Gambling Illegal In Florida
Gambling is a huge source of income for the state of Florida. Tax revenue
from slot machines alone totaled over $70 million in 2016.
But not all types of gambling are legal in Florida.
TALLAHASSEE Floridians will retain exclusive rights to authorize and potentially expand casino gambling in the state, including slot machines and electronic betting games. Amendment 3, which. The constitutional amendment “requires a vote by citizens initiative” for “casino gambling” to be authorized in Florida. “Casino gambling” is defined as “any of the type of games typically found in.
Online gambling is illegal in Florida. Our advice is to obey the law no matter where you live. This does not, however, prevent us from discussing levels of risk involved with various activities. No one has ever been arrested or prosecuted for playing online casino games at Florida gambling sites. Gambling at online casinos in Florida is a bit of a tricky one. It’s not expressly prohibited for people to play at online casinos in Canada or other overseas territory. But it’s definitely not permitted either. Running an online casino that is based in the state of Florida, however, is completely illegal. That casino, under the paid protection of Miami Beach police, was run by bootlegger Big Bill Dwyer. There was even a period - 1935 to 1937 - when the Florida Legislature repealed its law.
Online Florida gambling sites, roulette, craps, daily fantasy sports and some
other games are illegal in Florida.
This page covers all these topics, and more.
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Online Gambling and Florida Law
Is Online Gambling Legal in Florida?
No written laws pertain specifically to online gambling in Florida. There’s
not a clear answer to this question, but our best guess is that online gambling
is illegal in Florida.
Section 849.08 of the Florida Statutes says this about gambling:
“Whoever plays or engages in any game at cards, keno, roulette, faro or other
game of chance, at any place, by any device whatever, for money or other thing
of value, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as
provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.”
Thus, playing any game of chance online is illegal.
Most people now consider poker a game of skill. You might think that this
would make poker legal in Florida. You’d be wrong, though.
Section 849.14 covers games of skill.
Here’s what it says:
“Whoever stakes, bets or wagers any money or other thing of value upon the
result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or power or endurance of human or
beast, or whoever receives in any manner whatsoever any money or other thing of
value staked, bet or wagered, or offered for the purpose of being staked, bet or
wagered, by or for any other person upon any such result, or whoever knowingly
becomes the custodian or depositary of any money or other thing of value so
staked, bet, or wagered upon any such result, or whoever aids, or assists, or
abets in any manner in any of such acts all of which are hereby forbidden, shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree”
Based on this, games of skill like poker are also illegal.
This section of the Florida Statutes doesn’t reference devices like
computers, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply.
Can I Get Arrested for Gambling Online in Florida?
Online gambling is illegal in Florida. Our advice is to obey the law no
matter where you live.
This does not, however, prevent us from discussing levels of risk involved
with various activities.
No one has ever been arrested or prosecuted for playing online casino games
at Florida gambling sites. The only arrests we know of related to online
gambling were in Oklahoma, and these were related to online sports betting.
Risk levels for players are consistently low. We recommend several offshore
gaming companies who would probably be thrilled to serve customers in Florida.
There’s a legal risk, but it’s small.
Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Florida?
No, daily fantasy sports are not yet legal in Florida.
In 2015, a state senator and representative started a campaign to legalize
daily fantasy sports.
It hasn’t gotten far, but heavy pushes to legalize daily fantasy sports in
Florida are still happening. We wouldn’t be surprised to see it legalized in the
future.
Are Offshore Gambling Sites Safe?
The key to finding safe offshore gambling sites is research. We offer several
recommendations on our site based on our own research, but you should do your
own due diligence, too.
You should research how long the site has been in business and where they’re
licensed.
To keep a business open, you need a steady stream of customers. Finding a
site that has been in business for a considerable length of time means they’re
liked enough to have repeat customers.
You should consider where a site is licensed since different jurisdictions
have different standards. You should look for sites that are licensed in
jurisdictions with stricter regulations, such as the United Kingdom.
Think about the following, too:
How Do I Choose a Good Online Gaming Site?
- Game Variety
- Tournaments
- Bonus Terms & Conditions
- Read Reviews
- Customer Complaints
- Deposit Options
- Contact Customer Service
- Restricted States
What kind of casino games do you want to play? Not all online
casinos offer all casino games. Some players prefer live dealer action, while
others are only interested in having a wide variety of slot machines to choose
from. It’s dumb to sign up for an online casino that only offers slots if you’re
interested in playing card games.
