Best Florida Betting Sites 2024

At a Glance: Florida’s Betting Scene

• Hard Rock Bet, courtesy of the Seminole Tribe, is your go-to for legal sports betting. They’re also the only legal sports book operator.
• Several non-licensed, offshore betting sites operate in a legal gray area, accessible to Floridians. Users play with real money at their own risk.
• Legal battles are the norm here. The Seminole Tribe’s exclusive rights have been a hotbed for contention, leading to all sorts of courtroom drama changing the landscape.

Florida’s Big One… and a Few Possibles

An important reminder, there is only one licensed sports book operating in Florida. However, we’d be misleading, to mention there are no other betting sites accessible to Florida bettors. It’s essential to play at licensed sportsbooks to assure transparency and protections promised to you as a bettor and guaranteed by regulatory law. However, information is power. As such, here is a quick list of the best online betting sites accessible in Florida.

Best Betting Apps Accessible in Florida

Of course, the best app is Hard Rock Bet. The Hard Rock brand is a powerhouse in entertainment, leisure, and of course, gambling. They seem to have invested the most in their experience, but there are a few recommended alternatives available in the app stores.

Best Florida Betting Sites for Beginners

New to the game? Well, some sites go an extra step to accommodate new players with either larger bonuses, betting guides, or simpler interfaces.

New Betting Sites in Florida

Well, there are none. This should be the case for quite some time, with some estimates suggesting as many as three years before additional legislation is passed and new operators are allowed in the game. But if that changes, we’ll be the first to let you know. As of now, Hard Rock Bet’s the big dog in town and only dog.

Accessible Betting Sites in Florida

• Hard Rock Bet: The Seminole Tribe’s pride and joy
• Offshore Betting Sites: BetOnline.ag, Bovada, MyBookie, Sportsbetting.ag, and more stepping into the ring from the sidelines

Bonuses and Promotions

Look out for regular updates on promotions and bonuses, especially from offshore sites that frequently offer competitive incentives at a bit more risk.

Types of Bonuses and Promotions available in Florida.

The bonuses and promotions offered in Florida will be standard with the rest of the books across the country. Naturally, licensed books may not have the most attractive bonuses or promotions, but there is the peace of mind that comes with playing on a regulated book; knowing your money and data are secure.

• First Bet bonus:  A welcome bonus. Namely, sportsbooks will pay first-time depositors the value of their initial real money wager in bonus bets should that first wager lose.
• Deposit Match Bonuses: Users who deposit for the first time will have their deposits matched in bonus funds. The key here is to check whether the bonus is paid as a site credit or bonus bet. With site credit, you can use the bonus whichever way you like and on all markets, whereas, with bonus bets, you must use the entire sum of the bonus as a single bet or parlay
• ‘No Sweat’ Bets: Risk-free opportunities to place bets
• Loyalty & VIP Programs: Rewards for regular bettors or players who have bet above a certain threshold.
• Odds boost: Odds boosts are promos that increase the odds for a particular market or event.
• Profit boost: Profit boosts are designed to increase the profit you stand to gain if the outcome is settled in your favor. If you bet $20 on the Gators at +110 odds on a moneyline and use the 20% boost, your profits will rise from $22 to $26.4 if Florida wins. 
• Insurance bets: Insurance bets are mostly related to parlays. Namely, if you miss one leg of your qualifying parlay on, the sportsbooks may give you back a portion of your stake in the form of bonus bets. 

Types of Bets You Can Make in Florida:

The betting markets in Florida are standard with the rest of the nation and industry.

• Moneyline: Straight-up betting on who’s going to clinch the win in a game or match.
• Point Spreads: Spice up the game by betting not just on the winner but also on the margin of victory.
• Totals: It’s a numbers game—will the total score be over or under what’s predicted?
• Props: Get into the specifics with bets on individual player or team performances.
• Futures: Looking ahead? Place your bets on events down the road, like championship outcomes.
• Parlays: Combine multiple bets on one ticket for a shot at a bigger payout, provided all your picks hit.
• Same Game Parlays: A fan favorite that lets you combine different bets within the same game for added excitement.
• Teasers: Tweak the point spread to your advantage, accepting lower payouts for a higher chance of winning.

Popular Sports & Leagues in Florida

Everyone knows Florida IS football,’ of all levels. From Pop Warner to the Pros, only Texas can compete when it comes to the Football Pipeline. However, there’s money to be made in all the major leagues for the savvy Florida bettor.

