 

In April 2021, the state, via Governor Ron DeSantis, reached an agreement with the Seminole Tribe to allow them to expand their gaming capabilities to include craps and roulette in addition to sports betting. The Florida gambling compact, approved by the state legislature in May 2021, was set to earn the state of Florida an annual payment of $500 million for at least the subsequent five years. However, several legal roadblocks have led to a short life span of sports betting in the state, making it difficult to predict if it will resume in 2022. 

Sports betting went live in November 2021 and did not settle before a lawsuit struck it. The lawsuit was filed by the pari-mutuel operators and anti-gambling watchdog against the legality of online sports betting in Florida. The suit was decided against sports betting at the Federal court by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. In addition, the judge claimed the gaming compact contradicted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, violating the Act. Thus, there are no options for legal sports betting in Florida for the time being.

Sports betting in FL would generate millions in taxes and a huge betting market considering the population. When the legal roadblocks are cleared, FL will become a significant state with an impressive betting market that every operator would want to launch.

Laws Governing Sports Betting in Florida

Since each state regulates sports betting, it is expected that Florida would have its peculiar laws. Concerning online sports betting, the laws guiding its operations are tied to the tribal compact of 2021. There are certain specifications you need to meet for you to be eligible to bet in Florida. These include;

• Seminole Indians are permitted to share 13.75 of the revenue with the state. However, the deal is tied to them signing contracts with three or more pari-mutuel operators within a three-month timeline. 
• The Seminole Indian tribe has complete control of FL sports betting.
• Players must be located in Florida at the time they want to wager.
• The age limit to wager on sports is 21 years. Users must be at least 21years old.
• You must have a valid deposit and withdrawal method.
• Most importantly, key personnel from college or pro sports teams, including coaches, players, trainers, referees, and other officials, are not allowed to engage in sports betting.

Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons and former University of Alabama star receiver, was suspended for at least the 2022 season for betting on National Football League games. This situation happened in the latter part of November while he was away from the team for issues reportedly related to his mental health.

Online Sportsbooks in Florida

Currently, online sports betting is not legal in Florida, pending the appellate court's final decision. However, Hard Rock Sportsbooks were permitted before the institution of the lawsuit. US sportsbooks are only licensed at the state level.

Therefore, any website that suggests betting from anywhere in the US is an offshore website. These are illegal and unprotected sites. 

Hard Rock Sportsbook FL - 9.5/10

This player asset is one of the most recognized sportsbook brands globally. The Hard Rock's online sportsbook looks to parlay the brand cache into a positive wagering experience for bettors. Its sportsbook has plenty of betting markets and great live betting when available to punters. Website optimization is also provided for mobile devices, and it has a good welcome bonus and promotions for regular casino players. 

The Hard Rock sportsbook offers bets on many sports on their website. These include; Football, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball, MMA, Boxing, Golf, Auto Racing, etc. The site also has everything from basic Moneyline odds to elaborate prop bets. It also offers multi-leg chances like parlays, round robins, teasers, etc. The odds are also reasonable and competitive—quality support team to answer your complaints. Deposits and withdrawals are quick and easy.

Hard Rock sportsbook was live and accepting wagers until the 4th of December, 2021, when a federal judge issued an injunction requiring the sportsbook to stop taking stakes while the judicial process plays out.

Possible Sportsbooks to Launch Soon

Caesars Sportsbook - 9.5/10

Caesars sportsbook promises an incredible welcome offer with first bet insurance for new players. For convenience, we suggest you download the mobile app available for both Apple and Android devices when the online sportsbook comes onboard. Caesars has a good list of payment options that offer safe, secure, and quick money transactions. Withdrawals are set to be completed within three business days.

Caesars sportsbook also promises a great user experience via browsers, mobile apps, and website channels. You would get the same expectation using either platform. It also has very broad betting limits; players get to explore various sporting events held across the globe. However, it has a little show to release bonus funds. Caesars sportsbook has been online since 2020, merging with William Hill, and is available in over 16 states.

Finally, Caesars is already active in Florida via Isle Casino Pompano Park. Their retail casino is located in Fort Lauderdale. We expect Caesars to leverage its retail casino experience to provide online products and services when they are permitted to go online. 

FanDuel Sportsbook - 9.3/10

It isn't easy to think of a betting market and not imagine FanDuel sportsbook offering its products and services. FanDuel is one of the top sports betting operators putting in for a license in the Sunshine state when every legal roadblock is cleared. The operator is live in every state where betting is legal, and they also have deep pockets to get the license, offering one of the best betting services.

The Fanduel sportsbook app is also available on iOS and Android stores. Payment methods are safe. Withdrawals have a record of being instant or within seven business days, depending on the method chosen.  

DraftKings Sportsbook - 9.3/10

DraftKings sportsbook is understandably one of the best online sports betting apps in the United States of America. They have the big bags and can easily outbid competitors if it comes to it. The sportsbook offers a modern app with a wide range of betting options and instantly updated lines. In addition, it provides a deposit promo bonus upon registration.

DraftKings Florida would be a huge addition to the betting market. The website is easy to operate, with a routine odds boost and many gaming options. DraftKings has a user-friendly interface that is highly rated in the gambling space. In addition, the sportsbook offers incredible promotional offerings and also offers incredible odds. Another perk to this betting platform is the banking methods. Deposit and withdrawal are carried out seamlessly. 

TwinSpires Sportsbook - 9.1/10

This sportsbook is owned by Churchill Downs Inc., which operates Calder Casinos in South Florida. In addition, TwinSpires sportsbook operates sports betting in several states. The sportsbooks were formerly known as BetAmerica, then rebranded in 2021 to the more popular TwinSpires name. 

The TwinSpires sportsbook would offer a signup risk-free bet bonus for newbies. They have a good range of sports events for players to wager on. Funding your account is seamless as it offers a good banking gateway. The withdrawal time is within 5 business days, offering punters quick withdrawals when initiated. It also has live sports betting and streaming features.

Where to Place Sports Wagers in FL

In addition to online sportsbooks, there are retail casinos where punters can place sports bets. Although sports betting is on hold, it is good to mention that the Seminole Tribe has about six retail sportsbooks in the state. When every layout and plan regarding sports betting is finalized, these establishments would have at least a sportsbook available to take bets. These six retail casinos include: 

• 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

Also, there would be sportsbooks at various pari-mutuel facilities such as Tampa Bay Downs Racecourse and Gulfstream Park Racetrack. But, again, just like other establishments, these facilities would partner with the tribe to get the sportsbook running.