If you’re interested in tournaments, be sure to check out the
sites tournament section. This is where you can find information like the type
of tournaments they hold, the qualifications for each tournament and the
tournament schedule. Not all online casinos offer tournaments.
Almost all online gaming sites offer sign-up
bonuses. Read the conditions of the bonus. You need to know how much you must
wager and what other qualifications you must meet in order to get the bonus.
Reading reviews from the members of the site is the tried and
true way to get uncensored information. Everything you read on the site that’s
written by them is simply advertising to you in order to get you to sign up.
Learn how to distinguish between real reviews and those written by shills.
Look for pages that review both the pros and cons of the site from online
gamblers like you.
Try doing an internet search with the name of the site
and the word “complaint.” You might be able to find some complaints or issues
with the site posted various places around the internet along with how the site
handled the complaint. Keep in mind, too, that not all player complaints are
legitimate. Read everything with a grain of salt and a certain amount of
cynicism.
Visit the cashier’s page on each site to find the deposit
options available. If they don’t have an option you’re familiar with or
comfortable using, there’s no reason to sign up for the site.
The point of contacting customer service is to see
their level of professionalism and to see how quickly they get back with you.
Even if you don’t have a real question, send them a simple question. For
example, ask how long it takes to get your funds when you transfer your winnings
to your bank.
You can tell a lot about a company’s customer service by how they respond to
a question from a potential customer.
Some offshore gambling sites have a restricted list of
states they can’t service. It’s important to check if your state is on this list
or not. You theoretically could end up signing up for the site and winning some
money, but they won’t legally be allowed to pay it to you.
Many of the offshore casinos we recommend on this site are happy to do
business with customers from Florida. Start your research by reading our
reviews. We think you’ll find them more complete and comprehensive than any
you’ll find on our competitors’ sites.
Also On This Page
Gambling Legal In Florida
Gambling Venues in Florida
The Furture of Gambling in Florida
More Gambling Laws in Florida
- Casino Games (Legal With Restrictions)
- Card Rooms (Pari-Mutuel Only)
- Sports and Race Betting (Pari-Mutuel Betting Legal)
- Lottery (Legal)
- Bingo (Legal)
- Social Gambling (Legal With Restrictions)
Casinos: Legal With Restrictions
Casinos can have card rooms that include poker and dominos. They’re also
allowed to offer other games like slot machines, blackjack and baccarat.
But craps, roulette and keno are illegal in Florida.
According to sections 849.08 and 849.11 games of chance are illegal in
Florida.
Here’s what they say:
“849.08Gambling. – Whoever plays or engages in any game at cards, keno,
roulette, faro or other game of chance, at any place, by any device whatever,
for money or other thing of value, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
second degree
849.11Plays at games of chance by lot. – Whoever sets up, promotes or plays
at any game of chance by lot or with dice, cards, numbers, hazards or any other
gambling device whatever for, or for the disposal of money or other thing of
value or under the pretext of a sale, gift or delivery thereof, or for any
right, share or interest therein, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second
degree”
Card Rooms: Pari-Mutuel Only
According to section 849.086 of the Florida Statutes, card rooms are legal at
casinos and pari-mutuel facilities such as racetracks.
Here’s what it says about card rooms:
“It is the intent of the Legislature to provide additional entertainment
choices for the residents of and visitors to the state, promote tourism in the
state, and provide additional state revenues through the authorization of the
playing of certain games in the state at facilities known as cardrooms which are
to be located at licensed pari-mutuel facilities. To ensure the public
confidence in the integrity of authorized cardroom operations, this act is
designed to strictly regulate the facilities, persons, and procedures related to
cardroom operations. Furthermore, the Legislature finds that authorized games as
herein defined are considered to be pari-mutuel style games and not casino
gaming because the participants play against each other instead of against the
house.”
Here’s what the Florida Statutes says about methods of wagering at card
rooms:
“No wagering may be conducted using money or other negotiable currency. Games
may only be played utilizing a wagering system whereby all players’ money is
first converted by the house to tokens or chips which shall be used for wagering
only at that specific cardroom.”
According to the Department of Business & Professional Regulation website,
only poker and dominoes are allowed in cardrooms.
