Best Florida Sportsbooks December 2024
| Online Sportsbooks · States · Florida |
If you are looking for info on the current state of sports betting in Florida, you have come to the right place. Frankly speaking, the situation is somewhat complex. First, let's take a look at what is legally available in the state:
After being ordered to stop offering betting by a federal court in 2022, there have been countless filings, rulings, etc., as West Flagler and Associates aimed to challenge the compact made between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state which allows Hard Rock Bet to operate as a monopoly.
West Flagler and Associates is the legal team that represents those opposed to a Seminole monopoly on online betting in Florida. This team has been filing motion after motion for the better part of two years, but has had very limited success in barring online betting from taking place under said monopoly.
However, as of summer 2024, no West Flagler & Associates challenge to the Seminole Tribe of Florida's offering of legal sports betting has stuck, and the SCOTUS has once again shot down WFA's efforts to change the betting landscape in the Sunshine State.
So, to that end, the Seminoles (which operate Hard Rock Bet in Florida) re-launched Hard Rock Bet in the state for mobile sports betting and also launched sports betting, craps, and roulette at their brick-and-mortar locations in FL in early December 2023.
Due to the US Supreme Court outright denying WFA's claim, the Seminole Tribe of Florida will likely be the sole provider of legal sports betting in the state until 2051.
All that said, sports betting is and will continue to be legal in Florida. Stay tuned for more updates!
CAN I BET IN FLORIDA?
By summer 2024, the 2021 agreement between the federally-recognized Seminole Tribe and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had survived challenge after challenge in both the Florida Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the US, and will likely remain in place for decades.
"Indian Gaming Law" (as it is legally referred to in the US Government) is a complex web of interplay between federally recognized Native American tribes, the Department of the Interior, and the state governments where the tribal lands have existed since long before the states themselves.
Because of this, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is granted the authority to offer betting both by decades-old federal agreements and by the Supreme Court's denial of the challenges made by WFA. In short, yes, you can bet on sports online in Florida.
CONTENTS
- Most Likely Florida Online Sportsbooks
- Florida Betting Laws
- Events and Betting Markets
- Common Payment Options
- Florida Casinos
- Best Florida Sportsbooks FAQ
- Final Thoughts on Betting in Florida
FLORIDA DAILY FANTASY SPORTS (DFS)
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is a way to play on major league sports teams and players in Florida.
Though recently, the Florida Gaming Control Commission issued a cease and desist letter to certain operators. To that end, Jason Shoaf submitted House Bill 679, which would legalize Florida Fantasy Sports for good.
Recently, popular DFS app PrizePicks launched their Arena game in Florida as a legal DFS option. This is a peer-to-peer game format that is now available to those in the state.
BEST FLORIDA SPORTSBOOKS
At the current moment, the only sportsbook legally able to accept wagers in Florida is Hard Rock Bet, and that app is live!
Take a look at some notable sportsbooks below and what they could bring to Florida 👇
HARD ROCK BET
Hard Rock Bet is now live in the Sunshine State!
This mobile app sponsored and hosted by the Seminole Tribe of Florida is the only option for legal, online sports betting. Luckily, it's a great app offering a ton of features that users will enjoy, including wheel spins, bonus credit, and more.
If online casino gambling ever becomes legal in Florida, we'll keep you posted on the details of a Hard Rock Casino promo.
BETMGM
When you are searching for top sports betting sites, don’t look further than BetMGM. This brand offers lots of online betting opportunities for all those interested in wagering on sports. Like all the major sportsbooks, this brand has a welcome offer for all new customers interested in signing up. Additionally, there are many other promos available on a regular basis for existing players.
At the moment, this online sportsbook is accessible to players from a ton of states, including West Virginia, Michigan, and New Jersey. Not only do registered players have access to online sports betting with this brand, but they can also place their bets in casino and poker rooms. We hope to see BetMGM go live in FL as well, as it would be one of the best online sportsbooks in the state.
DRAFTKINGS
Boasting to be one of the leading sports betting websites in the USA, DraftKings is currently available in a number of states including Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. If the Florida market opens one day, we surely expect this sportsbook to make an appearance in the Sunshine State.
As all reputable top sports betting sites, DraftKings has a welcome offer for new customers in the states it is currently operating in. Additionally, this brand has invested in a top-quality mobile app available for iOS and Android.
A vast selection of betting markets provides countless betting opportunities with this brand. The most popular sports include both American and international favorites, such as professional and college football and basketball, golf, MMA, tennis, etc.
FANDUEL
Another brand we expect to see if Florida's market opens is FanDuel. At the moment players in a wide number of states including Michigan, Indiana, New Jersey, and West Virginia can place their wagers online with this sportsbook.
Also, they can redeem various promos available for new and existing players. Signing up with FanDuel is hassle-free and can be finished in a matter of minutes. As soon as you have finished the registration and made your first deposit, you can start placing bets. The variety of available sports is exceptional. So is the quality of customer support and banking options that this brand offers. This, too, is very important for all players and would make FanDuel one of the best sportsbooks in Florida.
BET365
One of the biggest players in the online sports betting industry is undoubtedly bet365. This brand is one of the most recognizable bookies in Europe, so coming to the US was a natural next step once betting became legal on a federal level.
Even though the available markets on the brand’s NJ website is not as extensive as overseas, we expect it to grow in the months to come. As soon as you have registered and redeemed your welcome offer, you can start placing your bets and exploring top-quality betting markets.
FLORIDA BETTING LAWS
Now, let’s take a look at the current state of Florida online sports betting. Over the past year, there have been a great deal of developments in Florida's sports betting law. As we stand today, betting is legal and live thanks to the Seminoles and Hard Rock Bet.
