Sports betting in Florida won't be legal in Florida until at least 2025. That is because the Seminole Tribe, which had a monopoly on sports betting, wound up on the wrong side of a series of court rulings and temporarily suspended online sports betting operations in early December.

An appeal has been making its way through the court system, and April 10 is the deadline for all sides to show cause as to whether the appeal should be dismissed for "lack of jurisdiction."

If the appeal is dismissed, Florida sports betting won't be on the ballot until at least 2024 since two initiatives for a 2022 constitutional amendment, backed by DraftKings and FanDuel, fell short of the signatures needed.

The state of sports betting in Florida has been messy from the start. The tribe's Hard Rock Sportsbook app had launched discretely in early November, but a federal judge soon ruled that the new compact, which gave the Seminole Tribe exclusive control of sports betting in the Sunshine State, violated the Indian Regulatory Gaming Act (IRGA).

The tribe announced on December 4 that it was "temporarily" suspending operations after a Washington, D.C. appeals court denied its request for a temporary stay pending appeal. It was the second straight unfavorable ruling after the original request was denied by a federal judge.

The tribe had launched the Hard Rock Sportsbook app at the start of November even despite the pending legal challenges questioning whether the compact violated the Indian Regulatory Gaming Act (IRGA) and Florida law.

Florida Sports Betting Legislation Updates 2022

• March 14, 2022: Atlanta Falcons WR Calvin Ridley is suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games via the Hard Rock Sportsbook app in late November, days before it was shutdown on December 4.
• Jan 21, 2021:Champions, the group pushing for a sports betting constitutional amendment for 2022, concedes it will not reach the signature threshold by the Feb. 1 deadline. This means Florida sports betting will not be on the ballot until 2024.
• Jan 21, 2021: The U.S. Department of the Interior files a notice of appeal to the original ruling that led to the shutdown of the Hard Rock Sportsbook app in early December.
• December 4, 2021 : The Seminole Tribe announces it's "temporarily suspending" operations in the wake of its appeal request being denied.
• December 3, 2021: A Washington, D.C. appeals court rejects the Seminole Tribe's request for a temporary stay pending appeal.
• November 25, 2021: A federal judge refuses to grant a temporary hold on the ruling, which would have allowed the Seminole Tribe to continue to take bets. The tribe continues taking bets despite the ruling.
• November 23, 2021: The Seminole Tribe moves to appeal the federal judge's ruling.
• November 22, 2021: A federal judge rules the new gaming compact violates federal law, putting online sports betting and all gaming expansion (table games, in-person betting) on tribal lands on hold indefinitely. Her ruling barring a reversal upon appeal, means the only path to online betting would be an amendment.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Florida?

No, sports betting is again illegal in Florida after a federal judge invalidated a gaming compact that gave the Seminole Tribe exclusive control over the market. The Hard Rock Sportsbook app was operational for 34 days before being shutdown on Dec. 4. There is an appeal underway, however, it's unlikely sports betting will be legal in Florida before 2024 and would not launch until 2025.

Are Mobile Sports Betting Apps Available in Florida?

FL betting apps certainly will be available if online sports gambling in FL becomes a reality. Once Florida mobile sports betting is authorized, operators will roll out multi-functional, state-of-the-art sportsbooks apps that will allow bettors to do anything on their smartphone that they could on their home computer, including wagering, deposits and withdrawals, and claiming bonus offers. Every FL sports betting app will be available for iOS and Android devices and free to download.

Bonuses & Promotions at FL Sports Betting Sites.

Should FL sports betting sites launch, new customers will be the recipients of a host of great welcome offers, promotions, and bonuses as every online sportsbook will be competing for their business.

Among the welcome bonuses sure to be available are deposit matches, in which the FL sportsbook would match your first deposit up to 100%; or a risk-free first bet, where the operator will refund your first bet up to a certain dollar amount as a bet credit should your initial wager lose.

FL online sportsbooks, if they follow what is being done in the rest of the country, will also have a host of promotions for existing players, including odds boosts, free bets, and more.