Here’s what it says:
“Only poker and dominoes are authorized for play within Florida’s licensed
cardrooms. Authorized games are played in a non-banking manner, which
means that the house is not a participant in the game and the players compete
only against each other.”
Sports and Race Betting: Pari-Mutuel Betting Legal
Pari-mutuel betting is legal in Florida on horse races, dog races and other
activities – but only if they take place in a pari-mutuel facility.
According to section 550.155 of the Florida statutes:
“Wagering on the results of a horserace, dograce, or on the scores or points
of a jai alai game and the sale of tickets or other evidences showing an
interest in or a contribution to a pari-mutuel pool are allowed within the
enclosure of any pari-mutuel facility licensed and conducted under this chapter
but are not allowed elsewhere in this state, must be supervised by the division,
and are subject to such reasonable rules that the division prescribes.”
Here’s a question and answer from Department of Business & Professional
Regulation website regarding greyhound betting online:
“Q. The Internet offers wagering on greyhound races in Florida and other
states; is this legal?
A. The Florida Attorney General is of the opinion that this type of activity
is illegal. The only place that pari-mutuel wagering can be carried out in
Florida is at a pari-mutuel wagering track or fronton.”
Lottery: Legal
Florida has a state regulated lottery.
According to the Florida Lottery website:
“The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $31 billion to
education and sending more than 750,000 students to college through the Bright
Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 98 percent of its
revenue back into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to more
than 13,000 Florida retailers and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida
Lottery games have paid more than $52.4 billion in prizes and made more than
1,900 people millionaires”
Games include:
- Powerball
- Mega Millions
- Florida Lotto
- Cash4Life
- Lucky money
- Fantasy 5
- Pick 5
- Pick 4
- Pick 3
- Pick 2
- Millionaire Raffle
- scratch offs that range from $1-$25 games
Bingo: Legal
Bingo for profit at casinos as well as bingo for nonprofit charities are both
legal.
Here’s what section 849.0931 of the Florida statutes has about authorizing
bingo games for nonprofits:
“None of the provisions of this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or
prevent charitable, nonprofit, or veterans’ organizations engaged in charitable,
civic, community, benevolent, religious, or scholastic works or other similar
endeavors, which organizations have been in existence and active for a period of
3 years or more, from conducting bingo games or instant bingo, provided the
entire proceeds derived from the conduct of such games, less actual business
expenses for articles designed for and essential to the operation, conduct, and
playing of bingo or instant bingo, are donated by such organizations to the
endeavors mentioned above. In no case may the net proceeds from the conduct of
such games be used for any other purpose whatsoever. The proceeds derived from
the conduct of bingo games or instant bingo shall not be considered solicitation
of public donations.”
Social Gambling: Legal With Restrictions
According to Section 849.085 of the Florida Statutes, certain games are
allowed at home.
Here’s what it says about these games known as penny-ante games:
” (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is not a crime for a
person to participate in a game described in this section if such game is
conducted strictly in accordance with this section.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) “Penny-ante game” means a game or series of games of poker, pinochle,
bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes, or mah-jongg in which the winnings of
any player in a single round, hand, or game do not exceed $10 in value.
(b) “Dwelling” means residential premises owned or rented by a participant in
a penny-ante game and occupied by such participant or the common elements or
common areas of a condominium, cooperative, residential subdivision, or mobile
home park of which a participant in a penny-ante game is a unit owner, or the
facilities of an organization which is tax-exempt under s. 501(c)(7) of the
Internal Revenue Code. The term “dwelling” also includes a college dormitory
room or the common recreational area of a college dormitory or a publicly owned
community center owned by a municipality or county.
(3) A penny-ante game is subject to the following restrictions:
(a) The game must be conducted in a dwelling.”
According to the above information, penny-ante games such as poker, rummy,
etc. can take place in a residential area if each hand or round doesn’t go over
$10.
Gambling Venues in Florida
All casinos in Florida, which are listed below, are located on Indian
reservation land.
Games found at these casinos include:
- Texas holdem
- Bingo
- Slot machines
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Casino war
- Mississippi stud
- Pai Gow poker
- Spanish 21
- Let it ride
- Three card poker
- Omaha
Card rooms, slot machines and pari-mutuel betting are available at some
racetracks throughout the state that are not listed below.
