What You Should Know About Online Sportsbooks in Florida
The legality of online sports betting in Florida can be a confusing maze to navigate if you are looking to get into sports betting in the state. It is legal to bet on sports in Florida, but not via a recognized app. Earlier this year, the Seminole Tribe of Florida filed a lawsuit regarding the suspension of the Hard Rock Sports Betting app, which was hosted by their tribe and the only sports betting app in the state, citing an infraction of their tribal authority.
That lawsuit has yet to be decided, but it is expected that a decision in favor of the tribe would also allow for online sports betting applications to operate in the state of Florida beyond tribal lands. Even if DraftKings or another sports betting company decides to open shop in Florida, the Seminole Tribe would likely have the final say on whether they could do so without the tribe’s permission. When it comes to Florida sports betting, what options are left to the curious bettor?
Legal Issues
When Florida residents passed that allowed for certain gambling activities, they were often met with lawsuits that halted the activities, leaving Florida in a state of limbo for many years.
In 2019, the Seminole tribe and the legislature reached a tentative agreement, but the agreement found itself plagued by lawsuits. Since then, a lawsuit has forced the Seminoles to stop operating the Hard Rock sports betting app. Bettors can utilize mobile gaming on tribal lands, according to legal experts, but the people of Florida have voted to give themselves more say over whether or not those activities are allowed. It is illegal for casinos to operate in the state unless a tribe owns and operates them, but since the law doesn’t mention online gambling, it is technically legal.
Currently, the following are the legal aspects of online sports betting in Florida that you should be aware of:
- You must be 21 years of age.
- You must be using an approved sports betting application with geolocation that places you on Seminole property.
- Currently, there are no approved sportsbook applications in operation in Florida, but residents may use Prizepicks as an alternative.
- Betting on all major sports leagues is allowed, such as the NFL, NHL, and NBA.
Even with the Hard Rock sports betting app shutting down in December 2021, the courts are expected to rule that online sports betting does not fall under the same category as a casino operation and therefore should be permitted in the long run. Preliminary plans announced by sportsbooks such as Caesars, DraftKings, and BetMGM demonstrate their intentions to set up operations in the state once legalization is confirmed, possibly by the year 2023.
Popular Sports in Florida
Outside of Seminole tribal lands, Florida has no legally operating casinos, but the state does have some tribally operated casinos. These two well-known casinos on tribal lands are the Seminole Classic Casino and the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. There is no shortage of popular sporting events to wager on in the state. NASCAR races take place at the Daytona Speedway, at Tampa Bay Downs hosts horse racing, and Florida is home to a number of professional sports teams, including the following:
Baseball
The Miami Marlins, founded in 1993 and based in IoanDepot Park, as well as the Tampa Bay Rays, established in 1998 and based at Tropicana Field, are two of the state’s MLB franchises. Both teams compete in the East Division of the National League and American League, respectively.
Basketball
Florida also has more than one NBA team. The Miami Heat, founded in 1988 and plays their home games in the FTX Arena, and the Orlando Magic, founded in 1989 who play their home games at the Amway Center are both well-known basketball teams. Both teams play in the Eastern Conference of the NBA, Southeast Division.
Football
Florida hosts three NFL teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars play their home games at TIAA Bank Field, while the Miami Dolphins play their home games at Hard Rock Stadium, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold home games at Raymond James Stadium. The Jacksonville Jaguars play for the National Football League’s AFC South, the Miami Dolphins play for the National Football League’s AFC East, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play for the National Football Conference’s NFC South.
Hockey
There are two NHL teams based in Florida, the Florida Panthers, founded in 1993 and based at the FLA Live Arena, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, founded in 1992 and based at the Amalie Arena. Both teams play in the Eastern Atlantic Division of the National Hockey League.
Soccer
Florida has a grand total of four major soccer teams that play in the MLS. The Inter Miami CF at Miami Freedom Park, Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium, Miami Fusion at Lockhart Stadium, and Tampa Bay Mutiny at Raymond James Stadium, all of which play in the Eastern Conference.
Promotions and Bonuses
App sports betting is still illegal in Florida, so the specific promotions and bonuses for signing up with existing sportsbook services are not yet available. Many supporters believe that sportsbook online betting will see legalization in Florida within the next year, so new gamers looking to sign up for a service will have a number of options to choose from. Even if a service offers incentives to sign up, the best app for you will be the one with the most useful features over the long term.
Consider the features you’ll require, the various funding options, and the types of wagers you’d like to make. Sportsbooks in other states are already planning to open in Florida when the time comes, and some of the promotions they currently offer are expected to be available in the Sunshine State as well. Florida bettors can expect to see similar promotions to those currently offered in other states when the time comes.
- Ceasar’s Sportsbook : $1,500 deposit match.
- BetMGM : $1,000 risk free first bet.
- FanDuel : $1,000 risk free first bet.
- Bet Rivers : $250 match.
- Unibet : $250 risk free first bet.
