Florida sports betting is finally legal, which is great news for all football, soccer, and basketball fans out there. You can enjoy sports betting on your favorite teams, from the Florida Panthers to the Miami Marlins.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the current state of Florida sports betting, plus some of the top offshore mobile sports betting sites.
List of the Best Florida Sports Betting Sites in 2026
Sports Betting in Florida Overview
Thanks to a decision made by the DC District Court of Appeals, online sports gambling in Florida is now 100% legal. Here are some must-know fast facts on sports betting in the Sunshine State.
| State Population | 22.2 million (2022) |
|---|---|
| Gambling Regulator | Florida Gaming Control Commission |
| Legal Gambling Age in FL | 21 for retail gambling sites, 18 for offshore sportsbooks |
| Retail Sports Betting | Yes |
| Online Sports Betting | Yes |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | No regulation |
| Retail Casinos | Yes |
| Online Casinos | No |
| Mobile Betting Apps | Yes |
| Remote Registration | Yes |
| Taxable Winnings | 24% on $600+ |
Is Sports Betting Legal in Florida?
Good news for Florida sports fans: Legal sports betting in the Sunshine State is here at last. As of December 2023, you can legally place bets online or at any of the retail sports betting venues scattered throughout the state.
The road to Florida sports betting has been rather tumultuous. In 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a compact with the Seminole Tribe to legalize sports betting in the state. Local groups argued against the compact, claiming it would violate the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and an amendment requiring voter approval.
A local court agreed, and Florida online sportsbooks were forced to close temporarily. The Seminole Tribe, displeased by the decision, fought for months to have it overturned.
At last, the Seminole Tribe of Florida succeeded when the District Court of Appeals overturned the decision. The Seminole Tribe launched the Hard Rock Bet app on December 5, 2023 (this is currently the only legal betting app in Florida). You can also enjoy betting at a Hard Rock Hotel on tribal land in FL.
What about daily fantasy sports betting? Currently, fantasy sports betting isn’t regulated, and it’s unclear whether the state will move to legalize daily fantasy sports.
Who Can Bet on Sports in Florida?
Anyone 21 and over can enjoy online and in-person sports betting in Florida. You don’t have to be a resident to use betting sites in Florida, but you do have to be physically located within state borders. Hard Rock Bet uses geofencing technology to ensure bettors are located in Florida.
You’ll also find retail sports betting venues at each Hard Rock Hotel location in Florida (at the time of this writing, the Seminole Tribe runs six casinos on tribal land throughout the state).
Are Bet Winnings in Florida Taxable?
The IRS treats sports betting winnings like any other kind of income, meaning you must pay taxes on your winnings. The current tax rate is 24% of winnings over $600. You can report gambling winnings on line 21 of Form 1040.
Because Florida has no income tax, you don’t have to pay taxes on winnings to the state. You only need to worry about paying taxes to the IRS.
Recent Florida Legal Sports Betting Updates
Looking for a Florida sports betting update? Here’s the most recent news on FL online sportsbooks.
If you’re searching for sportsbooks available in Florida, you’ll find just one: Hard Rock Bet. That’s because the state has signed a compact with the Seminole Tribe, giving it a sports betting monopoly in the Sunshine State.
As you might imagine, other big players in the betting industry are less than pleased with this arrangement. For instance, in 2024, Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. and West Flagler Associates challenged the state’s compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. However, the Florida Supreme Court denied the challenge for procedural reasons. Similar challenges are likely in the future, but online sports betting in Florida remains safe for now.
To that end, mentioned below are key betting-related developments in the state:
- April 22, 2024: Underdog and PrizePicks launch peer-to-peer daily fantasy sports pick’em games in the Sunshine State.
- April 2, 2024: West Flagler files a supplemental brief with the U.S. Supreme Court explaining why the SCOTUS should grant its petition challenging Florida’s sports betting compact.
- March 21, 2024: The Florida Supreme Court denies a petition to the state’s gambling compact (issued by West Flagler Associates). West Flagler intends to push the case to the federal court.
- November 1, 2023: The Seminole Tribe announces that it will launch retail sports betting at Hard Rock Hotel casinos on December 7, 2023. In addition to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel betting, the Hard Rock Bet app became available on December 5, 2023.
- May 2021: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a compact with the Seminole Tribe that would legalize and regulate sports betting sites in Florida.
Are Offshore Betting Sites Legal in Florida?
