Florida Sports Betting: Best Online Sportsbooks April 2024

Is sports betting in Florida legal?

Yes, FL sports betting is once again legal following the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on June 30, 2023. A three-judge panel of the court decided to reverse the November 2021 ruling to block the gaming deal the Seminole Tribe made with the state of Florida. 

The agreement in question effectively gave the Seminole Tribe control over sports betting in Florida and opened the door to the first sportsbooks in Florida. However, the deal was blocked, and sports betting reverted to its illegal status. 

With that decision overturned, sports betting became legal once again on June 30, 2023. Unfortunately, this only pertains to the Seminole Tribe-Florida compact. Meanwhile, state voters have not yet had a chance to vote on whether commercial sports betting should be fully legal in Florida. 

Hard Rock Bet performed a soft relaunch in Florida in early November, although multiple legal challenges followed. As of December 5, 2023, Hard Rock Bet remains the only sportsbook app open to Florida bettors. 

Notable Florida sports betting developments

Let’s review every significant development ever since SCOTUS made the historical decision on May 14, 2018:

Dec. 5, 2023: Hard Rock Bet makes its sports betting app available to all Florida residents for the first time in two years. 

Nov. 7, 2023: Hard Rock Bet makes a somewhat surprising return to the Florida betting scene amidst multiple ongoing legal challenges. Only previous users are able to access the sportsbook at this time.

Nov. 1, 2023: The Seminole Tribe announces that legal retail sports betting will begin in Florida on Dec. 7, 2023.

June 30, 2023 — DC Circuit Court of Appeals reverses the 2021 decision that blocked the Florida-Seminole deal. Legal sports betting in Florida can launch again. 

March 29, 2023 — DraftKings’ horse racing app goes live in Florida. 

Nov. 22, 2022 — Sports betting becomes illegal again after a judge rejects the Florida-Seminole Compact. The Seminole Tribe files a notice of appeal the next day but is denied. They file a second appeal with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. 

June 1, 2022 — Caesars Racebook app launches in Florida. 

Feb. 18, 2022 — DraftKings-FanDuel initiative fails to gather enough signatures to propose a constitutional amendment on the election ballot for the year. It collects less than 500,000 of the 891,589 required signatures. 

Dec. 4, 2021 — Hard Rock Sportsbook stops offering its services in Florida. The platform lasts only 35 days. 

Nov. 1, 2021 — The Seminole Tribe brings Hard Rock Sportsbook (renamed Hard Rock Bet) to the state. The site goes live, giving early access to bettors. 

Aug. 6, 2021 — Florida-Seminole deal makes it through the 45-day approval period without the US Department of the Interior (DOI) denying or approving it. 

May 25, 2021 — Governor DeSantis signs a new tribal compact with the Seminole Tribe, allowing them to offer online and retail sports betting in Florida. 

Nov. 6, 2018 — 71.47% of Florida voters say Yes on the Voter Approval of Casino Gambling Initiative, granting them the exclusive right to authorize gambling in the state.

Florida sports betting quick facts

Florida betting promos and bonuses

With only a single online sportsbook in operation so far, the selection of FL welcome bonuses is still pretty bare. We will be sure to update this information when the other big names in legal sports betting launch their products in Florida. 

Expected Florida sportsbook apps

Florida has a single sportsbook at the moment, Hard Rock Bet. We expect to see some enter the market soon. As with most other states, the biggest players in the U.S., like FanDuel and DraftKings, are expected to launch as soon as the sports betting sector officially takes off. 

Let’s look at the major sportsbooks that are most likely to extend their services to Florida bettors.

DraftKings 👑

DraftKings is one of the country's leaders in DFS and sports betting, so it’s almost a given that it will start operating in one of the biggest states in the U.S., such as Florida. The platform is known for having a wide range of promotions and excellent sports and bet coverage. The interface is user-friendly, and you get many same-game parlay opportunities, together with lots of promotions and a hefty welcome package.