Florida Land-Based Sportsbooks & Locations

FL sportsbooks could also operate at pari-mutuel facilities that partner with the Seminole Tribe. The pari-mutuel facilities would keep 60% of sports betting revenue, with 40% paid to the tribe.

Florida Online Sportsbooks

Among the Florida online sportsbooks most likely to launch:

Hard Rock Sportsbook

Hard Rock, owned by the Seminole Tribe, is the clear winner if the state’s amended gaming compact survives all legal challenges. Hard Rock sportsbook would own exclusive online rights to sports betting to Florida, though it could contract with other online operators and pari-mutuel facilities. Hard Rock operates online sportsbooks in three states, including national wagering leader New Jersey.

• Read our Hard Rock Sportsbook Florida Review
• Claim the Hard Rock Promo Code Florida

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings sportsbook is among the market leaders in every state in which it operates. That would likely not be the case for DraftKings in Florida under the revised compact with the Seminoles. So DraftKings, FanDuel and others are backing a proposed 2022 constitutional amendment that would allow for more online platforms and in-person Florida sports betting locations.

• Read our DraftKings Sportsbook Florida Review
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FanDuel Sportsbook

Is in the same position as rival DraftKings, with no preferred path in Florida if the Seminole Tribe is granted exclusive rights. Like DraftKings, FanDuel sportsbook has transitioned from daily fantasy sports provider to dominant sports betting site with a player-friendly app and plenty of FanDuel promotions.

• Read our FanDuel Sportsbook Florida Review
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Caesars Sportsbook

Iconic gambling brand is aggressively expanding online, and its recent purchase of global sportsbook giant William Hill makes Caesars more accessible than ever. Caesars sportsbook already operates in the Florida market as owner of Isle Casino Pompano Park, a racino in Broward County.

• Read our Caesars Sportsbook Florida Review
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TwinSpires Sportsbook

Owned by Churchill Downs Inc., which operates Calder Casino, a former racetrack-turned-casino in south Florida. TwinSpires sportsbook operates sports betting operations in several states. The sportsbooks were formerly known as BetAmerica, then rebranded in 2021 to the more well-known TwinSpires name.

• Read our TwinSpires Sportsbook Florida Review
• Claim the TwinSpires Promo Code Florida

Florida Sports Betting History

• 2021: In April, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reaches agreement with the Florida's Seminole tribe on a new gaming compact that would enable Florida online sports betting. One month late, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the new gaming compact with the Seminole tribe. June 2021: Major US-based sports betting companies FanDuel and DraftKings come together to file a ballot initiative to put approval of commercial Florida online sports betting to a vote during the November 2022 election. In August, Passive approval is given by the US Department of the Interior to include the Florida sports betting compact in the Federal Register.
• 2020: The first attempt to create legal sports betting in Florida, Bill SB392, dies on the floor of the Florida legislature.
• 2018: In a landmark ruling, the U.S .Supreme Court determines that the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is unconstitutional. This decision paves the way potentially for legal sports betting in all 50 states.
• 1935: Betting on jai-alai is legalized in the state.
• 1931: Wagering on horse racing and dog racing is legalized by the Florida legislature.

Governor Ron DeSantis Legalizes Florida Sports Betting

Working in conjunction with the Seminole tribe, who control all legal forms of gambling in state other than pari-mutuel wagering, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was able to devise a plan that does an end run on both state and federal laws. Signing a new gaming compact with the Seminoles, DeSantis set in motion a plan that would see all Florida online sports betting wagers run through an internet hub on tribal land, assuming it survives a handful of legal challenges.

Florida Sports Betting Regulations

Under the Florida online sports betting regulations, a bettor must be at least 21 years of age in order to place a wager. All Florida online sports betting is to be made through servers situated on tribal land controlled by the Seminole tribe.

The Seminoles are also permitted to sign an agreement with an established online sports betting site and offer that product to the state's sports bettors. Retail sports betting will also be permitted at all tribal casino sites. Florida’s existing racetracks and jai-alai frontons are also permitted to develop their own mobile apps, as well as conducting off-reservation sports betting if they are working with the online sports betting site chosen by the tribe as its partners.

