Florida has long had a complex relationship with gambling. From greyhound racing and jai alai frontons to tribal-run casinos, the state’s gaming laws are a patchwork of statutes, constitutional amendments, and federal agreements. Over the past decade, sports betting has emerged as a new frontier — one that Florida has approached with both opportunity and legal uncertainty.
To understand the current state of sports betting in Florida, you have to look at the intersection of tribal sovereignty, state legislation, and federal law. What’s in place today is the result of lawsuits, court rulings, and a controversial compact that still faces legal scrutiny.
The 2021 Compact: Where It All Started
In April 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a 30-year gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. This agreement was a significant expansion of gaming in the state, granting the tribe exclusive rights to offer sports betting — both in person and online — in exchange for sharing revenue with the state.
The Florida Legislature approved the compact in May 2021. It allowed the Seminole Tribe to accept mobile bets from anywhere in Florida, so long as the servers processing those bets were located on tribal land. This framework, known as the “hub-and-spoke” model, became the legal linchpin for statewide online betting.
Legal Challenges and Federal Intervention
The compact was quickly challenged in court. In November 2021, a U.S. District Judge struck down the mobile betting provision, stating it violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which permits gambling only on tribal land unless authorized by Congress or voter approval. The judge ruled that allowing bets from across the state exceeded the compact’s lawful scope.
The Seminole Tribe appealed. In June 2023, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed the lower court’s ruling. It found that the compact itself did not violate IGRA, because it merely authorized what happens on tribal land — the bets, according to the state and tribe, were legally placed where the server sits.
This decision cleared the way for the Seminole Tribe to relaunch its sports betting operations, but the legal fight didn’t end there. Further appeals were filed, including one seeking U.S. Supreme Court review. In the meantime, Florida moved forward.
Where Things Stand Now
In December 2023, the Seminole Tribe resumed sports betting operations in Florida through its Hard Rock Bet platform. Initially available only to select customers, the app eventually opened up to all eligible bettors aged 21 or older physically located in the state.
In addition to mobile betting, in-person sportsbooks began operating at several Seminole-owned casinos, including locations in Tampa, Hollywood, and Immokalee. These sportsbooks now offer full-service betting on professional and college sports.
Currently, the Seminole Tribe is the sole legal operator for sports betting in Florida. No commercial sportsbooks — like FanDuel, DraftKings, or BetMGM — are permitted to operate under state law. The exclusivity is part of the compact and is expected to last for the duration of the agreement, which runs through 2051.
Constitutional Roadblocks
Another major legal hurdle comes from the Florida Constitution itself. In 2018, voters approved Amendment 3, which requires any expansion of casino gambling to be approved by voters in a statewide referendum. Opponents of the 2021 compact argue that mobile sports betting constitutes casino gambling under the amendment and therefore needed voter approval.
This question — whether the compact violates the Florida Constitution — is currently being litigated in state courts. A state-level lawsuit filed in 2023 by a group of Florida residents and gambling operators argues that mobile sports betting without a voter referendum is unconstitutional.
The outcome of this lawsuit could significantly impact the future of online sports betting in the state, especially if the Florida Supreme Court ultimately agrees with the challengers. However, until a court invalidates the compact or the state legislature enacts new laws, the current system remains in place.
For background on Amendment 3 and its implications, you can read the official summary from the Florida Division of Elections here.
Who Can Bet and Where
To legally place a sports bet in Florida today, you must:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Be physically located within the state’s borders
- Use the Hard Rock Bet app or visit a participating Seminole casino
Geolocation technology ensures that only individuals located in Florida can place online bets. This is standard practice across regulated states and is enforced through the app’s software.
Bettors do not need to be Florida residents — tourists and short-term visitors can legally place bets as long as they are physically within state lines.
What You Can and Can’t Bet On
Florida permits betting on a wide range of sporting events, including:
- Professional leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc.)
- College sports (including Florida-based teams)
- International events (like the Olympics or World Cup)
However, betting on high school sports remains strictly prohibited. Prop bets on individual college athletes are also restricted in many cases to protect amateurism and prevent exploitation.
Fantasy sports — including daily fantasy — operate in a legal gray area in Florida. There is no state law expressly legalizing or banning DFS (daily fantasy sports), but major providers continue to offer contests.
Federal Oversight and Future Developments
While the federal government plays a limited role in state gambling regulation, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) remain relevant to Florida’s sports betting model. These laws govern the terms under which tribes can offer gaming services and how payments are processed for online wagers.
You can read more about UIGEA and how it governs online betting through the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer guide here.
Looking forward, the Florida sports betting market could change dramatically depending on the outcomes of pending lawsuits and possible ballot initiatives. Advocacy groups on both sides are preparing for a potential statewide referendum if courts rule the current system unconstitutional.
Bottom Line
Florida currently allows legal sports betting, but it’s not a free market. The Seminole Tribe holds exclusive rights through a 30-year gaming compact. You can bet online or in person — but only through the tribe’s Hard Rock Bet platform. While federal courts have upheld the compact for now, challenges under Florida’s constitution remain unresolved. Until those cases are settled, Florida’s sports betting landscape will remain both operational and under scrutiny.
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