• NFL: Tua, Lawrence, Tyreek. There’s no shortage of star power to parlay when it comes to betting on Florida and the NFL.
• NBA: The Miami Heat, The-House-That-Dwyane-Built. Oh yeah, and the Wizards… The NBA offers 100s of games a year, and Jimmy and the Heat make a deep run every year. More games, more chances to win… or lose
• NHL: The Miami Hurricanes are the premier Florida major-league team and are consistently competitive.
• MLB: America’s pasttime is boiled down to a science.
• NCAAB: March Madness is the epitome of competitive basketball and betting on it.

Kickstarting Your Florida Betting Journey:

Getting started with Florida sportsbooks is usually pretty straightforward. You’ll create an account consisting of your name, username, email, and password, and if you’re geologically allowed to play, you are usually then allowed access to the site. Next comes the deposit, which will give you full access to the site, markets, and promotions. However, you’ll need to verify your information before you can withdraw, particularly on a licensed book. This usually requires a government-issued ID and proof of residency.

Funding your Betting Account

Whether you’re team PayPal or prefer the simplicity of credit/debit cards, getting your bankroll sorted is quick and hassle-free.

Popular Deposit Methods Among Florida Bettors:

• PayPal & E-Wallets: Quick, secure, and perfect for both deposits and withdrawals.
• Credit/Debit Cards: The classic go-to for hassle-free deposits.
• Cryptocurrencies: For those looking for a bit of anonymity and fast transactions.
• Cash-at-Cage: The fastest form of withdrawal, requiring you to be physically present at the sportsbook.

Florida Sports Betting Breakdown

Here’s the then, now, and next for all things sports, betting, and Florida.

Florida Sports Betting History

Florida’s history with sports betting is about as wild as any headline starting with “Florida Man, [age], …” Sports betting in Florida took a pivotal turn with the legalization of pari-mutuel wagering in 1932. This form of horse betting laid the groundwork for the state’s gambling culture, setting the stage for expansion, and legal battles, in sports betting​​. From PASPA’s fall to the Seminole Tribe’s compact, the journey of sports betting in Florida is a saga worth following. And with legal challenges constantly reshaping the landscape, staying tuned is the name of the game.

Online Sports Betting in Florida Today

Today’s era of sports betting in Florida is a warzone. The first shot was fired when Hard Rock Bet launched its mobile betting app in 2021, signaling the start of legalized sports betting in Florida. However, a federal judge ruled it a false start and operations were halted that year, as the Florida Sports Betting Compact, granting the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights to sports betting, was challenged in the courts.

The legal tiff continues well into today, with various stakeholders challenging the compact and trying to get a piece of a very, very big pie. Despite the legal obstacles, as of June 30, 2023, the Seminole Tribe is allowed to offer retail and online sports betting through their Hard Rock Digital platform, and by Dec 5, Florida bettors were betting online in Flordia. However, the state’s legislation still faces challenges and uncertainties. The most pressing issues include the legality of mobile sports betting off-reservation lands and the requirement for voter approval for the gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe.

The Florida sports betting market also includes several offshore sports betting sites. These platforms operate in a legal gray area; they are not explicitly illegal under Florida law or federal law, as there is no legislation that aggressively targets offshore sportsbook operators. Currently, there are no prop bets for any collegiate sport or event.

What’s Next for Sports Betting in Florida

I’d love to tell you the future is bright, but it’s more so like Florida’s weather. Sunshine, then torrential downpour, then drizzling with 0% chance of rain. It’s hard to believe the “opposition” would allow Hard Rock to have a defacto monopoly on all legal Florida sports betting for too long, but as of now, the Seminoles are holding the line. So, in the not too distant future, we may see other major operators like FanDuel and DraftKings enter the market. Why have a monopoly when you can have plutocracy? If you’re considering sports betting in Florida, it’s essential to stay informed about the legal status and your options, whether you choose the sanctioned Hard Rock, or roulette your way through the offshore betting sites. Therefore, it’s essential you come back to betting.com to identify your ideal place to bet.

Betting Responsibly in Florida

There’s been a surge of calls ito the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling. This underscored a need for comprehensive responsible gambling measures at the operator and user levels. Nothing’s worse then them locking down on the fun because some of us got carried away. That said, Please play responsibly and within your limits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, assistance is available by calling 1-888-ADMIT-IT (1-888-236-4848) or visiting the Florida Council on Problem Gambling website at GamblingHelp.org.

Florida Sports Betting & The Tax Man

Death and taxes, man. Death and taxes. The tax man levies a 13.75% tax on the Net Win of the Hard Rock’s land-based sports betting and 10% of the online sports betting during a rev share cycle, while it may seem high, it does give FL Sportsbook a fair degree of room to reduce their Juice (VIG) and move the lines, offering the user more competitive odds and not hurting their bottom-line too much, they hope. Although we hope the opposite and we run them for broke, it is a symbiotic relationship for the longevity of online sportsbook so we’ll allow it.