The Florida Gaming Control Board is in charge of regulating and licensing all forms of gambling in the state.

Florida Sports Betting Law

The new gaming compact signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Seminole tribe codified the following laws in terms of Florida online sports betting:

• The Florida government grants exclusive rights to operate sports betting in the state to the Seminole tribe.
• The state of Florida is to receive from the Seminole Tribe more than $6 billion over the next decade, with a guaranteed minimum of $2.5 billion dollars during the first five years of the agreement.
• Pari-mutuels offering sports betting keep 60% of the proceeds, with 40% going to the Seminole tribe.
• Betting on college sports will be permitted, including on the Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators, although prop wagering will be prohibited.
• Daily fantasy sports will also be legalized in the state as part of this deal.
• The Tribe will pay a revenue share of 13.75% of sports betting. They will pay a revenue share of 10% on all sports betting through pari-mutuel partners.
• The legal gambling age for sports betting in Florida is 21.

Types of Sports Bets Offered in Florida

All of the most popular sports bets will be available in Florida, including point spread bets, moneyline wagers, parlays, totals and in-game betting. Wagering will be available on pro, International and college sports, including college games involving Florida-based teams. Wagering on college proposition bets will be prohibited.

What Sports Leagues Can I Bet On in Florida?

Wagering will be permitted on all the major sports leagues. Among them:

• Football: NFL, NCAA
• Basketball: NBA, WNBA, NCAA
• Baseball: MLB
• Hockey: NHL
• Soccer: MLS, English Premier League, Bundesliga, etc.
• Motorsports: NASCAR, IndyCar, F1
• Golf: PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, etc.
• Tennis: ATP, WTA
• Mixed Martial Arts: UFC

When Can I Play Daily Fantasy Sports in Florida?

All of the major daily fantasy sports providers, including DraftKings and FanDuel, operate in Florida. The state has no specific laws that legalize or ban daily fantasy sports contests and has not taken a stance to oppose it. A bill that would formally legalize daily fantasy sports in Florida failed to make it through the 2021 legislative session.

How to Sign up and Place a Sports Bet in Florida

If Florida online sports betting launches, the sign-up process will be simple:

1. Select your Florida online sportsbook(s) of choice. Bettors must be 21 or older to participate.
2. Register to create an account. You will be asked to provide some personal information such as name, address, email address, date of birth, phone number and last four digits of Social Security number (to verify identity). You will also be asked to create a username and password.
3. Once your account is created, you can deposit funds by a variety of methods, including Play+, e-wallet, credit/debit card, prepaid card or electronic banking. When the funds appear in your account balance, you are ready to wager. All bets will have to be placed inside the state of Florida.

How We Pick the Best FL Sport Betting Sites

Bookies.com only recommends legal and safe Florida betting sites that are properly licensed and regulated. Our methodology takes several key factors into consideration, including mobile sports betting app, odds, pricing, quality of bonus offers, payment options and overall mobile experience. We do not recommend offshore-based operators, which lack proper regulation and offer no consumer safeguards. A FL sportsbook will only make our list if it scores well in the following areas.

How are FL Sports Betting Sites Regulated?

The Seminole Tribe is required to comply with the rules and regulations adopted by the National Indian Gaming Commission. Under the amended compact, the State Compliance Agency is authorized to resolve disputes if it believes the Seminole Tribe has failed in any way to comply with the requirement for Florida sports betting. The compact also authorizes a five-member Florida Gaming Commission to oversee gambling operations outside of tribal lands.

FL Sports Betting Sites Reputation

DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars are among the most popular online sports betting platforms because of their reputation. Several others are worthy of consideration, too. Players want a FL sports betting website that has a solid history of safety with bettors, provides strong customer service and will fairly resolve any potential dispute.

Accessibility

Your FL online sportsbook should provide easy and convenient access to wagering and odds via mobile app or online site. In states that also allow online casino gambling, accessing the sportsbook should be just as easy as accessing the casino.

Reliability

The top Florida sports betting platforms will reliably offer betting lines on the games you want at fair prices. Deposits and withdrawals should be processed promptly and without hassle.