1) Miccosuke Resort & Gaming
500 SW 177th Ave
Miami, FL 33194
Phone number: (305) 222-4600
2) Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee
506 S 1st ST
Immokalee, FL 34142
Phone number: (239) 658-1313
3) Seminole Casino Brighton
17735 Reservation Rd
Okeechobee, FL 34974
Phone number: (863) 467-9998
4) Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
4 – 5550 NW 40th St
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
Phone number: (954) 977-6700
5) Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
1 Seminole Way
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
Phone number: (866) 502-7529
6) Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
5223 Orient Rd
Tampa, FL 33610
Phone number: (813) 627-7625
7) Seminole Classic Casino Hollywood
4150 N State Rd 7
Hollywood, FL 33021
Phone number: (954) 961-3220
History of Gambling in Florida
1935Slot machines and jai alai games are legalized.
1937Florida repeals the one-armed bandit’s slot machines only two years after they’re legalized.
1979The Seminole Tribe opens Florida’s first high-stakes Indian bingo hall where bingo jackpots are over $100.
1984“Cruises to nowhere” are simulcasting are introduced.
1994Seminole casinos introduce poker to their game floors.
1996Card rooms are legalized at pari-mutuel facilities.
2000Officials seize more than 350 illegal video slot machines that are found in west-central Florida countries.
2004Tracks and jai alai frontons in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are approved to have slot machines. The Seminole tribe opens two new locations in Tampa and Hollywood called Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
2007The Governor signs an agreement that allows Las Vegas-style slots, baccarat, and blackjack games to be held at the 7 Seminoles tribal casinos. The legislature approves domino games, instant bingo, and regulated poker tournaments to be held in card rooms. They also raise bet limits from $2 to $5 and allow increased hours for slot machine operators.
2009No-limit 24 hour a day poker games and video lottery terminals are approved at dog and horse tracks by the legislature.
2013Internet cafes used as fronts for gambling games are banned.
Additional Resources
This link takes you to a list of the current pari-mutuel wagering
establishments that hold an operating license for the 2017-2018 year.
This link takes you to the Florida lottery websites information page.
The Future & Your Views
Florida tribal casinos offer bingo, poker, blackjack and several other casino
games for residents to enjoy.
If you want to play roulette or craps, you’ll have to take a cruise ship that
heads to international waters or visit another state.
The only change to Florida gambling laws we see happening soon is daily
fantasy sports. There has been a push to legalize it recently.
Legalizing Florida gambling sites could be in the future, but there hasn’t
been much of a push for it.
Florida law enforcement hasn’t arrested anyone for gambling online, so it’s a
low-risk activity. Only you can decide what your risk tolerance is. Our advice
is to obey the law.
If you decide you’re okay with the risk, consider playing at one of the
Florida gambling sites we’ve researched and vetted here.
Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Jason Mercier, and current November Niner Amir Lehavot– these are just a few of the real money poker behemoths originally hailing from the Sunshine State, Florida. In fact, in six of the past seven years, at least one resident of Florida has made the WSOP Final Table at one of the poker world’s most prestigious real cash poker betting events. This is in large part due to the popularity of online poker on legal poker websites in Florida prior to Black Friday.
Since then, things have died down a bit in the Internet poker gambling world in FL. Recently implemented gambling and betting laws raise the question as to whether all forms of device driven gambling, like Internet poker betting for real cash, are technically illegal in 2020. Additionally, the state prohibits unregulated gambling in any shape, way or form meaning lawful poker websites are the only option for Florida’s poker betting fans.
Still, the state’s 26 casinos, poker rooms with Texas Hold’em games and other poker games plus multiple racetracks are physical proof that real money poker and other gambling variants are thriving. And most of the state’s gambling community is widely in favor of passing legislation that would legalize online poker and usher in a new era of legit Internet poker websites for FL citizens. Yet, while several Internet poker bills have been brought to the table, it appears as though the betting residents of Florida are going to have to wait an indefinite amount of time before taking to the virtual real money poker felt.
As it stands in 2020, gambling online in The Sunshine State raises some questions. However, with the right real money US poker site, making a wager can be done.
History Of Florida Poker Legislation
Quick Jump
- 4 Is Online Poker Legal In Florida?
- 6 The History Of Gambling In Florida
According to Abruzzo’s proposal, the state of Florida would receive 10 percent of all revenue generated through online poker and Internet poker transactions. His goal was to pass a form of the bill by March 2011 to be implemented no later than July 1st of that year. Unfortunately, the lawful poker websites bill died in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee in April 2011 [1].
