Florida has seen arguably the shakiest start to online sports betting of any state that has legalized the practice. Challenges to a gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe and Governor Ron DeSantis argued the deal violated the Indian Regulatory Gaming Act, resulting in a temporary closure of Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook until the legal limbo was resolved.
Now that the dust has settled a bit, we’ve composed this guide to Florida sports betting, including available online and retail betting options and information for new gamblers. We will also overview the finer points of Florida’s betting laws, project the future of the state’s industry, and cover important tax information.
Florida Sportsbooks
Florida only has one licensed online sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet, which also operates a retail bookie in the state. This is due in large part to the legal complications around launching the state’s industry and the power the Seminole Tribe wields in gambling-related matters.
Hard Rock Bet Florida
With a monopoly on the industry, Hard Rock Bet may not be under a ton of pressure to improve its product, but it already does a solid job overall, as evidenced by its app store rating.
Hard Rock Bet has one of the highest scores of any sports betting app in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Unfortunately, the browser interface doesn’t match the utility and intuitiveness of the mobile app.
Furthermore, Hard Rock Bet does provide acceptable coverage of niche sports to balance its coverage of mainstream leagues. While there is room to expand in this area, HRB will be able to accommodate most Florida gamblers’ sports preferences.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use mobile app which is aesthetically pleasing and good for beginners
- Reasonable niche sports availability and depth
- Decent payout speed
Cons:
- Live-streaming isn’t available through the app or on the website
- Could use more deposit and withdrawal options to make money management easier.
- Same game parlay options would be enhanced with more prop markets
Bettor In Green’s Opinion: Hard Rock Bet is a solid sportsbook option overall. For more information on how to get started with the bookie, check out our in-depth Hard Rock Bet Review!
How to Bet on Sports in Florida
Here’s how you can place an online sports bet in Florida using Hard Rock Bet (or any other online bookie once they enter the market):
- Study up on the betting markets that interest you to ensure your wagers are logical and valuable. Use the Bettor In Green Daily Cheat Sheets to point you in the right direction whenever appropriate.
- Create a new sports betting account or log in with your existing credentials. If you haven’t already registered, you’ll need to provide (at minimum) your legal name, sex, date of birth, email address, street address, phone number, and the last four digits of your social security number. This information is used to verify your eligibility and will be encrypted at all times by Hard Rock Bet’s cybersecurity team.
- Fund your account with a deposit big enough to cover any bets you intend to make. Only deposit what you can afford to lose! There is no such thing as a guaranteed winning bet!!
- Scroll through the menus on the website or in the app to locate the games and lines you wish to back. Click or tap on each outcome you’re wagering on to add the lines to your betting slip. Make sure your location services are turned on or you won’t be able to place a bet.
- Choose whether you’re going to back each line individually or combine them into a parlay (we recommend the former for new bettors). Keep in mind the odds may change between the time you add a line to your betting slip and the time you’ve entered all wager amounts, so be efficient and decisive!
- Tap the “Submit” button, then wait for the bookie to accept your wagers. After your slip is approved, you’ll be able to find it in the “My Bets” section of the app at the bottom of the screen.
- Once the scores have been finalized and the bets settled, collect your winnings.
Current Events in Florida Sports Betting
Here’s what’s currently making waves in Florida’s sports betting industry:
- September 25, 2025 – Non-tribal Florida casinos saw their slot revenue rise to $60.1 million in August, reflecting a 9.4% year-over-year increase.
- September 15, 2025 – A 255-page affidavit alleges suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez played a central role in a Central Florida illegal gambling enterprise—helping recruit locations, shield operations, and collect cash from over $21 million in illicit profits—leading to racketeering charges.
- September 11, 2025 – Seminole Gaming’s COO in Florida issued a letter alerting customers to the proliferation of illegal gambling venues—such as arcades, slot parlors, and internet cafes—that are unregulated, often refuse jackpots, offer unfair pay-backs, evade taxes, and pose safety risks.
- September 7, 2025 – In the NFL, the Buccaneers edged the Falcons 23–20 behind Baker Mayfield’s clutch late touchdown, the Dolphins were dominated 33–8 by the Colts, and the Jaguars shut out the Panthers 26–10 thanks to Travis Etienne’s 143 rushing yards.
- August 28, 2025 – A gambler at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa turned a $30 spin on a Coin Trio Royal slot into a massive jackpot of over $117,000, prompting excitement and praise from social media commenters.
- August 26, 2025 – Florida’s eight non‑tribal casinos reported combined net slot revenue of $58.3 million in July—an 8% increase year-over-year—led by Magic City’s standout 28% surge and Harrah’s Pompano’s 11.4% gain.