• App Store Ratings: 4.8 (App Store) and 4.6 (Google Play)
• Sign Up Bonus: TBD
• Payout Speed: 60 min to 7 days

Learn more about DraftKings: DraftKings Sportsbook Review

FanDuel 🔵

FanDuel offers a consistently user-friendly and enjoyable platform experience across the U.S. As one of the top sportsbooks in the country, it will likely be among the first to arrive in Florida. It has impressive sports coverage, many betting options, competitive odds, and a great live betting section. It’s famous for its FanDuel+ feature that offers live streams of most events in the top U.S. leagues. 

• App Store Ratings: 4.8 (App Store) and 4.7 (Google Play)
• Sign Up Bonus: TBD
• Payout Speed: 1–10 workdays

Learn more about FanDuel: FanDuel Sportsbook Review

BetMGM 🦁

BetMGM is a trusted and widely available sportsbook in the U.S., known for having great sports coverage, lots of betting markets, and, most of all, frequent bonus bets in most states. All of this will be available in Florida once BetMGM arrives. Cashouts are typically slow, but it’s a small price to pay for such a comprehensive package. What’s more, the platform makes placing same-game parlays a breeze. 

• App Store Ratings: 4.8 (App Store) and 3.7 (Google Play)
• Sign Up Bonus: TBD
• Payout Speed: Up to 5 workdays

Learn more about BetMGM: BetMGM Sportsbook Review

Caesars 🏛

Caesars Sportsbook has established itself as a giant in the industry. It is present in most states where sports betting is legal and operational, meaning it will likely join the Florida market as soon as it gets the chance. The sportsbook covers the majority of popular sports and has a wide range of markets, live betting options, and various daily promotions. More than that, it covers SGPs extensively and offers new players a hefty package with up to $1,000 in most states. 

• App Store Ratings: 4.6 (App Store) and 4.3 (Google Play)
• Sign Up Bonus: TBD
• Payout Speed: 1–5 workdays

Learn more about Caesars: Caesars Sportsbook Review

Florida sports betting neighbors

Florida was slow to jump on the sports betting bandwagon, but that doesn’t mean its neighbors have followed the same footsteps. Florida borders only two states, but two more are relatively close, and the situation there varies greatly. Let’s take a closer look.

Georgia

Sports betting is currently illegal in Georgia, but there’s plenty of support for the other side, too. Recently, two bills were introduced to the state legislature, but both eventually died in late March 2023. 

There’s a good chance that more will follow in 2024. However, sports betting proponents still have many of the same hurdles to overcome, primarily because there aren’t enough Republican votes in favor of betting in the state Senate. 

Alabama

Alabama is not known for having many legal gambling options, and it’s one of the few states without a lottery. It’s thus understandable that there’s not much movement in the sphere of sports betting. 

There was a small gambling bill about a lottery and mobile wagering in 2022, but the lawmakers didn’t even vote on it. There’s little chance for change in the near future.

Mississippi

Mississippi is the only state around Florida with legal sports betting and one of the few Southern states with a regulated market. However, only retail sportsbooks are allowed, and the market has been live since 2018. 

Mobile wagering is technically authorized, but only if the bets are placed on casino premises. Making it legal state-wide will be incredibly difficult as most lawmakers there are against gambling. 

South Carolina

Sports betting is still illegal in the Palmetto State, but that doesn’t mean the lawmakers haven’t tried their best to rectify the situation. A pair of bills were introduced in 2022 with a plan to allow up to 12 online sports betting sites. It eventually failed the same way it did a few years before. 

However, the proponents there refuse to give up, and there’s already a new bill in the works for 2023. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely to receive sufficient votes, especially considering that Gov. McMaster is a staunch opponent. 

Florida sports betting step-by-step start guide

With the legal sports betting market finally here to stay (we think), both retail and online sportsbooks are available in the Sunshine State. This will give bettors more options when starting out. 

