With its entertainment-driven tropical beaches and thriving nightlife, there’s no doubt that Florida offers some of the most exciting casinos. However, online casinos in Florida remain illegal, which is surprising when you consider multiple states to the north have legalized internet play and offer some of the best online casinos, including West Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, among others.
Top Guide to Online Casinos in Florida
The great news is that Florida online casinos could become available sooner than other states, especially with the recent drive to legalize online sports betting.
For now, if you want to play the latest game releases at legal online casinos in Florida, we have a great range of sweepstake online casinos that make it possible to win cash prizes and gifts.
In our Florida online casinos guide, we’ll explain more about the current laws, history, the best sweepstake casinos, and more.
Are Online Casinos Legal in Florida?
No, playing at real money online casinos in Florida is illegal as the state does not currently regulate any sites. While some off-shore sites cater to the state, there is no way to ensure fair and reliable gaming services and security.
States that have legalized online casinos issue gambling licenses to operators that meet the fairness and security regulations. These sites are constantly monitored to provide a gaming environment that meets the highest standards.
What is Legal in Florida Casinos?
Casinos are owned and operated by tribes in Florida, including the Seminoles tribe, which operates six of the seven casinos. The other is located in Miami and operated by the Miccosukee tribe, but since the Seminoles tribe does not operate it, it cannot feature all the same games.
In 2021, a new compact between the Seminole tribe and Florida agreed to legalize additional games such as Roulette and Craps but did not mention online casinos in Florida. It’s possible that any renegotiations could introduce online opportunities for the Seminole tribe.
What about sweepstake online casinos, you may ask? Sweepstake online casinos in Florida do not require any deposits and do not provide real money play. You can use your rewards to claim cash prizes and gifts, and you have the option to purchase more site credits, but this form of gaming is for social purposes.
When will Florida Legalize Online Casinos?
Since the new compact legalized online betting, Florida online casinos could follow soon. Predictions state that it’s still far away. While it’s possible to add online casinos to the compact, some lawmakers object, including House Speaker Chris Sprowles, said the mere possibility was unacceptable, causing lawmakers to remove it completely before voting.
Brief Gambling History in Florida
Gambling – legal and otherwise – has a rather long history in Florida. Below is a timeline of the major events in Florida’s history of gambling.
- 1932 Legalized parimutuel betting
- 1935 Legalized Jai-Alai and slots
- 1973 Slots made illegal
- 1979 Native American bingo halls legalized
- 2004 Casino gambling legalized
- 2010 State of Florida and the Seminole tribe sign a contract granted Seminole’s near-exclusive rights to casino gambling in the state. The agreed payment was $350 million per year.
In 2021, the new compact that suggested the legalization of additional casino games and online sports betting under the Seminole tribe was left in the draw without approval or denial. Therefore, it automatically became law, but in November of the same year, a federal judge ruled that it violated the Indian Gaming Regulation Act.
In June 2023, the decision was reversed when the US Court of Appeals said online betting should be allowed by the Seminole Tribe in the state. While multiple changes have applied to the Compact, sports betting has been legal in Florida since 7 December 2023 for in-person and online betting.
Best Sweepstake Casinos to Play in Florida
Sweepstake online casinos in Florida are legal and provide easy access to many of the same casino games you’ll find at the best real money sites. The difference is, that you don’t need to make a deposit to play and enjoy the wide range of tournaments.
Claim rewards in various ways, which you can exchange for cash prizes and gifts, making Sweepstake online casinos in Florida a brilliant choice for everyone wanting to play the latest slots and live games on PC or mobile.
| Rank | Online Casino | Best Offer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wow Vegas | 5,000 Wow Coins |
| 2. | Rush Games | VC$500 Bonus |
| 3. | High 5 Casino | 250 Game Coins + 5 Sweeps |
| 4. | BetRivers.net | 10 to 1,000 VC$ |
| 5. | Gambino Slots | 100,000 Game Coins |
In Which States in Online Casino Legal?
Since 2013, six other states have legalized real money online gaming, and Rhode Island will become the seventh in March 2024. These states offer some of the best online casinos in the US, featuring thousands of slots, table games, and the latest live dealer casino games. Once online casinos in Florida become available, many top-rated brands will provide their services.
Closest Legal States to Florida
To access legal real money online casinos in Florida, you’ll need to take a two-hour flight or pack up the car for a 14-hour road trip through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina to West Virginia.
While the road trip might be long, it’s well worth gaining access to the impressive variety of casino games. Of course, extending the trip by a few hours and making it to Pennsylvania provides an even bigger collection of casinos with more bonuses and benefits.
Land-based Casinos in Florida
Florida has several different types of land-based casinos, including seven tribal casinos, casino boats, and eight pari-mutuel casinos. While the pari-mutuels provide access to some gaming machines, the land-based casinos and casino boats deliver gaming entertainment on a bigger scale.
As for the tribal casinos, the Seminole Tribe owns and operates six, and the seventh is on the Miccosukee Tribe’s reservation.
All of the Indian casinos are open 24 hours (except Big Cypress) and all offer bingo except for both Seminole Hard Rock Casinos and the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.
The minimum gambling age is 18 at all Indian casinos for bingo or poker and 21 for electronic gaming machines.
An Online Casino Hotspot that Could Legalize Soon
Now that online sports betting is legal, Florida online casinos could see some critical movements within the next few months. It mainly depends on the Seminole Tribe and what online casinos could provide in the state.
For now, lawmakers are against the idea, meaning only Sweepstake online casinos in Florida are available. While these are brilliant and entertaining, having the option to play the latest real money games is a desire for many in Florida.