Once the FL government formally legalizes sports betting in the state (which, by all accounts, should happen sometime in the next few years), all of the major players in Florida’s gambling industry are likely to offer sportsbooks. And the biggest one, without question, will be Tampa sportsbooks. That’s because Tampa, as a gambler’s destination, has two things going for it. First, it is the only city on the Gulf side of the state with a casino presence, and secondly, its casino – the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa – happens to be one of the largest in the world.
OTB Florida The Sunshine State is one of the strangest and most fun in the United States and off-track betting shines bright here. Florida hosts a slew of horse tracks with a rich history both on the track. Best Betting sites for Florida Bovada Sportsbook Review When it comes to sportsbooks geared to American bettors, Bovada offers everything you need to bet on the NFL, NBA, MLB and college sports. No Florida law states that online poker, casino games, or sports betting sites are explicitly illegal. Florida is the south-easternmost state in America and is surrounded predominantly by the Gulf of Mexico.
Additionally, given that it’s a Hard Rock venue, the Tampa-area casino should be able to tap into its ownership’s experience and have a fully-featured sportsbook ready to go out of the gate. With a yearly customer base of millions of gamblers (as it’s the only casino for hundreds of miles and the sole destination for those living in the northern part of the state), the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa sportsbook promises to be the de facto (and gold!) standard for sports betting in the northern half of Florida itself.
Legal Bovada Super Bowl LV Betting In Tampa
Bovada is the most well-known online sportsbook around, and because of that is one of the most popular sportsbooks for Super Bowl LV betting. Super Bowl bettors can wager at Bovada using any of their odds and lines, and they have a ton of different ways to bet. One intriguing section of their website is #whatsyawager, which allows bettors to wager on props and parlays of varying value. Beyond #whatsyawager, they have several sections for game props, straight bets and player props. Bovada’s Super Bowl LV betting options are varied, and Tampa bettors should make sure to check them out.
Betting On Super Bowl LV With BetOnline In Tampa
Tampa, the location of Super Bowl LV, does not have any sportsbooks in it. However, bettors in Tampa can use sportsbooks like BetOnline to place wagers on the game being held in their hometown, featuring the hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers. BetOnline is a simple sportsbook, but that simplicity allows them to offer some of the best odds in the business. Their bet builder tool is quite useful, and their mobile betting platform allows you to place every single available bet from your phone. Overall, they’re a great sportsbook in Tampa to bet on the Super Bowl with competitive odds that is very much worth checking out if only to shop lines.
MyBookie Super Bowl 55 Betting
MyBookie is well known for having some of the best online odds around, and the volume of bets you can access at MyBookie is genuinely staggering. The website is well designed and provides a lot of utility to anyone using it. Bettors can wager on almost every aspect of the game, from game and player props to straight bets and more, but the real appeal of MyBookie is the odd wagers that they allow action on. If you want to bet on what the price of Dogecoin will be when the Super Bowl kicks off, MyBookie has odds on it. Overall, while the off the wall wagers are a draw, MyBookie also offers great wagers on all of the normal sports bets for Super Bowl LV.
Best Florida Sports Betting Sites - 100% Trusted + Safe |
50% Up To $250 | VISA + Wire Transfer |
50% Up To $1,000 | VISA, Bitcoin, Cash Wire |
50% New Member Bonus! | VISA, Bitcoin |
50% Up To $1,000 | Bitcoin, Wire Xfer, VISA |
100% Up To $300 | VISA, Bitcoin |
100% Up To $500 | VISA, Bitcoin, Checks |
Is Sports Betting Currently Legal In Tampa
Sports betting is currently not legal in Tampa, at least when it comes to wagering at land-based facilities inside the city (or state). This is because, despite the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) being overturned by the Supreme Court in May 2018, the Florida legislature must now pass its own rules and regulations regarding the pastime before any legal Florida sportsbooks can open in any existing or future gambling destinations.
All that said, until FL law explicitly sets out the guidelines and begins licensing brick-and-mortar locations for sportsbook operations, you can still legally bet on sports in Florida right now by signing up for free at one of several offshore sportsbooks that have been serving FL residents for decades. These books – Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, and other top providers – all offer fair, unweighted lines (which is important in a state with so many popular local clubs, as Tampa bettors will no doubt have to pay their local bookmakers a premium on any Buccaneers, Lightning, or Rays bets, for example), robust boards, one-click wagering, and guaranteed payouts.
Using these sportsbooks is also 100% legal for FL residents, and – even when Florida’s own sportsbooks go live – it’ll still be a wise move to have multiple online betting shop memberships so you can always get the best values for your sports bets, no matter what.
