Florida Gambling Laws And Regulations For 2025

Who Regulates Gambling In FL?

The Florida Gaming Control Commission is in charge of regulating gambling within the state. The FGCC consists of five members who are appointed by the Governor that governs over slot machines, table games, poker and other card games for real money, horse race betting, and any compacts the state has entered into with the Seminole Tribe. The Florida Lottery is self-regulated by a governor-appointed secretary who operates within its Division of Security.

Current Gambling Laws In Florida

• Casino Gambling
  • Slots - Chapter 551 of the Florida Statutes allows for slot machines to operate within eight racinos in South Florida, as well as in the state's three Hard Rock locations. Slots are not allowed in any other type of venue at this time.
  • Craps & Roulette - Florida Statute 285.710 approves a revised gaming compact signed with the state and the Seminole Tribe in 2021, which permitted games of chance like craps and backgammon to be offered in Hard Rock Casinos.
  • Blackjack And Table Games - These games were authorized when the federal government passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988, which allowed existing tribal facilities to offer standard
• Poker And Cardrooms - FL Statute 849.086 authorizes cardrooms to exist within the state that offer games of poker and dominoes and sets the licensing fee for each table at $1,000 annually.
• Sports Betting - FL Statute 285.710 makes the gaming compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida legal. The revised compact allowed the tribe to offer in-person sports betting at their Hard Rock Casino locations, as well as mobile sports betting using their Hard Rock Bet application.
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering - Chapter 550 of the Florida Statutes makes it legal for anyone 18 or older to bet on horse races, both in-person or off-track, and any games of jai alai. Live greyhound racing is now strictly forbidden despite existing within FL for decades.
• Lottery - Florida Statutes chapter 24, aka the “Florida Public Education Lottery Act,” details the laws surrounding the Florida Lottery. Locals and tourists who are at least 18 can purchase lottery tickets that are sold in convenience stations, grocery stores, and vending machines. Chapter 24 also details where the tax dollars that are collected from lottery revenue go.

Florida Online Gambling Laws

The only domestic online gambling options in Florida are offered by the Hard Rock Bet sportsbook app and website. If you want to play online casino games or play online poker over the Internet, you'll only be able to do so with international operators headquartered outside of the United States. Of course, in FL, it's perfectly legal to sign up and bet real money at these sites, provided you go with a service provider that's licensed and regulated in a recognized offshore gambling jurisdiction (like any of the sites we offer in our 2025 Florida gambling site reviews).

Not only have these sites been around for years and boast millions of FL and US members, but they've also helped establish the best practices for the entire online gambling industry. By using RNG (random number generation) electronic slots and other casino table games, players are ensured a fair chance to win, and payouts meet or exceed those earned in traditional brick-and-mortar venues.

And with full mobile compatibility and no geofencing restrictions, you can bet from the sunny beaches of South Florida to the brush pine forests of the panhandle and everywhere in between, 24/7!

Tribal Casino Gambling Laws In Florida  + Gambling Cruise Laws

In Florida, there are only two options for those who want the full Vegas experience: Class III Seminole casinos or offshore gambling boats. In the case of the former, there are six venues to choose from, with the two Hard Rock resort casinos being the most popular tourist destinations. These are FL's flagship casinos and the international Hard Rock brand's most popular properties.

In 2021, gaming at these venues was expanded to offer sports betting, roulette, and craps, which were the only classic options not previously available in the state. Now, you can play everything Vegas has to offer at any FL Indian casino operated by the Seminole, from slots, blackjack, and baccarat to roulette, craps, keno, bingo, tournament poker, and more.

FL casino cruises offer all of these same games (with the exception of sports betting), but the boats  – which mostly set sail from the eastern shore into the Atlantic Ocean – must be at least three miles offshore in international waters before their gambling amusements can commence.

Florida Sports Betting Laws

Florida took a long time to authorize legal domestic sports betting in the state, as PASPA was overturned in 2018, but sports wagering didn't come to FL in any official capacity until 2021. Because retail sports betting is a part of the new Florida gambling compact signed with the Seminole Tribe, the Seminole will be the exclusive operator of sports wagering in the state through their casinos, website, and mobile sportsbook app.

In October 2023, the US Supreme Court denied an appeal that granted the Seminoles a win in Florida. FL sports betting returned to Hard Rock Casinos in December 2023, and mobile options followed shortly after.

FL bettors can also wager on their favorite teams and sports using a legitimate online sportsbook operating overseas. Bettors who go that route can make real-money sports bets online at 18 and up, whereas the local minimum betting age in FL is 21.

Florida Poker Laws

In FL, poker is legal as long as it's played at a Class III casino venue or any of the cardrooms scattered throughout the state. However, only the Seminole-operated casinos can offer house-banked poker for major tournaments and huge jackpots. Smaller "racino" cardrooms can only allow player-banked poker.

Unfortunately, the poker offered by these cardrooms led to the FL-Seminole gaming compact of 2010 being annulled, and it wasn't until 2021 that a new compact was signed. As part of the state's new agreement with the Seminole, these cardrooms will be allowed to continue operating, but they will not be allowed to host other traditional gambling amusements.

The legal age to play poker at FL casinos is 21 and up, while you only have to be 18+ to participate in smaller poker room activities. Current Florida online poker laws make it a crime to play with a local provider. Of course, all FL residents aged 18 and older can play online poker (and big-money online poker tournaments) at the international poker sites we recommend.

Bingo and Horse Racing Betting Laws in Florida

Florida understands that many of its responsible adult residents and visitors enjoy playing bingo and betting on the ponies. This is one of the reasons that these pastimes are offered throughout the state. And even at defunct dog tracks, their racino and cardroom services and their simulcast horse betting options provide players in FL with many convenient options.

Of course, if you want to play bingo or bet on horses online, the only way to do that legally is to join a FL-friendly online gambling site. Still, whether you play in-person or online, both of these popular markets are available to gamblers at just 18 and up.

Florida Lottery Gambling Laws

Florida state gambling laws allow players to enjoy the Florida Lotto and interstate lotteries like the Powerball and Mega Millions. Better yet, Florida online gambling now includes lottery games with online purchasing access, which means you can buy these tickets via any computer or mobile device. To play the many Florida lottery options, you must be 18 or older, and all the best international betting sites offer lottery amusements, as well.

The Outlook For New Gambling Laws In Florida

The elephant in the room regarding what's left to gamble on in FL is online casino games and web-based poker. Online sports betting has spread across the nation like wildfire, but other forms of iGaming have been stagnant, with only a few states offering them at this time.

The main reason that online casinos and poker will not likely see the light of day in the Sunshine State is the Seminole Tribe's in-person venues. The data shows that when Internet casinos debut, retail venues suffer greatly. We do not expect Florida casino laws to permit iGaming any time soon.

Florida State Gambling Laws Summed Up

The Florida gambling laws offer a very attractive environment for the responsible adult who enjoys wagering both online and in person. Access is offered in both brick-and-mortar and virtual formats for casino table and card games, electronic slots, lottery games, sports betting, and horse racing.

Add in the peaceful pleasure of oceangoing floating Florida casinos offering live entertainment, full casino game menus, and fine dining, and you have a nearly unbeatable selection of wagering options made possible thanks to the flexible and inclusive gambling laws in Florida.

Frequently Asked Questions