Abruzzo would try again to get his Internet gambling and poker betting bill through in 2012, but due to heavy resistance from the Seminole tribe – the largest Indian gambling interest in the Sunshine State – efforts to legalize online gambling fell short and the reality of legit poker websites disappeared. It was around the same time that FL State began cracking down on Internet café gambling. This is when players go online and access real cash poker websites in public places. In the past that was a popular way to bypass the poker laws and get a game of Texas Hold’em real money poker in!
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Can Players From Florida Play Online Poker?
As of the time of writing, real cash poker players from Florida are still permitted to register accounts on US-facing poker websites. In light of recent laws passed by the state’s government, this could change at any time. So, if you’re playing Internet poker from FL in 2020, be aware and stay up to date with the Florida government’s most recent position on whether gambling on real money poker websites is legal.
There are still a lot of online poker rooms and poker websites that accept players from the United States, but they are not accepting players from all states. If you do decide to take to the virtual Texas Hold’em poker felt, it is recommended that you take a look at our list of the best Florida Poker Sites for real money.
Is Online Poker Legal In Florida?
While we are no legal authority on the subject of legit Internet poker in FL, we can say with confidence that Florida’s gambling and real money poker laws are vague, at best. Technically, there are no laws prohibiting someone from playing online poker for real cash at a poker website. However, some of the state’s laws can be interpreted to say it is illegal for FL poker players to play Internet poker.
If anything, Florida has failed to mention much of anything regarding the legality of online poker and whether gambling for real money at poker websites is legal. And although it is best to seek on the subject of Internet poker before participating in any online gambling or real money poker activity, we’ve summarized the key facets of 2020‘s gambling and real cash poker law in Florida, some of which can be interpreted to encompass online poker at poker websites:
- According to Section 849.08, unregulated gambling in the state of Florida is illegal and considered a second degree misdemeanor. [2]
- 849.08 goes on to state that playing cards, possibly including poker games like Texas Hold’em poker, on an unregulated device or at an unregulated facility is also illegal. Cards could be interpreted to include poker and Internet poker games, although the word “poker” is never specifically referred to.
- Real money poker rooms are legal, but must adhere to a strict set of principles and guidelines set forth by the state.
- Penny-ante home real cash poker games, where the winner of a hand wins no more than $10 are considered legal in so long as the poker betting game takes place at a dwelling – which can be interpreted as a place of residence. [3]
From this it can be concluded that playing online poker from a computer on poker websites, despite the location of the device, could be considered illegal. However, since no one has been prosecuted for playing online poker, it’s impossible to know how state officials would react to the issue of online poker and Internet poker play if presented before a court of law.
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HB3 – Prohibition of Simulated Gambling Devices
In early-2013 Florida passed HB3. For the sake of simplicity, we’ve paraphrased it below:
Section 849.16 indicates that machines or system[s] directly or indirectly operated by a user that can be used to play games of skill or by reason of any element of chance or any other outcome unpredictable by him or her are illegal, in so long as an exchange of real money, credit, allowance, or thing of value can be traded for.
HB3 was meant to outlaw Internet cafes where FL citizens went to play legal Internet poker in Florida. However, the language is so broad that it can be interpreted that any device, including computers, smartphones and tablets, that can be used to play on gambling and poker betting websites, are all technically illegal in 2020. [4] Absurd, we know – but that’s one way to read it.
The bill will likely be amended, and there are some that believe the new bill will include provisions outlawing Internet poker, including both off-shore real money poker websites and legal free-play Internet poker sites in the US. To support this theory, subscription-based online poker site ClubWPT.com [5] pulled out of Florida two days after the poker website gambling bill was signed into law by Governor Scott.
The Facts
The History Of Gambling In Florida
1932
1932
Due to the suffering that the economy endured during the early 30’s, the state of Florida legalized pari-mutuel gambling.
1935
1935
Gambling started to grow even more and slots were legalized in Florida.
1937
1937
Unfortunately, this law was revoked and slots were no longer available to play in the state of Florida.
1978
1978
Gambling was on the verge of growing even more throughout the state, but the referendum on granting casino gambling in Broward and Miami-Dade was defeated. This referendum was re-introduced in 1986 and 1994, resulting in the same outcome.
1979
Online Gambling Illegal In Florida
1979
The Seminole Tribe made real strides in the gambling world and opened a high-stakes bingo hall on their own lad. Unfortunately, this did not conform with the state’s law but the appeal was won and the bingo hall remained open.