Legal Sports Betting Age Limit At Tampa Sportsbooks
The legal sports betting age limit at Tampa sportsbooks is slated to be 21 years old once the state formally rolls out sports wagering services to the public. However, if you use legal offshore FL sportsbooks over the Internet, these sites peg their age minimums at just 18, so younger bettors can get a bit of a head-start by going that route. This is something you’d be doing at your own risk, as we advise to stick with the 21 and up rule held at Florida casinos now.
Mobile Betting In Tampa
While sports betting is not fully legal in Tampa yet, players can still bet on the NFL by simply using their smartphones. Internationally-based sportsbooks that are licensed are fully legal and very convenient. Because the sports betting sites are not operating under United States law, there is no reason to worry if you will face any legal consequences while betting with the sportsbook. The mobile versions of betting sites such as Bovada, BetOnline, or MyBookie allows you to bet on numerous odds from where with just the touch of a button. NFL bettors in Tampa can not miss out on the chance to begin wagering on games in the comfort of the bed.
Live Betting In Tampa
You are not completely taking advantage of online sportsbooks in Tampa if you are not using the live betting feature. Bettors can win more money than you normally expect to make by being able to wager throughout the game. Live betting gives you a chance to place wagers on bet lines that change as the game continues. As Tampa Bay fans know, a game can change at any moment and live betting allows fans to capitalize on that and win bets predicting what will happen next. Offshore sportsbooks offer this unique betting experience to players 18 and over that are located anywhere in Tampa, Florida.
Best Sportsbooks In Tampa
The best sportsbooks in Tampa will be a debate for a future time, as currently, there is only one location in the area that will have a sportsbook up and running as soon as the state legalizes the service. Because the Hard Rock Tampa is such a powerful and established local enterprise, of course, there’s a decent chance that for at least the next few years, the Hard Rock will be not just Tampa’s best sportsbook but Tampa’s only sportsbook.
However, despite having a sort of regional monopoly on sports betting in Florida, you can expect the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa sportsbook to live up to its standards of quality and customer service by offering a comprehensive, competitively-priced sports betting odds board for its patrons. After all, the Hard Rock brand has a reputation to uphold, and – weighted odds for local teams notwithstanding – you can be sure that the Hard Rock will offer its guests all the best perks and freebies (including drinks!) that casino gamers and slots players are used to.
Seminole Hard Rock Sportsbook
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa is Florida’s largest and most luxurious gambling destination. As the fourth largest casino in the US and the sixth largest casino in the entire world, the Tampa Hard Rock is the ultimate resort for fans of just about every kind of casino attraction. As such, once FL formally legalizes sports betting in the state, the Seminole Hard Rock sportsbook will be the most sought-after new attraction in the entire region.
The Tampa Seminole Hard Rock sportsbook, once it goes live, will have thousands of wagering options daily, including action from both domestic national leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL and international sports like soccer, rugby, cricket, and more. Even better, no matter what you’re wagering on, you’ll get to choose from multiple lines and odds, including wager types like point spreads, straights, totals, props, futures, and parlays. With live betting also in the works, you’ll actually be able to place hundreds of wagers on each and every contest on the docket. Over the course of a full betting year, the Hard Rock Tampa will offer its sports betting clientele literally millions of different wagers to choose from.
Currently, the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa sportsbook is planned to be situated directly in or very near to the venue’s 190,000 square feet of main floor gaming space, and this sports betting lounge will include drink service, comfortable seating, and a huge number of flat-screen TVs broadcasting all the day’s major games, 24-7-365. And when you aren’t playing at the Hard Rock sportsbook, you can take in the venue’s other attractions, including its world-class hotel resort, the Rock Spa and Salon, the Council Oak Lounge, the Plum VIP Lounge, and more.
The restaurant scene at the Hard Rock is also first-rate, with its signature Hard Rock Café headlining a menu rich in variety, including the famous Council Oak Steak House, a sushi bar, and a host of watering holes peppered across the property. For shopping, patrons have access to the typical Hard Rock swag shop, the Native American-themed Rainmaker shop, and the Lucky Cigar, a top-flight smoke shop open all day, every day. Additionally, some of the best retail shopping centers in the state are located just around the corner from the Hard Rock, as are all the famous Tampa Bay beaches.