Note that retail betting is also live, including betting on Bucs games and the Miami Marlins.
Updated on : 12/21/2024
BEST FLORIDA SPORTSBOOKS: EVENTS AND BETTING MARKETS
Players in Florida have access to a full menu of betting options, comparable to that of other states with legal online sports wagering.
COMMON TYPES OF BETS
Here are the most common bet types that players can place.
- Moneyline – This is the most popular betting type. It shows you the amount you need to wager to get $100 (or how much you can win if you wager $100).
- Totals (Over/Under) – You typically choose if the total number of points that both teams are going to score is going to be over or under a listed total number of points.
- Prop bets – Allow you to wager on events that are going to take place in a game, season, or series. They do not include betting on the outcome though.
- Spread bets – You place this bet on the team you think is going to win or lose by a certain number of points.
MOST POPULAR SPORTS TO BET ON
The online betting community enjoys placing wagers on a multitude of different sports, both popular and niche ones. Here are the sports and leagues that attract the most attention.
POPULAR FLORIDA EVENTS
There are many popular sports events that attract a lot of attention in Florida, such as:
- Super Bowl
- NCAA March Madness
- NBA Championships
- Stanley Cup Finals
- Masters
- US Open Tennis
- Triple Crown
BEST TEAMS TO BET ON
Many people like to support their local teams when they are placing their bets. Luckily, Florida has quite a few of them.
- Orlando Magic
- Miami Dolphins
- Miami Heat
- Florida Panthers
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tampa Bay Rays
COMMON PAYMENT OPTIONS
Let’s take a look at some of the most common payment methods that players have at their disposal when betting online. These should be available on betting sites in Florida.
- Credit/debit Cards
- PayPal
- NETeller
- PayNearMe
- Prepaid Cards
- eCheck/ACH
FLORIDA CASINOS
The current situation for Florida online casinos is improving. As things stand, slot machines, cardrooms, poker games, and electronic gaming machines are available at certain licensed pari-mutuel wagering locations. However, online gambling is unregulated by the state.
If you’re looking for brick and mortar casinos in Florida, there are some great choices. And, yes, these casinos are entirely legal because they’re on Native-owned land. This is great news for tourists and Floridians alike. So, while you wait for Florida online casinos, you can try your hand at one of these locations.
SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa (also in Hollywood) is a healthy mix of rooms for rest and relaxation and a ton of casino games to enjoy. It stands out, though, with its famous cuisine and ever-changing demos and in-house concerts.
The casino boasts a Poker room with 46 high-stakes tables. The Mezzanine Level Casino contains 400 slots and 15 live tables with blackjack and baccarat on offer. There’s also a dedicated High Limit Tables room for those with more cash to burn.
SEMINOLE CASINO COCONUT CREEK
Another establishment run by the Seminole Tribe, this casino is a very popular venue in Florida. Whether you are looking for poker, table games or slots, you’ll find all these and much more in Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.
GULFSTREAM PARK RACING & CASINO
Hallandale Beach in Florida is home to Gulfstream Park, a popular racetrack and casino. This venue hosts a significant number of high-profile races from December to October. Additionally, the casino offers 20 live-action poker tables, 64 high limit slots, and more than 700 Las Vegas-style slots.
HIALEAH PARK RACING & CASINO
If you are looking for more establishments that combine racing and casino, Hialeah Park is the place for you. As far as horse racing is concerned, you can watch winter Quarter Horse racing meets. And the casino is open year-round with slots, table games, poker, and lots more at your disposal.
LIST OF FLORIDA CASINOS
Here's a list of other casinos available in Florida:
- Big Easy Casino
- Casino Dania Beach
- Casino Miami
- Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
- Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
- Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
- Seminole Casino Brighton
- Seminole Casino Immokalee
- Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Hollywood
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Tampa
- Victory Casino Cruises - Cape Canaveral
- Tropical Breeze Casino
The only online alternative to the above brick-and-mortor casinos is social casinos. Since social casinos are technically free to play, they fall into a currently grey area in Florida where users can still play online casino games for free or deposit money for Sweeps Coins (an in-app currency).
BEST FLORIDA SPORTSBOOKS FAQ
Here are some of the most common questions people have regarding Florida online sportsbooks.
ARE SPORTS BETTING SITES LEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES?
Sports betting sites are legal in several US states, but not all of them. When it comes to Florida, Hard Rock Bet is now live, and retail betting at Seminole casinos launched in early December 2023.
WHAT DO I NEED TO REGISTER AT AN ONLINE BETTING SITE IN FLORIDA?
You will need to provide the last four digits of your SSN in addition to some other verification details. You will also need to place a first ever deposit before you can benefit from any welcome offers.
IS IT SAFE TO DEPOSIT MONEY AT SPORTS BETTING SITES IN FLORIDA?
Yes, all websites that we review are legally regulated by their state’s Department of Gaming Enforcement or equivalent.
CAN I SET BETTING LIMITS?
All reputable online sportsbooks allow you to set betting limits as they promote responsible gambling.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON BETTING IN FLORIDA
As mentioned, the Florida sports betting market has undergone a flurry of changes and challenges in the last few years, but SCOTUS decisions in summer 2024 mean that online betting is here to stay for the foreseeable future (at least until 2051, anyway) in Florida.
Stay tuned for more updates, as the legal situation in FL has been perhaps one of the most tumultuous and confusing legal battles in recent memory-- but we don't expect betting to go away in Florida for some time.