Yes, offshore betting sites are legal in Florida in the sense that the state does not have any explicit laws criminalizing online sports bettors. While Florida’s legal landscape attempts to regulate sports betting platforms, the laws focus more on offshore sportsbook operators rather than penalizing individual bettors.
No one has ever been prosecuted for betting at an offshore sportsbook. And while these sportsbooks aren’t regulated, they’re licensed and 100% safe. So, if you’re looking for an alternative to Hard Rock Bet, try one of our top Florida sports betting sites.
How To Bet Online With FL Sportsbooks
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to register and start betting at new betting sites:
- Choose one of the best betting sites from the list above and sign up for an account. Depending on the mobile betting site, you may have to provide proof of your identity.
- Wait for the mobile betting site to verify your identity and ensure you are of legal gambling age (if applicable). This typically takes 24 hours or less.
- Make your first deposit at the Florida sports betting site. Payment options may include credit/debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, and crypto.
- Enter a Florida online sports betting promo code to claim your welcome bonus, if necessary (some sportsbooks will instantly apply the bonus if you make the minimum deposit).
- Now, you’re ready to start betting. Have fun and good luck!
Popular Sports and Competitions To Bet On in Florida
Wondering which sports you can bet on at offshore mobile betting sites? Offshore books offer many more sports than legal betting sites like Hard Rock Bet. We’ll cover a few of these below.
- NBA: Want to bet on the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, or your other favorite NBA teams? NBA betting websites allow you to do exactly that. Popular prop bets include steals, three-pointers, assists, and rebounds.
- NFL: If you’re a fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, or Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you’ll have a blast at the best NFL betting sites. Common NFL prop bets include touchdowns, yards traveled, and points scored by specific players. College football betting is also another possibility at these offshore betting sites, so make sure to have those football predictions ready.
- MLB: Will the Tampa Bay Rays or Miami Marlins win the next game? At the best MLB betting sites, you can root for these favorites and many more. You can bet on home runs, victory margins, and the first team to score.
- Golf: Tiger Woods may be the most famous Florida golf player, but don’t forget about Adam Scott, Luke Donald, and Ernie Els. Bet on all of these fan favorites and more at the best golf betting sites.
- Soccer: Florida is home to dozens of soccer teams, including Florida Tropics SC, the Broward Seahawks, and the Tampa Marauders. Pick your favorite and place your bet at one of the best soccer betting sites.
- NASCAR: Few NASCAR racing venues are better known than the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. At the best NASCAR betting sites, you can bet on races at this venue and others, such as the Texas Motor Speedway and Sebring Raceway.
- Horse Racing: Many of the Kentucky Derby’s finest horses hail from Florida, including Catalytic, Catching Freedom, Dornoch, and Sierra Leone. Head to one of the best horse betting sites to place bets on these speed demons now.
Can You Bet on College Sports in FL Betting Sites?
It’s 100% legal to bet on college sports in the Sunshine State. You can bet on college games taking place in Florida, as well as Florida-based college sports teams. You cannot, however, place prop bets on college sports.
Popular Types of Bets You Can Make in the Best Online Sportsbooks in Florida
Online sports betting in Florida can seem overwhelming if you have never placed a bet in your life and worry about doing it the wrong way. Don’t know the difference between a parlay and a prop bet? Consult our handy guide below to get you on the right track.
- Moneyline: Moneyline bets are straight wagers with no spread, for which you have to predict the outright winner.
- Spread Betting: With this option, you can either lay or take the spread. If you bet on the favorite to win, it’s called laying the spread. If you bet on the underdog, this is called taking the spread.
- Parlays: Also called a multiplier or accumulator, a parlay is a single bet with two or more sides. All sides must win for the bet to win.
- Over/Under: Over/under bets involve betting on whether the number of touchdowns, goals, or points will be over or under a specific number.
- Prop Bets: With prop bets, you bet on individual players or certain actions that may happen during a match. For example, you can bet on how many points a certain soccer player will score.
- Live Bets: Live bets are bets that you can make in real time during a game.
Florida Sports Betting Apps and Mobile Wagering Options
Currently, due to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, Hard Rock Bet from the Seminole Tribe is the only legal sports betting app in Florida. This is a fine option, but stick with offshore sportsbooks if you want bigger bonuses and access to more markets.
Offshore mobile books offer many advantages over apps like Hard Rock Bet. With an offshore online sportsbook app, you can place bets from anywhere, not just within the state of Florida. Plus, you can score a welcome bonus worth hundreds.