Beginning a betting journey in a retail sportsbook is simple — you only need to go to one venue. With online betting, the situation becomes a bit more complex. That said, bettors should still be able to get started within minutes. As the process is generally the same across the country, let’s review the steps you’ll have to go through once the market goes live.

1. Select a sportsbook licensed in Florida

The first step is to find a licensed FL sportsbook that suits your betting needs. Right now, the only option is Hard Rock Bet. However, we expect to see a lot more sportsbooks join the FL betting scene in the future.

Once that happens, you’ll need to choose a site that fits your preferences in terms of sports and market coverage, payout speed, banking simplicity, user-friendliness, number of promotions, and more. 

2. Register online

Once you select a sportsbook, the next step is to visit its official website. If you’ve chosen a platform we recommend, make sure to use our link to get access to the best welcome package. 

Once you’re on the site, follow the instructions for registration. It typically entails providing several personal details and verifying your phone number to get the profile ready. 

Almost every state requires bettors to prove they are within state borders, and the same will likely be true for Florida. This means you’ll have to run specific software or allow access to your device’s geolocation services. 

3. Deposit and claim a bonus

With a ready account, the only thing left is to deposit funds. As the sportsbook likely offers a worthwhile welcome bonus, you’ll want to look into what you need to do to claim it. 

For example, DraftKings has the 'Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets' welcome package you can claim by depositing at least $5. Then you need to wager at least $5 to get $150 in the form of six $25 bonus bets. You don’t have to input a DraftKings bonus code, but some other sites will require one. Don’t worry, we’ll always provide a promo code if you need one, especially if we have an exclusive offer.

4. Select and finalize your bet

The next step is to place your initial bet. If you have to make one to get the welcome bonus (like at DraftKings), read the terms and conditions and create a wager according to them. 

Here's how it works — you only need to visit the betting section, pick a sport, find a game you want to wager on, and choose a market. You’ll have lots of options here, especially in terms of bet types. Sportsbooks often offer several dozen markets for every game, including moneylines, spreads, totals, team or player props, futures, and more. 

To place the bet, you only need to click the odds to populate the betting slip, input the stake, and confirm the wager. 

5. Win and withdraw your payout

Once the event you’ve wagered on has passed, your bet will automatically complete. If your prediction turns out wrong, nothing will happen. If you were right, the winnings will appear in your balance. 

Once you’ve accumulated enough funds and completed the requirements for cashing them out, you can visit the 'Withdraw' section of the site. There, you can pick the banking method and request a payout. 

The sportsbook will need time to process the payment and approve it, and then you’ll have to wait a bit more for the money to reach your designated account. The timeframe differs between sportsbooks and banking options. 

Florida sports leagues and teams to bet on

Florida is a big state and is home to more teams than many other states. It has as many as nine professional teams in the Big Four leagues, two in MLS (Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC), and 13 NCAA Division I college teams. As for the Big Four, three teams are in the NFL, while every other league has two. 

It’s safe to say that bettors will have plenty of option. Don’t forget to bet with your head, so supporting out-of-state teams will sometimes be necessary too. 

Sportsbook by category

Florida sports betting and the taxman

Florida is one of seven U.S. states without a state income tax. Due to this, there are no extra taxes bettors need to pay on gambling winnings. 

However, you still need to report all of your winnings to the federal government, as gambling winnings are taxable income in the eyes of the IRS. You must surrender 24% on all your winnings above $600. However, your taxes might be more or less than this estimation, depending on the rest of your annual income.

If all of this is confusing or you’re unsure how much you need to pay, you can use online gambling tax calculators or consult a professional. 

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that Florida is considering implementing a 15% tax rate on future licensed sportsbooks. Fortunately, this is something only sportsbook operators need to worry about. 

What’s missing From Florida sports betting?

