JUMP TO:
- Is sports betting legal in Florida?
- Current status of Florida sports betting
- Florida betting legalization efforts timeline
- Potential online sportsbooks in Florida
- Popular Florida teams that could influence betting
DISCLAIMER: Sports betting in Florida is currently only legal under a tribal-compact arrangement with the Seminole Tribe, via Hard Rock Bet. This article is intended for informational purposes only and will be updated as new legislation, ballot measures, court rulings, or constitutional challenges develop. Until broader legalization is finalized (or the compact changes to allow more operators), Florida residents cannot legally place sports bets outside the Seminole-authorized system.
Florida has joined the throng of U.S. States that has legalized sports betting in some capacity, but it has been a bit of a complicated process to legalization.
The only sports betting allowed in the state is through the Seminole Tribe via Hard Rock Bet, due to a strict tribal-compact arrangement.
Will this arrangement remain forever? Will other major sportsbooks be allowed to operate in the Sunshine State? What's the ballot initiative timeline look like, and what are the prospects of broader legalization?
AllSportsPeople has all the answers to the questions frequently asked by sports-betting Floridians and vacationers.
Is sports betting legal in Florida?
Yes, but with a caveat: Sports betting in Florida is currently only legal under a tribal-compact arrangement with the Seminole Tribe. All legal mobile and online bets must be placed on Hard Rock Bet, which has a partnership with the Tribe.
Current status of Florida sports betting
As of right now, Florida has sports betting exclusively through the Seminole Tribe via Hard Rock Bet. It has been a bit of a wild ride to get to this point, though, with quite the litigious timeline.
Hard Rock shut down its app in December 2021 following a series of court rulings. The Washington DC Circuit Court of Appeals held sports betting in the Sunshine State in limbo at that time, vacating the gambling compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe.
The Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in favor of the Seminole Tribe on June 30, 2023, making sports betting legal again.
Then, on Dec. 5, 2023, after a two-year hiatus, Hard Rock Bet relaunched its betting sites to all eligible users in Florida.
Court cases and legal challenges: A timeline
2025
Hard Rock Bet remains the only legal sports betting app in the state.
2024
A bill to legalize DFS in Florida (SB 1568) dies before reaching the Senate floor.
2023
In June 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed the 2021 ruling, which opened the door for the tribe to re-launch legalization efforts on how to bet on sports.
By November 2023, Hard Rock Bet was back up and running, with online and retail sports betting exclusively in Florida.
Competitors, including FanDuel and DraftKings, attempted to break into the market through a failed 2021 ballot initiative.
2021
An enabling bill (SB 2-A) ratified the tribal compact with the state.
Three bills sought to legalize sports betting in Florida before the Seminole Tribe and the state reached their deal (SB 392, SB 394 and HB 1317).
The three aforementioned bills were basically abandoned once it became clear that sports wagering would be included in the tribal compact.
The tribal compact, known as the "2021 Gaming Compact," granted the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights to operate both retail and online sports betting in the state.
In return, the tribe agreed to pay the state $2.5 billion over the first five years, with revenue-sharing continuing until the agreement expires in 2051.
The deal was met with sharp criticism. Many argued that the compact created a monopoly, and lawsuits were soon filed. West Flagler Associates, for one, challenged the legality of the agreement, claiming it violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The lawsuits stalled the launch of sports betting in Florida, but by November 2021, Hard Rock Digital, operated by the Seminole Tribe, was live in Florida. However, three weeks later, a U.S. Federal Judge ruled that the compact was unlawful, shutting down the sports betting market once again.
The judge ruled that the state's gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe violated federal Indian gaming law. The ruling effectively invalidated the original agreement.
2020
A legislative effort to move Florida sports betting forward received little to no consideration. Two bills were rejected in committee early in the session (SB 968 and SB 970).
Potential online sportsbooks in Florida
While Florida sports betting is currently only available on Hard Rock Bet through the Seminole Tribe, the future landscape of Floridian sports betting could be more expansive.
Here are some of the most popular sportsbooks in the United States:
- Hard Rock Bet (Florida's only current book)
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Fanatics
- BetMGM
- bet365
- Caesars
- theScore Bet
- Betr
- BetRivers
Popular Florida teams to bet on
- NBA betting: Miami Heat and Orlando Magic
- NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- MLB: Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays
- NHL: Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning
- WNBA: Los Angeles Sparks, Golden State Valkyries
- MLS: Inter Miami CF, Orlando City SC, and Orlando Pride
- NCAA: Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, UCF Knights, South Florida Bulls, FIU Panthers, FAU Owls