Gambling in Florida: What's Legal and What's Not?

Gambling in Florida is a highly regulated affair, with specific types of gambling allowed in certain areas. Pari-mutuel betting and horse racing are permitted but limited to specific racetracks such as Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. The legal age for pari-mutuel betting in Florida is 18.

Tribal gaming is legal in Florida and is exclusively granted to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which operates land-based casinos and slot locations. A $20 billion compact, negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021 and signed for a period of 30 years, is estimated to bring in a guaranteed annual revenue of $500 million in the first five years. This compact includes the Hard Rock exclusive rights over slots and table games, as well as statewide mobile sports betting through Hard Rock Bet.

Lottery games are legal in Florida, with interstate lotteries such as Mega Millions and Powerball available. Slot games are another heavily regulated area. Outside of tribal casinos, slot machines may only be played legally in locations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Hard Rock Bet is currently the only licensed sportsbook in the state, operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The initial launch of Hard Rock Bet was choppy, with several legal challenges that even saw the platform suspended. Illegal gambling operations are actively targeted by law enforcement and the Florida Gaming Commission, which frequently conduct operations leading to the arrests of individuals who operate illegal slot parlors.