Casino gambling in Florida is possible only when done in licensed venues. At the moment, there are 35 establishments in the Sunshine State that belong to this category.
Out of those 35 venues, 27 are racinos. If you’re not familiar with the term, racinos are racetracks where it is possible to play traditional casino games like slots, poker, roulette, and others. That said, horse racing betting is also possible in these places. Florida also has seven tribe casinos, as well as one ship casino.
Sports betting is not legal in Florida, although there is an exception – you can make sports wagers on the ship casino once it sets sails.
The Florida lawmakers, however, might change their stance on sports betting in the near future. There are three gambling bills scheduled for a legislative session that should take place by the end of 2020.
Online casino gambling is illegal if done with real money. However, social gaming is tolerated by the state. As a result, there are several sweepstakes-based online casinos that Florida residents can visit.
Find Florida Casinos on The Map
Interesting State Facts
Florida is the second-most visited state in the US, just behind California. The reasons for that are numerous, starting with the fact that Florida is the only continental state with a tropical climate. Weather in the “Sunshine State” tends to be pleasant throughout the year, which explains how the state got its nickname.
Apart from a warm climate, Florida is a tourist magnet for many other reasons. For example, this state is where the world’s most popular vacation result is located. Of course, we’re talking about The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, which is visited by nearly 60 million visitors every year.
Just a few miles away from Disney World, there’s another popular resort – Universal Orlando Resort. Go further down south and you’ll get to Miami, the state’s party capital. Just outside Miami is Everglades National Park, one of the biggest natural attractions of the entire United States.
Another reason why Florida is on the radar of tourists is that the state has a gambling-friendly attitude. There are nearly 40 venues across the state where casino gambling is possible.
Florida Gambling Venues
Until Florida decides to follow the path of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, online gambling will remain illegal. Instead, gamblers have no other options but to visit one of 35 Florida casinos. A big majority of those establishments are racinos owned by Florida-based companies.
However, the largest and most visited gambling venues in the state are tribal racinos owned by the Seminole Tribe, the same tribe that owns Hard Rock Cafe. Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa, for example, is the largest casino in the state. With the size of more than 190,000 square feet, this casino is currently the sixth-biggest in the world.
Another interesting Florida casino is the Victory Casino Cruises, which is actually a casino ship. Docked in Port Canaveral, the cruiser sets sails two times a day every day of the week. It stays at sea for about five hours, during which passengers can play a variety of live dealer games, as well as place sports bets. When at sea, the ship becomes a place where sports betting is legal!
Frequently Asked Questions
The state of Florida does not regulate online gambling or allow casinos to operate within the state’s jurisdiction. However, players from Florida who want to enjoy online gambling can sign up with reputable offshore gambling sites. We recommend that you carry out a proper background check on the casino or check for reviews on the gambling site before joining them.
In Florida, the age you must attain before you can start to gamble is 18 or 21, depending on the particular game or platform. For example, you need to be 18 years of age before you can wager on the lottery in the Sunshine State. On the other hand, before you can enjoy Daily Fantasy Sports, you need to be 21.
You can gamble for real money in Florida and there are a lot of online gambling sites that you can select from. However, you should note that these online casinos do not operate within the state limit, but they do accept players from Florida.
When playing at any online gambling sites in Florida, you need not worry as the casinos are licensed and regulated by top iGaming regulatory bodies in the industry. Aside from that, Florida online casinos make use of the latest Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol to ensure that players’ information is protected from hackers and third parties.
