Betting on sports in Florida is still a work in progress since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal law that banned sports betting and opened the doors for individual states to legalize sports betting.
Many states are struggling with reaching agreements with tribes who run the casinos, and ensuring that both parties can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement before they legalize sports betting within the state. There is no doubt that the legalization of sports betting will affect the Seminole tribe in Florida, so the governing officials are probably negotiating with them as we speak.
Florida is home to eight professional sports teams, and several Division I collegiate teams. With 21 million people living in Florida, it’s a destination for sunshine and sports for some, so officials would be wise to get on top of sports betting and start reeling in revenue from locals and visitors alike.
Florida’s gambling laws are regulated and all legal gambling includes casino gaming, tribal gambling, casino boats, horse racing, dog racing, Bingo, the state lottery and charitable gambling. The casino boats are interesting because they allow bettors to board luxury boats that travel offshore where gambling is technically not illegal.
There are eight tribal casinos in the state of Florida, with the Seminole tribe owning seven.
Florida is home to plenty horse racing tracks, which allows bettors to go watch and bet the races – especially the thoroughbreds at Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.
Can I bet on sports in Florida?
Florida residents who wish to partake in sports betting will have to venture to neighboring states that have sports betting legalized – or they can sign up at an online sportsbook. Online sportsbooks are legal in Florida, and are a great option for those who want to place a wager but don’t want to cross state lines to do so. You can bet from the comfort of your own home, without breaking any laws.
The online sportsbooks we recommend are easy to use, safe and secure, so you never have to worry about the safety or legitimacy of the sportsbook. There are some poorly operated books out there, but we only recommend the best of the best – sportsbooks that we use ourselves.
Betting on Florida Sports Teams
There are plenty of teams in Florida that you can place a bet on. There are two teams for every professional sport in Florida – two must be their lucky number.
For starters, in the NFL, there are two teams: the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Miami Dolphins. The Jaguars joined the league in 1995 and have three divisional titles under their belt. The Dolphins have been around much longer, since 1965, and made their mark in the 70’s – winning back to back Super Bowls in ’72 and ’73.
In the NBA, there are two professional teams: The Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic, both of which are in the Southeast Division. The Heat just had their 30th anniversary, and have won three NBA Finals – two of which under Lebron James’ reign. The Orlando Magic are without a championship, but are no strangers to the playoffs, earning a spot for 14 of their 29 years.
If baseball is your sport, you can bet on one of the two MLB teams in Florida. The Miami Marlins have two World Series wins, but have done so with never having won a division title. How? Both times they made it to the World Series as a wild card team. The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the younger MLB teams in the league, and it only took a decade for them to capture their World Series title in 2008.
If you want to bet on the puckline, The Tampa Bay Lightning is one of the NHL teams you are able to bet on in Florida. The team was founded in 1992, and had a slow start, but finally they captured their first and only title (so far) in 2003-2004. The other NHL team you can put some money on (or against) is the Florida Panthers, who haven’t been known to be a strong team, except for the 1996 season where they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals and lost.
Betting on sports is easy and convenient when using an online sportsbook in Florida. Check out our thoroughly vetted sportsbook reviews and get in on the action today
