Florida (FL)

In recent years, more states have begun legalizing online sports betting, and Florida is one of them. However, the situation is far from cut and dried. In 2021, Florida sports betting became legal when the Seminole Tribe brokered a 30-year agreement with the state. However, the state would cease sports betting operations until a surprise re-release of the Hard Rock Bet Mobile App was announced on November 6th.

The single Florida-based app had shut down for quite some time, but customers who were members of the product's "Unity" loyalty program before November 6th will be the first ones who get to test out the updated app. All other Florida sports bettors can sign up for early access by joining the loyalty program at any Hard Rock or Seminole Casino in Florida.

Online Sports Betting in Florida

The situation regarding online sports betting in Florida is a complex one. While sports gambling is legal, bettors must do this only through offshore bookmakers. Therefore, there are no apps based within the state that allow sports betting. In late 2021, the State government signed a 30-year deal with the Seminole Tribe, and a federal judge struck down the deal very shortly afterward.

During the brief period in which sports gambling was legal, Hard Rock was the sole provider of sports betting apps. The Seminole Tribe owns the Hard Rock brand. They had hoped to run the Hard Rock betting app's servers from within the casinos. This is because the Indian Regulatory and Gaming Act (IRGA) limits sports gambling to Tribe territory. Therefore, basing the servers on their land was a creative work-around. Hard Rock pulled the app from the market after the judge's ruling.

However, almost out of the blue, the product returned on November 6, 2023, and all customers who joined their loyalty program before the re-release could access the product to a limited extent. Everyone else has the option to join the program in person now at a Hard Rock or Seminole casino, and once they do, they'll be added to the waitlist for early access.

This announcement surprised most people since the Seminole Casino had just announced they would have sports betting in their brick-and-mortar casinos in December. They did not mention mobile betting in that statement, as they are still technically in a legal battle, but that didn't seem to stop them from starting the rollout of the product.

Sports Betting Legislation in FL

Through the Seminole Tribe, casinos have been operational in Florida for some time. However, it wasn't until they aimed at gambling changes in 2018 that online sports betting began to move forward. In 2019, an agreement between the then governor, Rick Scott, and the Seminole saw a renegotiation on gambling.

However, Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't sign off on the deal, which further delayed the arrival of online sports gambling. With tribal payments ceasing, the state entered 2020 with the idea of cutting the Seminole from gambling entirely. But the bill stagnated, and the sports betting talks stalled.

Finally, in May 2021 sports wagering became legal within the state. The Seminole agreed to a new contract that included mobile wagering throughout the state as well. In November 2021, the Seminole Tribe launched the Hard Rock sports betting app. Only weeks later, court challenges forced them to stop the operation of the application.

The Seminole Casino relaunched the mobile product in a limited capacity on November 6th, but they were quickly met with legal action. West Flagler and Associates, who oppose the tribes' monopoly on sports betting, made a motion to the Supreme Court asking that the product be taken down again. A ruling of that motion has not yet been made.

In-Person Sports Betting In Florida

At this time, sports betting in Florida is illegal within the state's borders. Primarily, gambling of any kind is done on Native lands, which is in keeping with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Because of this, there aren't many places for players to go to place in-person sports bets.

However, exceptions exist. Horse racing is permitted and regulated in the Sunshine State, and Bettors can wager at either one of the two racetracks in the state. To place bets at both Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, players must be 21 and over.

There are also several land-based casinos around the state, including two Hard Rock casinos. Seminole Casinos recently announced that sports betting would be available in their brick-and-mortar locations in December of 2023, but due to current legal battles, there is a chance that won't happen.

Sports Betting In the Neighboring States

With Florida's complicated relationship with sports gambling, it's to be expected that potential bettors will be looking elsewhere to place their wagers. There are a growing number of US states that have legalized both in-person and online sports betting. Unfortunately for residents of this particular state, neither Alabama nor Georgia is among them.

Floridians looking to wager in-person on sports need to make their way to Mississippi, meaning that Florida's neighbors are not profiting from online sports betting. Currently, Floridians are in limbo when it comes to in-person sports wagering.

How do mobile sportsbook apps work in Florida?

Gambling on offshore sports bookmaking apps is legal in Florida. Despite the start-and-stop action of the Hard Rock app in November 2021, no Florida sports betting app exists. If the Supreme Court denies the motion to have the product cease again, then the Hard Rock app will be back in action at some point in the near future. However, residents can always get in on the action with offshore bookmakers.