The legal Florida sports betting market includes professional leagues, the Olympics, and college sports, effectively covering everything sports bettors might be interested in. 

However, some bettors are also involved in other areas, like politics, DFS, and esports. Let’s take a look at how things stand on this front. 

Politics ❌

Politics won’t be a part of the legal FL sports betting offerings. However, this isn’t surprising as no state has legalized betting on political events like presidential or midterm elections. 

Entertainment Award Ceremonies ❌

Betting on award shows like the Oscars, Emmys, or Grammys is not part of the upcoming sports betting market in Florida, and it’s unlikely that this form of betting will be legalized any time soon. 

Esports ❌

Betting on competitions in video games like Fortnite and League of Legends is possible in some states, but Florida is not one of them. However, this doesn’t mean the practice will stay illegal forever. It is possible that the state will regulate it, especially once it handles more pressing matters with sports betting. 

What About Daily Fantasy Sports? ✅

Daily fantasy sports aren’t covered by Florida regulations, meaning they are in a legal gray area. The law doesn’t expressly forbid DFS nor endorse it, but bettors can still create their leagues and place bets on popular DFS platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel, both of which operate in Florida. 

It’s worth mentioning that legalizing this practice is still essential. It will make it possible for more platforms to enter the state and for the existing ones to offer bigger contests. 

Florida college sports betting 🎓

Betting on college sports and teams is incredibly popular and nearly always legal as long as sports betting is. However, there are typically separate rules for wagering on in-state college teams and players. 

In Florida, betting on college football betting sites is legal. Now that Hard Rock Bet has launched state-wide, you can bet on college teams, both out and in-state ones. In other words, you’ll get a chance to wager on Florida NCAA Division I teams and college games happening within state borders.

The only restriction here is betting on player props, effectively making Florida a state with few restrictions regarding college sports betting.

Responsible Florida sports betting

Gamblers in Florida can seek help in a variety of ways if they have a gambling problem or know someone who does. The most detailed responsible gambling resource is the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling. It’s a well-established organization offering numerous reading and viewing materials and a 24/7 hotline.

Every officially licensed FL sportsbook provides numerous tools that will help bettors avoid or diminish their gambling problems. There are voluntary self-exclusion programs and betting/deposit limits. You can also set loss limits on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. All in all, you’ll have plenty of ways to limit or restrict your gambling activity if you fear things getting out of hand. If you need outside help, consider calling the number below.

National U.S. gambling helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER

Sportsbooks to avoid in Florida

At the moment, any unknown online sports betting site claiming to operate in the Sunshine State cannot be trusted because there is only a single licensed online sportsbook in Florida.

It’s best to avoid any other platform that isn't regulated by state officials, especially offshore sites operating outside the United States. Many of these sites might not be scams, but you can never be sure. And if something goes wrong, you won't have many options to recoup your money. It's always best to only use officially licensed betting apps and sites in Florida. 

You should steer clear of sites we’ve blacklisted, as there’s always a good reason why our readers should avoid those operators, like in the cases below.

List of Florida sports betting resources

State of Florida Department of Justice - Law enforcement department

Florida Legislative Information - Digital archive of Florida law codes and bills

Florida Gaming Control Commission - Gambling regulator

Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling - Non-profit organization dedicated to responsible gambling

Growth of sports betting 📈

When the U.S. Supreme Court repealed PASPA in 2018, the growth of legal sports betting in the United States skyrocketed. Close to three dozen states have since legalized some form of sports betting, with the most common legislation including the licensing of online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps. Check our legal sports betting tracker to find out more about any state you're interested in. 

Over the past two years, large states like Ohio and Massachusetts have enjoyed massively successful online betting launches. Sports fans get an extra way to engage with their favorite teams, and the states earn plenty of much-needed revenue from licensing fees and taxes.

Most recently, legal North Carolina sports betting arrived on March 11, 2024, bringing eight of the best sportsbooks in the country to the Tar Heel state.