Sports Gambling In Florida
At this time legalized sports wagering has not made its way to Florida.
Sports betting is illegal in Florida aside from two exceptions: parimutuel jai alai betting and sportsbooks on cruise ships that sail into international waters. The legalization of full-fledged sports betting has been a topic of discussion among lawmakers and industry stakeholders since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018. Betting on sports in Florida is a common pastime, even though the state itself does not specifically sanction any sports betting activity, either on land or online at Internet-based betting shops operating out of the state or elsewhere in the US. Florida’s gambling laws are regulated and all legal gambling includes casino gaming, tribal gambling, casino boats, horse racing, dog racing, Bingo, the state lottery, and charitable gambling. The casino boats are interesting because they allow bettors to board luxury boats that travel offshore where gambling is technically not illegal. Sports betting legalization could be on the horizon for Florida in 2021. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Peterburg filed three bills for legalizing sports wagering in the state. Proposal for Legalizing Sports Betting in Florida Awaits Legislative Session in March 2021. The Brandes’ bills have been filed for the. Florida Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is a new way to play on major league sports teams and players in Florida. Try your sports knowledge skills by playing DFS, on a variety sports events like NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL PGA, MLS, and more. Most Likely Florida Online Sports Betting Sites.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned on May 14, 2018, allowing each state in the country to propose and create their own laws and regulations for sports betting.
Sports Gambling Laws In Florida
However, two years later and the Sunshine State has yet to adopt sports betting.
There is, however, a long history of gambling in the state dating back to the 1930s. Back then residents could get their fix with horse and greyhound racing as well as jai alai frontons that offer poker rooms and slots. While slot machines had a short existence in the ’30s, they were brought back to tribal casinos in the 1980s and approved for racetracks in 2004. Gambling offerings have expanded to table games with tribal casinos thereafter and the state of Florida currently has eight casinos, plus several offshore cruise casinos. All this in addition to the state lottery, Mega Millions, Powerball, and bingo offerings.
Florida sports bettors will be hopeful of seeing legalized sports betting as there are very few opportunities to do so right now. Currently, none of Florida’s closest neighbors, South Carolina, Georgia, or Alabama, offer legalized sports betting either.
When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal in Florida?
Currently, there are bills on the table to be discussed in the 2020 legislative session. In October 2019, State Senator Jeff Brandes submitted three bills that would give the Florida Lottery the ability to operate mobile sports betting.
If passed, they would be put into effect later in 2020.
Florida has an acceptable and progressive view of sports gambling, so it isn’t farfetched to foresee legalization in the near future. Not to mention, Florida is a hot-bed for sports with multiple major teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, and more.
To legalize sports betting, an agreement would need to be worked out though with the Seminole Tribe, as they own the Hard Rock casinos in the state. However, because Florida hasn’t cracked down on player card games at various venues, the Seminole Tribe has refused to continue to pay their $350 million revenue sharing payments to the state. Offering the Tribe exclusive rights to running sports betting at their casinos could be a way to rectify the situation.
With that big hole in the state budget and the tribe looking to bring in additional revenue themselves, some form of legalized sports betting could make its way to Florida during 2021.
That said, any progress will first need to start with an agreement by the House and Senate as well as the Seminole Tribe and would eventually need to be voted on as a constitutional amendment.
Florida Sports Betting FAQs
Can you bet on sports in Florida?
Florida doesn’t have any online sports betting laws, meaning it can’t license any operator to run online sports betting sites in the state.
Does FanDuel sportsbook work in Florida?
FanDuel and DraftKings currently accept Florida players and allow daily fantasy sports betting.
What are the major sports teams in Florida?
Major sports teams in Florida include the Marlins, Rays, Heat, Magic, Jaguars, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Panthers, Orlando City FC, and Inter Miami CF.
Florida sports betting remains an elusive dream for proponents.
While discussions in most states take place in public legislative hearings, sports betting negotiations in Florida happen nearly entirely behind the scenes.
Any deal for sports betting in Florida must be worked out as part of a larger gambling compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe.
Over the past two legislative sessions, leaders of the legislature and the tribe discussed a deal to restart tribal gaming payments to the state in return for permitting sports betting and other concessions for tribal casinos.
The 2020 session adjourned in March without an agreement on FL sports betting. It’s possible — though unlikely — to be included in a special session later in the year.
Sports Gambling App Florida
The future of Florida sports betting
Sports betting in Florida certainly could happen in the future. It remains illegal to wager on sports in Florida, though, for the time being.
After a deal was not reached in 2019, the Seminoles announced that they would not make their annual gaming payment of approximately $330 million to the state in 2020.
A new compact needs to be reached to restart the payment. That adds some urgency for the state to act on a deal that includes Florida sports betting.
When will online sports betting launch in Florida?
There’s reason to believe that 2021 could be the year for legalization of sports betting in the Sunshine State. The earliest sports wagers could be taken in Florida is probably 2022.
Sports Gambling News In Florida
That theoretically could include the ability to wager online via mobile sports betting apps in Florida.
Sen. Wilton Simpson has a good relationship with the Seminoles and is taking over as Senate President. He worked out a tentative agreement with the tribe in 2019 before Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to sign off on the deal.
Betting In Florida
However, DeSantis is poised to become more involved in the negotiations. He indicated that he wants to see a comprehensive gambling deal get done.
Sports Betting In Florida Legal
The 60-day legislative session begins in March and ends early in May. If everything finally comes together in Florida and the governor signs off on a compact, it would still need federal approval.