2004
2004
Finally, the referendum from previous years was passed and Broward and Miami-Dade got their casinos. This allowed them to expand their slots offerings, which would ultimately lead to more customers in the tribal casinos.
2010
2010
Legislature allows “No-Limit” poker to be played in live casinos. Resulting in a boom in venues throughout the state. Gambling was becoming a big thing in the state of Florida and was constantly growing in popularity.
2013
2013
This year saw a big decline in gambling facilities as internet cafes banned all gambling games from being accessed.
Gambling and real cash betting, whether sanctioned by the state or not, has existed in Florida since Henry Flagler enticed high-roller real money poker betting and casino fans by erecting the landmark (and illegal) Bacchus Club casino in 1888.
In the 1920s, the underground gambling and poker betting scene in both Tampa and Miami was thriving. A game called bolita, which originated in Cuba, was the poison of choice for most real cash high-rollers gambling in FL. In the 1930s, the rise of crime bosses like Al Capone led to illicit gambling circles and real money poker games throughout the state. Stories of murder, mayhem and corrupt police officers were common, and while not all of them were true, illegal gambling and poker betting become so popular that by the 1940s popular casino games were said to be buying elections in Florida.
The Great Depression compelled Florida’s government to seek ways to raise additional revenue. Subsequently, legislation legalizing real money gambling on horse racing was passed in 1931. This marked the first time gambling in any form was legal in Florida. Four years later, slot machines became legal.
The Florida State Lottery was sanctioned in 1988 and by 2008 generated more than $4.2 billion in annual real cash gambling wagers. Lottery officials claim that in the past two decades, over $20 billion in betting profits has been collected from the lottery fund to support educational causes.
Despite this, organized crime ruled the gambling and real money poker world in Florida throughout much of the 20th century. And it wouldn’t be until 2004 that the Seminole tribe would win the battle to operate Vegas-style real cash gambling slots in the state of FL.
Since then the Indian tribe has gained the right to spread more games in its various casinos. The state has settled its differences with the tribe, in large part due to the more than $2 billion in state revenue they generate each year in real money gambling profits for the government of Florida.
In 2010, Texas Hold’em No-Limit poker and other No Limit poker games became legal in Florida’s then 23 real money poker betting rooms and all Seminole poker rooms.
Today in 2020, Florida’s online and offline gambling and Internet poker community is bustling. Over two dozen real cash legal poker rooms, more than half-a-dozen tribal gaming casinos and three horse tracks litter the highly populated, tourist friendly Sunshine State of FL.
Although the state laws seem to be in flux, US poker players in Florida do have access to Internet poker rooms that take US players.
Regulated Gambling Options In Florida
The only type of regulated gambling not offered in Florida is commercial casinos. Horse racing, slot machines and lawful real money poker card rooms are all prevalent throughout the state. Florida also offers a state lottery, Powerball, bingo and raffles (only for charity) and para-mutual gambling on top of its wide legit real cash poker gambling offerings.
The Future Of Regulated Online Gambling In Florida
HB3 has most advocates of state regulated online poker extremely concerned about the possibility of legal Internet poker websites. Some fear a scenario where HB3 will be amended to ban online poker and gambling at Internet poker websites completely. And while the Internet poker bill is certainly not the last nail in the coffin, the Seminoles will likely resist any online poker legislation making Internet poker legal unless it can be amended to not jeopardize their poker gambling earnings.
The Bottom Line
It could be a long while before proposed online poker legislation is heard by the committee in FL. Will we eventually see some sort of legalized online poker giving the Sunshine State’s gambling fans somewhere legal to play real money poker in Florida? Probably, it won’t happen soon and all bets are off on when the first legit poker websites will open their doors.
Floridians best hope might be for the federal government to come around on the issue of legal Internet poker and gambling for real cash on poker websites. Until then, FL players are encouraged to enjoy Florida’s prospering no-limit real cash poker scene, and other poker variants. It’s a good way of getting in some real cash gambling practice before legit Internet poker betting for real money eventually comes to Florida!
References
[1] ↑Florida’s internet poker legislation won’t pass this session
[2] ↑Statute 849.08
[3] ↑Statute 849.085
[4] ↑Did new Florida law make computers and phones illegal?
[5] ↑ClubWPT
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