The offshore nature of the business means they are not subject to United States regulations or tax restrictions. This allows them to receive wagers from any United States residents wishing to bet.

As is standard procedure in all gambling arenas, users who wish to use these services must first register. Players accustomed to sports betting will find all the apps' operations familiar.

There is a range of options available, all of which try to entice players. Standard offerings include sign-up bonuses, odds boosting, and a variety of betting types. Despite the differing particulars across bookmakers, the general use and gameplay of the apps are all very similar. Players will have access to a wide variety of betting lines and styles.

Getting started - Step-by-step

Players must always register to play (and win!) in Florida. This is easy. We outline a five-step guide to help players get started with FL sports betting:

1. Sign up — Players need to find the sportsbook they prefer and input the correct details as requested by the site. This will include full name, email and mailing addresses, the last four digits of their Social Security Number, and their date of birth.

2. Download the preferred sports betting app — players will need to download the app from either the sportsbook website, the Google Play Store or the App Store.

3. Make a deposit — once the account has been created, players need to link their preferred payment method and make a deposit.

4. Claim any bonuses / free bets offered — most sites will offer bonuses. Players will need to claim these during the sign-up process.

5. Start placing bets — with the funds in place; players can choose a sport or event and start putting their wagers.

Bonuses and FL sports betting offers

Access to bonuses is one of the best features of an online sportsbook. Almost every online bookmaker offers at least one welcome sign-up bonus, and MyBookie and Bet Online, for example, all offer a 50% match of initial wagers, capped at $1000.

Most sports betting apps offer ongoing bonuses to current players to maintain a loyal base. An excellent example of this is BetUS, which provides crypto and casino bonuses to players, as well as a generous matching bonus to new players.

Bovada is another bookmaker available to Florida residents. They have a solid loyalty program to complement their in-app bonus structures.

Payment methods for depositing

There are several different payment options available from online bookmakers. These include various eWallets, credit and debit card payments, online transfers, eCheck, bank wires, PayPal, and so on. Though some apps offer crypto bonuses, cryptocurrency has yet to have a significant presence in the US betting market.

Players must know what their chosen bookmaker offers for a withdrawal option, and this is because some platforms use different methods for withdrawal than for deposits.

Finally, the best sportsbooks offer safe, secure, encrypted transactions. However, the fact that Florida is not regulating these businesses goes hand-in-hand with operating outside of Florida's jurisdiction. So players need to have confidence in a trusted bookmaker.

What is legal to bet on in Florida?

For many years, Florida has allowed pari-mutuel betting on various sports, including horse racing, harness racing, greyhound racing, Jai alai, and cardroom poker. Online betting on horse racing is also permitted through TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica.

If the Hard Rock app is allowed to return officially, they will offer a great range of betting options. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and a wide array of other sports leagues all have representation on this product. Aside from regular-season league play, platforms offer exciting bonuses during play-offs and international competitions.

Aside from regular singles, multiples, parlays, and prop bets, almost all sportsbook apps offer live betting. An altogether more exciting way to gamble, in-play wagering has fluid odds and unique prop bets, often allowing players to cash out early.

Florida requires bettors to be 21 in order to participate in sports betting, so if the Hard Rock app can launch, users must be of legal age to create an account.

What’s Next For FL Betting Apps?

With the legislation under scrutiny, the fate of Florida's online sports betting hangs in the balance. The legal battle between West Flagler and Associates and the Seminole casinos will go a long way in determining the fate of the Hard Rock app.

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the Seminole tribe, then Florida sports bettors could be using a legalized gambling app sooner rather than later.

Trusted Florida sports betting mobile apps in 2023

Although a Hard Rock app was available in Florida, the government took it down in December 2021. The fate of the product's future lies in the hands of the Supreme Court at the moment so there is a chance it does return. Major sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel can be used in the state but strictly for DFS purposes.

Hard Rock — This was the first sportsbook to go live in November 2021 in Florida, and they will relaunch soon if the state Supreme Court allows it. Hard Rock's sportsbook was launched in 2019 and is already well-established in many other states, including New Jersey and Iowa.

DraftKings — live in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, and more; this is one of the leading sportsbooks in the US. Not only does it now offer sports betting, but it has a Fantasy site as well. DK is already operating in the Sunshine State.

FanDuel — Similarly, they already offer a fantasy sports site in FL. The sportsbook was established back in 2018 and is already operating in ten US states.