Florida Sports Betting

Sports betting in Florida remains on hold after a compact previously signed by between the state and the Seminole Tribe was vacated on November 22, 2021. Under the previously signed compact mobile sports betting was legalized across the state. However, a judge ruled that the new compact, which had been approved by the Department of the Interior, violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The ruling is being appealed, which could mean its upheld and mobile sports betting is dead and will need to return to the drawing board, or the judge’s decision is reversed and mobile betting returns. Stay tuned while this battle continues in the courts.

Is sports betting legal in Florida?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Florida, but all gambling in the state must take place on tribal lands according to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos will be bettor’s only option until a new compact can be worked out or changes are made to federal and state laws.

Where can I bet at Florida sportsbooks?

The only mobile sportsbook in the state, Hard Rock Sportsbook, remains active, as they await the ruling on a request to stay the judgement that has vacated the previous compact until an appeal can be heard. The mobile app could go dark at anytime. Retail sportsbooks are expected to be setup at most tribal casinos in the state.

The list of current racinos, card rooms and casinos is below:

What about mobile sports betting apps in Florida?

No discussion of mobile as yet.

The legal age is 21 to play gambling machines, but 18 to play bingo, lotteries and pari-mutuel.

Who is allowed to offer Florida sports betting?

This hasn’t been decided but expect the Seminoles to hold the key to sports betting in Florida.

Who regulates or licenses Florida sports betting?

The Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission manages its affairs. If the state needed an overall body to regulate sports betting matters, a gambling commission would be established by legislation.

A bill that would have required a voter referendum in November stalled and then died. There were late negotiations with the powerful Seminole Tribe, who control gambling via a deal with Florida, but nothing came to pass. And previous discussions around tackling ports betting via the Florida lottery – and not with the Seminoles – also petered out. (Read Florida legalization updates).

What sports will be favorites of Florida sports bettors?

Florida is a tourism-heavy and recreation-focused state. It’s therefore not surprising that professional and college sports are huge here. Each pro league has at least two teams in the state.

The NFL features three teams, headlined by the NFL South’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose signing of Tom Brady in 2020 vaulted them ahead of the other teams in terms of betting profile. The Miami Dolphins (AFC East) and Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South) complete the Florida NFL betting picture.

The NBA has two teams with the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic in the Southeast Division. The NHL also features two teams, the Florida Panthers in Sunrise and the Tampa Bay Lightning, both in the Atlantic Division.

MLB has the Miami Marlins (NL East) and Tampa Bay Rays (AL East). MLS also has pro soccer teams in Inter Miami and Orlando City.

College sports is where betting in Florida could really take off, with so much interest and so many top-quality teams. In football, the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles of the ACC, along with the Florida Gators of the powerful SEC, dominate the Florida college landscape.

The rest of the Florida college roster is below.