Seminole Wild Card
With all the great things that Seminole Hard Rock offers, Seminole Hard Rock also has a great way to collect points and keep a track of all the points you have collected over your time at the casino. The Seminole Wildcard is one of the best cards and investments that bettors in Tampa can make. This card also works in different Hard Rock casinos across the country. The more points that you collect determines what tier you are in and what bonuses you are eligible for. With this card, there are four different tiers, premium, platinum, Elite and XCARD. Each level or tier you move up will have you for different rewards. This not only affects the different slots and games you can play but also the different restaurants you can go to and the discounts that they offer. Comp dollars can be earned in many ways and can be used in different places like hotels restaurants, and retail stores.
Can I gamble online in Florida?
The simple answer is yes, but in this guide to Florida online gambling we go into much more detail. We also list the best Florida gambling sites, explain the relevant laws, and more.
Rank | DE Gambling Site | Exclusive Bonus | Products | Get Started | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Las Atlantis | 280% Up To$14,000 |
| Visit Site | Las Atlantis |
#2 | Super Slots | 300% Up To$6,000 |
| Visit Site | Super Slots |
#3 | BetUS | 125% Up To$3,125 |
| Visit Site | BetUS |
#4 | MyBookie | 50% Up To$1,000 |
| Visit Site | MyBookie |
#5 | BetNow | 100% Up To$1,000 |
| Visit Site | BetNow |
You should be aware that, as with so many other American states, the situation regarding gambling online in Florida is not as clear-cut as it could be. The legal issues are confusing, as Florida online gambling laws are effectively non-existent at this moment in time.
Florida does not currently regulate real money online gambling in any form. This is likely to change, probably soon, but there are no firm timelines in place just yet.
This means there are no Florida gambling sites operating within state lines. However, there are other safe and trustworthy gambling sites accepting customers from Florida. There are also some sites that AREN’T safe and trustworthy, so you need to careful about where you sign up.
We can help you with that, as our list of the best Florida online gambling sites has been carefully compiled and only includes legitimate and reputable sites. Read on to find how we select which sites to recommend, along with more information on online gambling in Florida.
These Florida online gambling sites have been ranked and reviewed by our team of experts. They offer a variety of online gambling options such as casino games, sports betting, and poker.
We have closely examined all of the real money gambling sites that accept players from the Sunshine State. Most of them get sub-par marks, because we apply exacting standards on every level. Only those that make the grade are featured here. We are confident they are genuinely the best online gambling sites for Florida and can be relied upon to provide a world-class experience.
In addition to the top FL gambling sites listed above, you can find more specific recommendations on the following pages.
Our team members are very thorough when they evaluate real money gambling sites for the benefit of our readers. Over the years, we have developed a step-by-step process that has allowed us to accurately, efficiently, and effectively gauge the overall strength of each online gambling site we asses.
We compare the results, and the websites that score consistently well across the board in key areas get our seal of approval. Here are some details on a small number of the factors we look at.
One of the first facets that we look at is the country of focus. Of course, if a site is in a language other than English, it is clearly not going to be targeting American players.
We like to see sites that are specifically designed to serve US players. The betting and gaming options that people in America are familiar with should take center stage, and the main currency should be the US dollar.
Deposit and withdrawal methods will be custom crafted to suit the needs of people that bank in the states. The best Florida gambling sites are tightly focused on the needs of American players, and this is an attribute that is shared by every site that has made our list of approved operators for FL.
Once we establish that a given site is built to accommodate US gamblers, we move on to the most important step in the evaluation process. When you are going to deposit real money into an online casino or betting account, you have to be absolutely certain that the company is 100% legit.
This is obviously a valid concern, and we answer the legitimacy questions for you when we are conducting our research.
We have a solid understanding of the licensing requirements for online gambling operations in most countries and territories around the world. Since there is no regulatory body for online gambling in Florida, we take a long hard look at the origin of the licenses held by respective gambling sites that we are rating.
Once we are comfortable with the license that is held by a gambling website, we move on to the next item on our checklist.
The reputational insight that we garner from our peers is invaluable. Sometimes we will hear about a traditionally well-regarded site that is taking a downturn because of a change in management or some other factor.
On the other side of the coin, our connections inform us about emerging gambling websites that are attracting positive attention. We do value longevity, but sometimes a relatively new entrant into the marketplace can do everything right from the start.
There are forums and message boards that are frequented by regular online gamblers. Our team members follow these threads daily, so we know what objective players have to say about their online gambling experiences. Sites that are getting lambasted will fall off our radar.
When you have an ongoing monetary relationship with a business, you have to be certain that you can get in touch with someone when you need assistance. This is true for every player, but the high rollers have some big bucks in play, so their concerns are magnified.
You can rest assured that all of the operators that have made our list of the best FL online gambling sites provide friendly, attentive, and results-oriented customer service.