Site and Mobile Experience

In nearly all states that allow both mobile and in-person wagering, more than 80% of sports bets are placed online. That means the mobile experience is crucial. Your Florida sportsbook app and online site should be player-friendly and easy to navigate on any smartphone, mobile device or computer.

Generous and Ongoing Sports Bet Bonuses

Nearly all mobile sports operators provide some form of sign-up bonus offer, but some are more lucrative than others. Bonuses vary significantly in playthrough requirements – the number of times the bonus money must be wagered before it’s eligible to be redeemed. Some operators may also provide bonus offers to existing players. Additionally, FL sportsbook promos should be plentiful.

Payment Options

Florida online sportsbooks are expected to offer a wide variety of options to fund your account. The most popular are credit/debit cards, Play+, e-wallets such as PayPal and Neteller, electronic banking, e-checks and PayNearMe.

Variety of Games to Bet On

Variety of sports, menu of games and in-game wagering are all ways in which Florida sports betting sites can stand out. It’s easy to find betting lines on the four major U.S. sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), but which operators offer a decent selection of lines on niche and international sports? Similarly, the difference in the number of live in-game betting opportunities varies widely, ranging from a handful to several hundred per game.

Better Odds

Finding the best odds and prices on the games you want is among the keys to sports betting success. Signing up at more than one Florida online sportsbook gives bettors a chance to shop and compare odds. Prices on moneyline wagers matter – the more vigorish bettors pay, the harder it is to consistently earn profits.

Deposits and Withdrawals

The top Florida online sportsbooks will provide plenty of options for both. Fees on deposits vary, with credit/debit cards usually highest. Several deposit methods transfer funds into your account instantaneously or within minutes.

Payout Process

Withdrawals can be requested at any time and generally require a 24-48 hour approval process. Using the same method for withdrawals as deposits generally works best, though credit/debit cards is usually not a withdrawal option.

Security at Online Sportsbooks in Florida

If your wagers aren’t safe and secure, what’s the point? It’s important to choose a Florida sportsbook that is properly licensed and regulated and will protect your account and data with the same level of encryption technology used by major financial institutions. Players can also take steps to keep their accounts more secure. Rest assured that FL sports betting online will be secure if you go with a legal and regulated site.

Top Florida Sports Teams to Bet On

Florida has plenty of professional and college sports teams to bet on.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Bucs, after acquiring quarterback Tom Brady, are the defending NFL Super Bowl champions. The Dolphins are the oldest pro sports franchise in the state and remain the only team in NFL history to complete an undefeated perfect season (1972). The Jaguars were the NFL’s worst team in 2020, but the arrival of coach Urban Meyer and No. 1 overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence could lead to a turnaround.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions are the most dominant team in the NHL and haven’t experienced a losing season since 2012-13. They’ve overshadowed their in-state rival Florida Panthers, who have won a playoff series in only one season since joining the NHL.

Miami Heat

The Heat won the NBA Finals in 2006 and then again in 2012 and 2013 with the "Big Three" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Heat surprisingly reached the NBA Finals again in 2020 after acquiring All-Star guard Jimmy Butler. Florida’s other NBA team, the Orlando Magic, have just one winning season since 2012.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays advanced to the World Series in 2020 and have established themselves as a formidable American League East contender alongside the more high-profile New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The Miami Marlins of the National League East won the World Series in 1997 and 2003, but they’ve had just seven winning seasons, the fewest among MLB franchises.

University of Florida/Florida State/University of Miami

College football will be a huge betting market in Florida and wagering on games involving in-state teams likely will be allowed. The University of Florida, Florida State and Miami are all high-profile profile programs that have combined to win 11 national football championships. The Gators also won back-to-back national titles in basketball.

Responsible Gambling

The agreement with the Seminole Tribe continues the provisions of the 2010 compact which limits gaming at tribal facilities in Florida to anyone 21 or older. The tribe is required to make an annual donation of $250,000 per operational gaming facility to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling.

Professional help and counseling services to treat problem gambling are available through state and national agencies, including the National Problem Gambling Helpline, Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling and Florida Department of Health.