Online Casinos Florida
Although Florida is home to a thriving land-based casino industry, online casinos are illegal in the state. Until the laws change, and we can recommend online casinos in Florida, we will instead dedicate this page to detailing the current gambling options, legal situation, and the future of the market.
- Expert-reviewed Florida online casino laws
- Current gambling regulations in Florida
- Future of online casinos in Florida
- 0 Legal Online Casinos
- 0 Legal Land Based Casinos
- 0 Legal Social Casinos
- 0 Legal Bingo / Lottery Games
- Responsible Gaming
- National Florida Gaming Commission
Florida Online Casinos ā Laws in FL
According to the Florida Statutes, gambling is legal as long as it has been approved by law. As there are no laws addressing online casinos, there are no legal online casinos in FL to play at for the time being.
The Florida online gambling laws instead are based on the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which prohibits all forms of unauthorized online gambling. While there are currently no laws being considered to expand the market, you canĀ track any changes in legislation here.
The History of Gambling in Florida
Florida has one of the most interesting gambling histories of all US states. The most recent form of legal gambling was authorized in 1931 when pari-mutuel wagering on horse and dog races was approved. While casino gambling was outlawed for some time, this changed when the Native American tribes opened an unauthorized bingo hall on their lands.
While initially challenged, this led to the creation of the federal Indian Gaming Act, and Floridaās tribes were permitted to offer casino gambling. In 2004, slot machines were approved at commercial casinos and later, so too were table games. The successful 2021 bill deals with the first Florida online gambling law. The industry is overseen by the office of the Attorney General.
Important Dates in American Gambling History
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement
- West Virginia Lottery
- Michigan Gaming Control Board
The Wire Act of 1961
Before the Federal Wire Act of 1961, criminal organizations were side-stepping sports betting prohibition by calling in bets to states with legal sports betting markets. While this Act was created to make betting over phone lines illegal, it was later interpreted to outlaw internet bets too. This continues to have an impact on Floridaās online gambling laws.
Online Pokerās Black Friday
In 2006, the federal government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This outlawed all forms of internet gambling unless state laws stated otherwise, and immediately made all Florida online casinos illegal. It also explicitly outlawed online poker and sports betting. While many operators left, several offshore companies continued to accept US players.
On a Friday morning in 2011, the Department of Justice raided and shut down three of the largest online poker operators in the US. This effectively destroyed the US online poker industry and displayed that the federal government was prepared to enforce the law. Now, many states are working on creating regulated online gambling markets.
Popular Online Casino Games in Legal US States
Online Blackjack in Florida
Florida laws allow for land-based variants of blackjack to be played at commercial casinos, tribal casinos, and several other types of gambling establishments. Considering that the laws also facilitate high-limit betting and numerous variants, this makes Florida one of the best destinations to play blackjack in the USA.
If online blackjack in Florida was legalized, we have no doubt that this would be an extremely popular table game. Floridaās online casinos would be able to offer several variants that facilitate multi-hand gameplay, side bets, and live dealer games. Blackjack has one of the highest RTP rates, meaning itās one of the fairest online gambling options.
Online Roulette in Florida
Roulette too is permitted at commercial and tribal casinos in Florida. This means that local gamblers should be very familiar with the game. It may come as a surprise, but online casinos offer several high-quality adaptations of roulette that appeal to all types of budgets and preferences.
Itās worth pointing out that online roulette in Florida could be played from as little as 20c a spin, whereas many land-based casinos start bets from $5-$10. You should also have the option to choose American or European variants, with the latter offering higher RTPs than the former.
Online Slots in Florida
There are tens of thousands of slot machines spread throughout Floridaās gaming floors. It should go without saying, then, that slots are the most popular casino game in the state. If online casinos Florida were permitted, weāre sure that they would also make up a majority of the games on offer.
Online slots in Florida would come in an endless variety of themes and styles, and facilitate a wide range of per-spin bet sizes. Games such as Starburst or the Miami Vice-inspired Hotline series would certainly make a splash with gamers too, with new titles often being released every week.
Online Poker in Florida
Like all other casino games, online poker is illegal in FL and will be until Floridaās online gambling laws are changed. That said, there are dozens of places that locals can legally play in-person, and the state is one of only a few that has no upper betting limits on in-person poker.
If and when other forms of online gambling Florida are legalized, we imagine online poker in Florida could become one of the stateās main gambling attractions. Whether itās video or live dealer games, single cash games, or tournaments of Texas Holdāem, Stud, or Omaha, the state could even become a hub for major online poker events.
Land-Based Casinos in Florida
| Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa | š 5,000 slot machines, š 179 table games |
|---|---|
| Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood | š 3,100 slot machines, š 100 table games |
| Seminole Casino Coconut Creek | š 2,300 slot machines, š 70 table games |
Differences Between Land-Based and Online Casinos
If online casino gambling in Florida is legalized, you may wonder whether itās better to play for real money at the Seminole land-based casinos or online casinos. We believe that both offer their own unique perks and are valuable in their own right. For instance, land-based casinos are more social, immersive, and appeal more to high-rollers.
Alternatively, online casinos are not limited by space so can offer an endless quantity of slots and table games from dozens of top developers. They are extremely convenient and accept numerous payment methods, though withdrawals may take a few days. That said, online casinos usually offer new players bonuses such as free spins.
The Future Outlook for Online Casinos Florida
The Future of Online Gambling in Florida
Floridaās state legislature approved of a new compact with the state tribes in 2021 which would allow them to offer retail and mobile sports betting throughout the state. However, the compact is currently being challenged by commercial gambling groups that argue that its exclusive rights are unfair and that voters havenāt approved of the measure.
Commercial groups such as DraftKings are backing a voter referendum on whether mobile sports betting should be available through commercial operators. If they are successful, this could happen as early as 2021. If they are not, itās possible that online sports betting could come to Florida by the end of 2021.
Online Casino Gambling in Florida: No Legal Sites on the Horizon
FAQs About Online Casinos Florida
Are you looking for accurate and helpful answers to your questions about the likelihood of real money Florida online casinos? Here, we have answered some of the most common questions about the industry as well as provided links to the relevant sections that discuss each topic in detail.
Online Casinos and Land-Based Casinos in the Other States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming