Florida Sports Betting: Launch News & Updates (October, 2024)
Is Sports Betting Legal In Florida?
Sports betting is again available in Florida via the Hard Rock Bet app only and at select retail locations.
The Hard Rock Bet app had been forced to shut down in December 2021 after a number of court rulings. The app and sports betting were on pause as a result until the U.S. District Court of Appeals on June 30, 2023 ruled in favor of the Seminole Indian Tribe, making sports betting again legal.
Daily fantasy sports and social sportbooks are also available in the Sunshine State.
Read more about Hard Rock Bet, which again became available Dec. 5, 2023.
Below is everything you need to know about what’s happening with Florida sports betting.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Florida?
Sports betting is currently legal in Florida. People in the state can bet on the Hard Rock Bet app and at select casinos in person.
While cases proceed at federal and state levels, online sports betting in the state is open for business.
Florida Sports Betting Recent Updates
The circumstances surrounding Florida sports betting are fluid. Here are the most recent updates:
- Sept. 13, 2024: Hard Rock Bet strikes an official partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Aug. 13,2024: the Lotter, a company that lets consumers buy lottery tickets online, is reportedly set to enter the state soon.
- July 31, 2024: An investigation by the Florida Gaming Commission and authorities leads to 11 illegal casinos in Volusia County being shut down.
- June 17, 2024: The US Supreme Court decides not to hear the case on Florida sports betting. The Seminole Tribe retains all rights to sports betting in the state through July 2051.
- May 22, 2024: West Flagler filed its response to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The U.S. Supreme Court must decide if it will weigh in on the Florida sports betting case.
- May 14, 2024: In a response to a West Flagler writ in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Department of the Interior says the writ should be denied.
- April 24, 2024: The Florida Panthers sign a partnership agreement with Hard Rock Bet.
- April 22, 2024: DFS operators Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks release peer-to-peer pick’em games in the state.
- April 2, 2024: West Flagler Associates files a petition for an en banc rehearing in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to grant its challenge to the Seminole Tribe’s sports betting agreement.
- March 21, 2024: The Florida Supreme Court denied a challenge to the state’s agreement to let the Seminole Tribe operate online sports betting.
- Dec 23, 2023: West Flagler files final briefing in Florida state sports betting case.
- Dec. 6, 2023: Hard Rock Bet officially relaunches in Florida alongside sports betting at South Florida casinos.
- Dec. 1, 2023: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office asked the Florida Supreme Court to dismiss the lawsuit challenging sports betting in the state.
Florida Online Sportsbooks
Hard Rock currently is the only sportsbook providing online sports betting.
Given the tumultuous legal nature of sports betting, it remains to be seen if other sportsbooks, such as FanDuel or DraftKings, can join the state.
Hard Rock Florida
The Hard Rock brand has exploded since the Seminole Tribe purchased it in 2007. Now, with the rise of sports betting in North America, Hard Rock has built out its own online and mobile sportsbook. The app was tested in New Jersey and Iowa before a temporary launch in Florida.
Hard Rock Florida offers some solid promotions, and the sportsbook product itself is high quality. The user interface for Hard Rock sportsbook is easy to use, and bettors generally have a great user experience. There are support functions, and deposits are quick and easy. The sportsbook generally offers everything that the major brands in the United States also offer.
Hard Rock Bet Florida Promo Code
New customers can get up to $100 in Bonus Bets at sign up. Make an initial deposit of at least $10. If your first bet loses, you will receive up to $100 credited to your account in Bonus Bets.
There is no promo code. Just click to claim your bonus.
Possible Online Sportsbooks
Just about every major sportsbook will be attempting to figure out a way to get a license in Florida when the time comes. Here are a few:
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is the current leader in sports betting. If online and mobile wagering becomes legal within the state, DraftKings will be entering. DraftKings started out only as a daily fantasy sports platform but has moved into both sports wagering and the online casino scene.
DraftKings has one of the very best mobile applications for sports betting. It is easy to use, there are tons of promotions, and the company has some of the best odds pricing in the game.
Currently, in states with legal DraftKings Sportsbooks, you can get a $1,250 welcome bonus. The offer includes a Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + a 20% Deposit Match Up to $1,000 (25x playthrough) + a $50 Bonus Bet With $5 Deposit + a No Sweat NBA SGP Every Day of NBA Playoffs
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook is another large competitor in the United States’ market. FanDuel is another company that started off as an online fantasy platform. However, after Flutter Entertainment acquired the company, FanDuel became a massive sports wagering entity as well.
FanDuel may have the cleanest and best mobile and online experience when it comes to sports betting. Everything is easy to find, and there is no clutter on the site. The technology is simply superior to most online sportsbooks. There are also plenty of ongoing promotions. FanDuel also offers one-game parlays, something rare in the sports betting world.
Most experts expect FanDuel to continue to offer its classic welcome bonus of Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets (win or lose) to join the Florida betting market.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook is the online application launched by MGM Resorts International and Entain. These two are major players in the gambling market throughout the world. MGM is renowned for being one of the biggest gambling and hospitality companies, while Entain is a staple in the online gaming scene.
BetMGM runs a fantastic sportsbook as well as an online casino and online poker platform. The sportsbook is known for being one of the most popular with its trusted name and good value. BetMGM offers one of the widest arrays of bets in the United States sports betting market.