Famous Florida-Based Tournaments To Bet On
Sports bettors worldwide love betting on the following popular Florida-based tournaments:
- Miami Open: Also called the Miami Masters, the Miami Open is a pro tennis tournament held annually at Miami Gardens. It’s part of the WTA 1000 and ATP Masters 1000 events.
- Daytona Races: Held at the Daytona International Speedway, these races are packed with high-speed, nail-biting action. Popular races include the Daytona 500, the Rolex 24, and the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
- Orange Bowl: First played in 1935, the Orange Bowl is a professional football game played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. It’s one of the oldest football games in the nation.
- Florida Derby: The Florida Derby is another American Thoroughbred race for three-year-old horses. It’s held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL.
- Tampa Bay Derby: The Tampa Bay Derby is part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. It’s a Grade III American Thoroughbred race for horses aged three and up.
Popular Home Teams in Florida
Florida is home to dozens of popular sports teams. Fan favorites include:
- Florida Panthers: The Panthers are a pro ice hockey team based in Miami. Top players include Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov.
- Miami Heat: The Miami Heat is a basketball team based in, you guessed it, Miami. The team plays home games at Kaseya Center.
- Miami Dolphins: Here’s yet another Miami-based team. This football team plays home games at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
- Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays are a professional baseball team that plays at Charlotte Sports Park and Tropicana Field. Top players include Randy Arozarena and Jose Siri.
- Orlando City SC: Orlando City SC is a soccer club founded in 2013. It competes in the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer.
Retail Betting Outlets in Florida
Interested in heading to a retail sports betting outlet instead of betting online? Florida has several Hard Rock Sportsbooks where you can place bets in person. Check out these venues located throughout the Sunshine State.
| Sportsbook | Address | Phone | Odds provider |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | 17735 Reservation Road, Okeechobee, FL, 34974 | (863) 467-9998 | GiG |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | 5550 NW 40th Street, Coconut Creek, FL, 33073 | (954) 977-6700 | GiG |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | 506 South 1st Street, Immokalee, FL, 34142 | (239) 658-1313 | GiG |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | 4150 North State Road 7, Hollywood, FL, 33021 | (954) 961-3220 | GiG |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | 5223 Orient Road, Tampa, FL, 33610 | (866) 388-4263 | GiG |
Other Betting Options in FL
You’re not only limited to sports betting in Florida. If you need a break from betting, check out these other options:
- Online Casinos: Federally, online casinos are legal, but the state currently doesn’t allow online casino gambling in Florida.
- Poker: Aiming to win the next World Series of Poker? Then, you’ll want to brush up on your skills at one of the best online poker sites or at an in-state poker room. You will find poker rooms scattered across Florida – notably in Jacksonville, Ocala, St. Petersburg, and West Palm Beach.
- Horse Racing: Will your favorite ponies cross the finish line first? Place your bets at one of Florida’s in-state racetracks, whether at Tampa Bay Downs or Gulfstream Park Racing.
- Fantasy Sports: At the best fantasy betting sites, you can bet on the player and team matchups of your dreams.
The Future of Sports Betting in Florida
Currently, the Seminole Tribe has a monopoly on Florida sports betting with Hard Rock Bet. This is bad news because a lack of options means that Hard Rock Bet has no incentive to provide good odds for bettors.
However, this monopoly may not last forever. Challengers such as West Flagler intend to continue fighting the Seminole Tribe for the right to operate in the Sunshine State. West Flagler has filed a supplemental brief with the U.S. Supreme Court; however, what will happen next is anyone’s guess.
Nearby Florida Sports Betting Alternatives
Bettors in Florida can also head to surrounding states to enjoy betting action. Here’s a brief overview:
- Tennessee is the closest nearby state offering sports wagering. Only online betting in Tennessee is legal; placing bets at physical sportsbooks is illegal.
- Mississippi is the second-closest option for Florida residents. To place bets here, you must be physically located on casino grounds.
- Virginia is your best bet if you want both retail and online betting, as both are legal in this state.
Responsible Gambling
Placing sports wagers at the best sports betting sites is lots of fun, but remember to bet responsibly. If you need help, check out these responsible gambling resources.
- Problem Gambling Help in Florida
- Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling
- GambleAware
FL Sports Betting FAQs
Is Florida Sports Betting Legal?
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Florida?
Is It Safe To Bet on Sports Online in FL?
Can I Use a VPN for Sports Betting in Florida?