Online Casinos In Florida: What You Need to Know

Ah, Florida—the Sunshine State. It is famous for its beaches, theme parks, and… gambling? You might not consider Florida a huge destination for betting, but with its many legal options, it is well worth a visit to investigate what the scene has to offer. If you’re interested in gaming, online casinos in Florida are becoming a hot topic, offering new ways to test your luck beyond traditional poker tables and racetracks. Whether you’re placing bets in person or exploring digital platforms, some of the Sunshine State’s statutes may intrigue you.

The state of Florida enjoys its tried-and-true gaming venues, from the state lottery to the reliable Seminole Tribal casinos. Recent attempts to expand gambling have met with some resistance, but for now, the Sunshine State has several certified ways for residents and tourists alike to part with their paychecks in the hope that Lady Luck might be on their side. In addition to the eight roomier-than-most tribal casinos, which include a couple of versions of “Hard Rock,” Florida has 12 pari-mutuel venues (mostly at racetracks), where you can safely place bets on horses and dog races. For those interested in digital gaming, online casinos in Florida are also gaining popularity, offering more options beyond traditional brick-and-mortar establishments.

The Lottery: Who hasn’t fantasized about becoming a millionaire after a quick scratch-off ticket? Florida’s state lottery is enormous and one of the largest in the U.S., offering everything from instant-win games to Powerball and Mega Millions. You could hit the jackpot!

Horse Racing: While not as glamorous as the horse races you might see on TV, Florida does have a number of tracks where you can place bets on the ponies. Just be aware that the laws governing horse racing are, shall we say, a bit complicated, with a whole lot of repealed and revised statutes over the years. But hey, it’s all part of the charm, right?

Now, things become a tad more complicated—and, some might say, less fun. Florida has always been a wallflower when it comes to online gambling. While online casinos in Florida are a growing topic of discussion, legal restrictions have kept the industry in flux. In fact, a recent bill signed by the governor has, for all intents and purposes, put the state in “brakes mode” when it comes to online gaming. Instead, Florida seems to be concentrating on its live-gaming experience, from poker rooms to tribal casinos. That’s where the action is, and for now, that’s where the future of gaming in Florida appears to be heading.

A major blow to online gaming in Florida came in 2013 when the state legislature passed House Bill 155, which effectively closed the door on internet gambling in the state. The bill put an end to internet cafés that were using loopholes to offer gambling that was against the law. Although these internet cafés offered more than just gambling—imagine a really laptop-friendly Starbucks—they were also home to over 1,000 jobs. By law, however, these cafés were not allowed to offer online gambling, and the bill that passed in 2013 put a stop to that, for better or worse. Since then, there has been little movement toward legalizing online casinos in Florida, and for now, most forms of internet gambling remain firmly in the realm of “illegal.”

The history of gambling in Florida is a tale of contrasts. It is punctuated by a series of expansions and contractions, with tribal casinos, commercial casinos, and a sometimes-conflicted state government trying to balance demands for stricter regulations with calls for a more open market. Since gambling became legal in certain forms, Florida has had to repeat the tired old saw that with gambling comes responsibility. And over the decades, as dial-up became broadband and poker-faced internet avatars replaced beer-bellied poker buddies, the rule has applied with even more force to online gambling. But don’t expect a booming digital casino scene just yet—at least not in the near future.

Will Florida’s Online Gambling Landscape Remain Unchanged? At present, Florida appears quite resolute in its stance against online gambling. Yet, as many legal experts will tell you, the laws can and do change—sometimes very quickly. States like Michigan and New Jersey have embraced online gaming in recent years, and while Florida has not yet followed suit, there is always chatter about potential new legislation. Could the Sunshine State’s gambling landscape change in the near future? And if it does, could that online windfall also help bolster the state’s budget?

The question “Is online gambling legal in Florida?” currently has a short answer: no, it is not. Although some states have moved toward a more fully developed online gambling scene, in Florida you won’t find a regulated online poker room or a safe place to gamble in a virtual casino.

The best you have right now is a good old-fashioned lottery, along with regulated gambling in places that take bets on the results of horse races. If you’re a Florida resident who can walk into an international or Florida-based sportsbook, you’re doing much better than most people who want to legally gamble online. But short of that, the options are limited—and leaving the state may be your best bet.