They can be reached by phone, and they quickly resolve questions and concerns through email communication and live online chat.
FL gambling laws do not mention online gambling at all. So, what does this mean for the legalities of gambling online in Florida? Can you legally gamble online from Florida?
There isn’t really a definitive answer, precisely because of the lack of Florida online gambling laws. However, this lack of laws means that it’s not explicitly illegal to gamble online in the state. We’ve certainly found no evidence of anyone ever being prosecuted for doing so.
With that said, Florida online gambling is likely to be officially legalized and regulated in due course. New legislation was proposed by FL lawmakers in 2019 that could legalize at least some forms of online gambling and introduce regulation at state level. It could also make land-based sports betting legal.
This legislation is to be considered by committees at some point in 2020. It will then be put to a state-wide vote. Check our page dedicated to Florida gambling laws for more information and the latest updates. For a quick snapshot of all current Florida gambling laws, see below.
Overview of Florida Gambling Laws | |
---|---|
Type of Gambling | Legal Status |
Casino Gambling | Legal |
Poker | Legal |
Horse Racing Betting | Legal |
Dog Racing Betting | Legal |
Lottery | Legal |
Daily Fantasy Sports | Unspecified |
Charitable Gaming | Legal |
Social Gambling | Restricted |
Online Gambling | Unspecified |
Florida is not completely restrictive when it comes to legal and regulated forms of gambling. There are a handful of Native American casinos, and there are legal poker rooms at the dog and horse racing tracks throughout the state.
They have approved slot machines at Gulfstream Park, which is by far the most popular horse racing track in Florida, and some other existing pari-mutuel wagering facilities. But although there are brick-and-mortar possibilities, there are still several very good reasons to gamble online in Florida. Here are some of the main benefits.
There are only seven Native American casinos in the state, so even if you would be content gambling at one of them exclusively, you may not have one nearby. The same thing can be said about the race tracks with slots and poker rooms.
For people with physical limitations, the word “accessibility” has a very profound meaning. Yes, there are laws in place that mandate accessibility for disabled people in businesses and other public places. This being stated, when it’s hard for you to get around, casino visits can be out of the question.
Online gambliing is perfect for seniors that are in this position, and there are many of them because Florida is the premier retirement destination in the United States.
You would probably think that you were the target of a practical joke if an employee walked up to you in a casino and handed you a wad of cash out of appreciation for your business.
This is simply not going to happen in the brick-and-mortar gaming universe, but things are entirely different at the best Florida online gambling sites.
The size of the bonus you receive will depend on the structure at a given site and the amount of your initial deposit. Sign up bonuses will typically be anywhere from $100 to $1000. This is a meaningful infusion of gambling cash to start you off, and you can expect to see ongoing promotions.
Once you collect on one bonus offer, there is nothing forcing you to call it quits. There are a number of FL gambling sites that have gotten our seal of approval, so you can safely open accounts at multiple places. In so doing, you can snag a series of nice bonuses.
If you make the trek to a casino with a physical presence, you simply have to grin and bear it if other customers around you are ruining your time. At the gaming tables, there can be very rude and annoying people, and losers that drown their sorrows are usually not going to be on their best behavior.
Short of this, a lot of people flock to the casinos on Friday and Saturday nights. If you work standard hours, this may be the time that is right for you as well. When there is a crowd, the odds of running into an obnoxious customer increase exponentially, and you can start to feel cramped in a general sense.
Even if you can tolerate the volume of human beings around you, there is another major drawback that will often confront you on a packed casino floor. Seats at gaming tables will fill up quickly, and you can do laps around that area and come away empty. Even if you can get a seat, the betting limits may not suit your budget.
You are also stuck with the food and drink prices, and outside of Las Vegas, casinos are not known for giving out free cocktails to players. In fact, they charge as much as they can because patrons have no nowhere else to turn.
If you want to hang out at home and play, everything that is in the refrigerator is just a few steps away, and you will not be dealing with any unsavory strangers.
Since we have shared so much information about online gambling in Florida, we should close with a brief summary so you can keep the key points fresh in your mind.
A lot of people that have an interest in online gambling have legitimacy concerns. That’s understandable, buy you can set them aside such concerns if you stick to our list of the best Florida gambling sites.
Our research team has put all of the sites that want your business under the microscope, and we apply high standards, so you can go forward with total confidence at any of our approved real money gambling sites.
These sites are also much more accessible and convenient than traditional gambling options, and offer have a wide range of choice. In addition to the classic casino-style gaming, you can also bet on sporting events and horse races at all of our recommended FL sites. And remember, you get some free bonus money to give you a boost at the outset.