Florida has a unique relationship with gambling that is in a constant state of flux. While laws have been passed, thrown out, and then passed again in different forms, keeping up with them all isn’t easy.
Just when things appeared to have settled, sports betting is back on the radar. Legislation is ongoing, but we’ll let you know the current status.
Before that, though, here’s a history of gambling laws in Florida.
History of Gambling in Florida
Gambling in Florida has been at the mercy of the government of the day and the state’s voting public.
Here are some significant dates in Florida’s gambling history:
- 1931 – a single vote approved dog and horse racing, which then-Governor Doyle Carlton vetoed
- 1935 – the game of Jai-alai and slot machines were legalized
- 1937 – slot machine games were deemed illegal
- 1970 – bingo was legalized
- 1978 & 1986 – a full-scale casino gambling constitutional amendment was rejected by Florida voters
- 1986 – Florida voters approved the lottery
- 1988 – the lottery began in the state
In 1984, a unique alternative was offered to Florida residents — they could embark on a ‘Cruise to Nowhere’ via either a nine-mile cruise into the Gulf of Mexico or a three-mile option into the Atlantic. These areas are designated international waters, meaning no laws prohibit gambling. However, in 2016, these cruises were banned from departing from any US ports.
Indian Tribes Have Control
Gambling in Florida is unique, as most of it is under the control of the Indian tribes — in particular, the Seminole Tribe — who inhabit six reservations across the state.
In 1988, the federal government passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Its primary purpose was to protect gaming as a way to generate revenue for the tribes and to encourage economic development. The Act has been a source of controversy and related legislation that’s gone as far as the US Supreme Court.
The Seminole Tribe currently has six licensed casinos offering slots and table games, food and beverages, and entertainment. There is only one other casino in Florida, and the Miccosukee Tribe owns it. Everyone over the age of 21 is welcome at any of the seven casinos in the state.
The Sports Betting Controversy in Florida
Fast forward to 2018, when the US Supreme Court tossed out the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act that had previously banned sports betting across the country. Doing so opened the floodgates for sports betting, and more than 30 states have since passed legislation to permit US sports betting, including Florida — kind of.
Florida’s unique arrangement with the Seminole Tribe means that sports betting is only allowed on tribal land. This agreement, which delivers billions of dollars to the state, worked well for three years.
Then, on April 23, 2021, the Seminole Tribe and Governor Ron DeSantis signed an agreement giving the tribe exclusive rights to sports betting (along with three new casino licenses and allowing craps and roulette into their casinos). In return, the tribe would pay $500 million to the state annually for the first five years of the deal.
Seminole released its Hard Rock Sports Betting app shortly after signing the deal. It was shut down a month later when two pari-mutuel companies, West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp, filed a legal challenge to the updated contract. They requested that sports betting in Florida be blocked while their complaints were investigated — and it was.
Part of the gray area refers to people in Florida using the app outside the Indian reservations. The Seminole tribe claims that as the servers are located on tribal grounds, people are effectively still playing ‘within the reservation,’ which falls inside the law.
The Current Status of Sports Betting in Florida
It took over two years of deliberation, but on November 17, 2023, the Florida Supreme Court rejected the two companies’ request.
Within days of this news, Seminole Tribe re-released the Hard Rock Sports Betting app, but it is only available to people who initially downloaded it in 2021 and members of the casino’s loyalty program.
The Seminole Tribe also announced that in-person sports betting will start on December 7 at its three South Florida casinos and on December 8 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa.
If you’re thinking about maximizing wins on casinos with free spins in Florida, think again. Online casinos are still illegal in the state. You’ll need to jump on a plane and fly to West Virginia — the closest state where it’s legal.
Sports betting in Florida is still in dispute, and there will be further appeals before a final judgment is made. For now, if you want to bet on sports in Florida, join the Seminole loyalty program, head to one of their casinos, or download the app.
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