BetMGM’s Florida offer is projected to offer a $1,500 first bet offer if your first bet does not win.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars is one of the most reputable gaming companies in the United States and with its new mobile application for its Sportsbook, it figures to put its stamp on the growing sports betting industry. In April, Caesars acquired William Hill, a British bookmaker that currently operates as a legal and licensed sportsbook in several states. This partnership has yielded one of the best platforms in sports betting.
For those of you who like betting on European sports, Caesars is a great option. Not only does it have all the American sports wagers, but due to William Hill’s European roots, it has tons of bets for European soccer, Formula 1, European golf, and more available on its platform.
Caesars offers a $1,000 first bet on the house.
Daily Fantasy Sports in Florida
Daily Fantasy Sports in the Sunshine State remains a gray area from a legal standpoint. There has been legislation proposed to officially make DFS legal as recently as last December. Meanwhile, the Florida Gaming Control Commission issued cease-and-desist orders to PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy in January, demanding they stop operations in the state by March 1.
But on April 22, Underdog and PrizePicks unveiled plans to introduce peer-to-peer pick ’em games.
At issue is that when pick ’em games have players competing against the house, rather than against peers, they are considered by some to be sports betting, not DFS. The peer-to-peer nature of the new Underdog and PrizePicks games appears to resolve that issue.
Historically in the DFS space, DraftKings and FanDuel have maintained market dominance. Newer operators have cropped up in Florida and nationally. Lineups.com provides a glimpse of potentially available operators.
DraftKings
DraftKings fantasy is synonymous with daily fantasy sports. With generous new user bonuses, simple signup, a rewarding user experience and colossal contests, it has shared the DFS mantle with rival FanDuel.
FanDuel
FanDuel DFS cedes no ground in the DFS stratosphere to DraftKings. The size and number of contests and eye-popping prize pools satiate users, lured by strong signup bonuses.
Underdog Fantasy
The Underdog Fantasy app, steeped in innovation, attracts players with best ball contests. Underdog Fantasy has led the charge with pick ’em contests where, by combining pre-selected player statistics, you can net a large cashout.
Sleeper
The Sleeper fantasy app has thrived by offering real money payouts to those capable of picking the right players stats in a plethora of sports. Sleeper differentiates itself from sites only offering single-day contests. Competitive signup bonuses are another positive.
PrizePicks
You may use the PrizePicks promo code to combine picks related to players performance in tandem like parlay bets for cash.
ParlayPlay
Individuals in the Sunshine State can get their DFS fix at ParlayPlay. ParlayPlay allows players to combine multiple parlay selections into a single betslip. As the app’s name suggests, these selections are then parlayed together and — if every selection wins — people can win up to 155x their initial stake.
Social Sportsbooks in Florida
Floridians can find an alternative to regular sportsbooks in social sportsbooks. The free-to-play games offered in a community setting may appeal to different types of players.
Fliff
Fliff social sportsbook throws yet another pitch, giving users free-to-play and sweepstakes games. Play for laughs or for keeps with this unique operator.
Rebet
A pair of Ivy Leaguers founded the Rebet betting app, which lets users compete and play for Rebet Coins or for Rebet Cash. Those who play for Rebet Cash can turn their virtual currency into real money if they reach a certain level.
Florida Sports Betting Questions & Answers
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Is sports betting legal in Florida?
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Is FanDuel sports betting legal in Florida?
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Is DraftKings sports betting legal in Florida?
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What is the tax rate on online lottery winnings in Florida?
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What is the tax rate on sports betting in Florida?
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Do Indian Tribes control betting in Florida?
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Who has the final say on gaming in Florida?
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Can I play daily fantasy sports in Florida?
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Can I bet on casino games in Florida?
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What is the size of the Florida sports betting market?
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Legal for a month in 2021, the Hard Rock Bet app relaunched in December of 2023 after a successful legal challenge by the Seminole Indian Tribe.
FanDuel is watching the progress of legislation in Florida legislation very closely. Like other sportsbook apps that seek to be a part of a potentially lucrative Florida betting market, FanDuel hopes to be legal when partnerships are offered with tribal casinos.
DraftKings is not one of the legal sports betting options in Florida. Until legislators address the concerns of the state’s tribal casino industry, there are no legal sports betting options written into Florida law for anyone inside the state’s borders.
Like Texas, Florida is one of the six states in the country that does not assess an income tax. There is no official tax amount on any lottery winnings in Florida. However, all winnings above $5,000, online or retail, must be reported as income to the IRS.
There is a proposed tax rate for Florida sports betting of 15 percent. This would be administered as an excise tax on the total sportsbook handle. Sports betting by individuals is still illegal in the state. Winnings from outside sports bets would be taxed at the 24 percent federal amount.
Similar to the situation in California, the Native American tribes have a stronghold on the gambling industry in Florida. This stronghold is the very basis of the conflict over sports betting in Florida.
The residents of Florida have the final say on all gaming expansions in the state per Amendment 3 – a 2018 vote where the voters gave themselves this power in Florida. This means that despite the tribal casino powers, the voters in the state have a significant say in the matter.
Yes, though daily fantasy sports in Florida is in a gray area. Daily and season-long fantasy sports are available. The profit made from playing is taxable income.
You can play at tribal casinos in Florida, but currently, there are no online casinos available in Florida. If Florida were to legalize sports gambling, it is also very likely that online casino games could follow and be legalized. Right now, only in-person casinos are legal.
The size of the Florida betting market could be massive. Many experts project a sports betting handle passing $2 billion monthly in the state. However, seeing what New Jersey could do in 2020, passing $1 billion, this estimate may be considered conservative.