- August 25, 2025 – Cape Coral police and the Florida Gaming Control Commission raided six arcades and a residence on August 22, seizing 428 illegal gambling machines and over $540,000 in cash—and found some machines rigged with payout rates as low as 18%, exploiting elderly gamblers.
- August 11, 2025 – Hard Rock Bet has solidified its dominance in Florida by signing a multi‑year deal to become the official sportsbook of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—offering exclusive promotions, VIP events, in‑stadium signage, and app‑based fan experiences.
- August 5, 2025 – Florida authorities have shut down five illegal casinos in Port Richey, seizing 249 unlawful slot machines and nearly $200,000 in suspected gambling proceeds, while issuing Notices to Appear to eight individuals for gambling-related offenses.
- July 24, 2025 – Casino operator Rima Ray faces legal scrutiny after U.S. authorities found $340,000 cash linked to illegal gambling and money laundering, leading Belize to revoke her casino’s license amid investigations into unlicensed slot machines and suspicious transfers.
Legal Status of Sports Betting in Florida
Sports betting is legal in Florida due to the gaming compact signed in 2021. As part of the compact, the Seminole Tribe holds exclusive rights to online and retail sports betting until 2051, effectively preventing other sportsbooks from entering the state without Tribal permission or a revised compact.
Later that same year, the state saw a ballot initiative to expand sports betting access, which would’ve allowed for other top U.S. sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel to launch in Florida. However, the ballot initiative came up short, leaving Hard Rock Bet as the only option.
Under Florida law, you must be at least 21 years old to participate in sports betting. You’ll also need to be physically located in Florida if you’re using an online sportsbook to place your wagers, so be sure to enable geolocation services on your mobile device!
Additionally, Florida law allows wagering on college sports, including on in-state teams and players. Individual player props are also accepted, as is live betting.
History of Sports Betting in Florida
Below is a brief history of key moments in the history of sports betting in Florida.
- May 2018: The Supreme Court reverses PASPA (The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act), allowing the issue of sports betting regulation to be decided at the state level.
- November 2018: Amendment 3, which would leave the decision to authorize new casino gambling to the voters rather than the Legislature, passes with more than 70% of voters in favor. The passage of Amendment 3 also means legislators could not advance sports betting bills without working with the Seminole Tribe.
- 2019: Florida Senator Wilton Simpson begins working with the Seminole Tribe to negotiate a sports betting agreement. A deal was reached, but Governor Ron DeSantis refused to approve the compact due to disagreements over the value of annual payments made from the Tribe to the State for allowing casino gaming.
- 2020: Senator Jeff Brandes files a bill that would authorize the Florida Lottery to regulate sports betting without Tribal involvement, but the bill stalled and was not approved before the legislative session ended.
- May 2021: The Seminole Tribe and Gov. DeSantis reach an agreement to allow online and mobile sports betting. The Legislature approved the agreement shortly thereafter.
- November 2021: Hard Rock Bet launches in Florida but shuts down a month later amid legal challenges to the state’s gambling compact.
- 2022: A legal challenge to the 2021 gambling compact is heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals, but a decision wouldn’t arrive until 2023.
- June 2023: The U.S. Court of Appeals reverses a lower court ruling in West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland, allowing online and mobile sports betting in Florida once again.
- November 2023: Hard Rock Bet relaunches in Florida.
- December 2023: Six in-person sports betting facilities open at Florida casinos, all operating with the Hard Rock Bet skin.
- 2024: The Supreme Court refuses to hear challenges to Florida’s gaming compact, thus affirming state authority to regulate gaming outside of tribal lands.
List of All Retail Sportsbooks in Florida
In addition to offering Hard Rock Bet as an online/mobile sports betting option, you can also gamble at any or all of the retail sportsbooks in Florida. All of these venues are owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe.
- Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino (Hard Rock Bet): 15005 Reservation Rd Okeechobee, FL 34974
- Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Hard Rock Bet): 5550 NW 40th St Coconut Creek, FL 33073
- Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee (Hard Rock Bet): 506 S 1st St Immokalee, FL 34142
- Seminole Classic Casino Hollywood (Hard Rock Bet): 4150 N State Rd 7 Hollywood, FL 33021
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood (Hard Rock Bet): 1 Seminole Way Davie, FL 33314
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa (Hard Rock Bet): 5223 Orient Rd Tampa, FL 33610
Promotions and Bonuses at Florida Sportsbooks
Here are a few of the most popular types of promotions and bonuses you’ll find at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Bonus bets/bet credits: Bonus bets are a promotional option for Hard Rock Bet users to make their bets without relying on cash funds from their bankroll. They can also be used alongside real-money bets to increase the profit return on a winning wager. Most of the time, Hard Rock Bet’s bonus bets will expire after one week if unused.
- Deposit matches: Deposit match promotions reward Hard Rock Bet users when they add funds to their betting account. HRB will issue platform credits at a rate equal to your deposit amount up to a maximum defined in the terms and conditions.
- Bet/Get offers: Bet/get bonuses require users to make a small qualifying wager (such as $5 or $10) in any market to receive bonus bets or other non-gambling-related benefits. For example, Hard Rock Bet may post an offer of “Bet $10 in any market and instantly receive $150 in bonus bets).
Mobile Sports Betting Apps in Florida
As the only mobile sports betting app available in Florida, Hard Rock Bet doesn’t have much local pressure to improve its mobile app. However, based on app store ratings, HRB is doing rather well.
Hard Rock Bet has a 4.9/5 rating in the Apple App Store and a 4.7/5 rating in the Google Play Store. These ratings put Hard Rock Bet’s score on par with FanDuel and ahead of DraftKings, though those two have developed a much larger user base and would instantly become go-to options if Florida expanded its sports betting operator market access.
Positive reviews cite the ease of making deposits and withdrawals, responsive customer service team, and the ability to use early cashout. Negative reviews touched on slower app speeds than at competing books, poor timing of app updates, and geolocation difficulties.
As a reminder, you should always download the most recent version of the mobile app to give yourself the best chance of using the app to the fullest.
Taxes on Sports Betting Winnings in Florida
Florida does not have a state income tax, so you won’t owe anything when filing your state returns. However, you’ll still be required to report these winnings on your federal tax returns.
If you make at least $600 while sports betting, Hard Rock Bet will send you Form W-2G, to include with your tax paperwork. This form is also available from the IRS website.
Responsible Gambling in Florida
Part of the money sent to the state as part of the gambling compact is earmarked for responsible gambling initiatives. “Responsible gambling” covers all activities that ensure betting is conducted in as safe and ethical a manner as possible (though it’s important to acknowledge all wagers carry some degree of risk).
This responsibility is shared by betting operators (Hard Rock Bet through the app and website, and the Seminole Tribe at casinos) and individual bettors. Limit setting is one of the most important options to keep betting activities above board.
Here are a few of the state-specific responsible gambling resources available to Florida bettors and their loved ones.
Gamblers Anonymous
- https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/mtgdirFL.html
- Broward/Martin/Miami/Palm Beach/St. Lucie Area Hotline Number: 800-891-1740
- Charlotte/Ft. Myers/Naples/N. Ft. Myers/Sarasota/Tampa Hotline Number: 866-442-8622
- North Central Florida/Orlando Hotline Number: 800-397-9843
Future of Sports Betting in Florida
With the gambling compact issue settled, Florida’s sports betting future remains somewhat at an impasse, as the Seminole Tribe holds exclusivity in the casino and sports betting space in Florida until 2051. We expect consistent pressure from other sportsbooks to break into the state, ending what amounts to a monopoly for Hard Rock Bet.
However, the Seminole Tribe and Hard Rock Bet are certain to push back against expansion efforts. In other states where Hard Rock Bet operates, it holds a much smaller market share than other top sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetMGM; ceding any ground would result in millions, if not billions, of betting handle dollars lost to competition.
Conclusion
Florida is one of the few states that have legalized online and retail sports gambling that has opted not to report betting handle numbers. While we don’t have exact totals, annual handles likely reach into the billions, and we expect that trend to continue regardless of potential expansion of available sportsbooks.
For a more in-depth look at Hard Rock Bet, check out our sportsbook review pages. You’ll also find important information about different types of bets to place, gambling strategies, and responsible gambling resources.
Good luck, have fun, and always gamble responsibly!!
FAQ
How can I get help if I think I have a gambling problem in Florida?
If you’re in Florida and think you have a gambling problem, there are many resources available to get help. The Florida Problem Gambling Helpline: (Call: 888-ADMIT-IT, Text: 888-ADMIT-IT, Chat: gamblinghelp.org, Email: fccg@gamblinghelp.org) is a great option, while Birches Health, 1-800-GAMBLER, the Florida Council on Problem Gambling, and Gamblers Anonymous are all reliable agencies too.
What role does the Florida Gaming Control Commission play in sports betting?
The Florida Gaming Control Commission is in charge of issuing sports betting licenses and ensuring compliance with state and federal gambling laws.
What is the age requirement for FL sports betting?
The age requirement for FL sports betting is 21, which is the standard across most of the United States.
