By Mitch Rice
Residents of the Sunshine State might be unsure of what’s legal and what’s not when it comes to gambling within the state.
This article aims to put all your doubts at rest and answer any questions you might have! Let’s get into it!
Online Casinos
Before you start gambling, it’s important that you find a reliable and trustworthy site. Using only the best online casinos in Florida will guarantee ideal gameplay, with safety and efficiency being a top priority. Nowadays, you can find many trustworthy review sites that will help you narrow down the list of which casinos are worth looking into and which are not.
Which forms of gambling are completely legal?
If you’re thinking of heading to Florida, it’s best to take a look at what forms of gambling are considered legal. If you’re not into the gambling scene, there are several other things that you can do in Florida that are just as fun!
The state of Florida does allow pari-mutuel gambling, which is a type of wagering in which all bets are combined into a single pool, the casino retains a certain percentage of the total amount wagered, and the payout is determined after all bets have been placed and the odds of winning have been determined.
This kind of system is used for:
1. Jai Alai
Simply put, this sport is played with two players on a team, and each player has a handheld basket that is elongated and curved. Players take turns catching and throwing a ball. Imagine a more aggressive version of handball played with four players.
Bets on jai alai were hugely popular in the 1980s, but the sport itself began to fall out of favor as newer and more exciting games came onto the scene.
2. Horse Racing
People are allowed to place bets on thoroughbred races, quarter horse races, and harness horse races; but, in order for those bets to be legitimate, they must be placed at the track itself.
3. Bingo
Bingo is completely legal in the state of Florida, despite the fact that there are several restrictions on who can play it, where it can be played, how it can be played, and even the look of the cards that are used.
Bingo games in which players compete for prizes are legal in the state of Florida; however, the groups that run the games must be philanthropic, not-for-profit, religious, or educational in nature. Not only that, but each of these groups needs to have been operational for at least three years.
Which forms of gambling are illegal?
The Sunshine State has its fair share of illegal gambling activities as well as legal ones.
1. Sports betting
The Seminole Tribe and the state reached an agreement on a new gaming law on November 22, 2021, which included provisions for betting on sports. Bets on sporting events were accepted legally in the state of Florida for five weeks before a federal judge declared the agreement to be in violation of the law.
2. Greyhound betting
The passage of Amendment 13 was determined by the votes cast by Floridians in November of 2018. As a result of this amendment, greyhound racing will be outlawed in the state by the year 2020.
3. Online gambling
In spite of the fact that the legislation in this state isn’t entirely clear on how residents should view internet gambling, the police make it a priority to shut down unauthorized gambling sites.
The Gray Area – Daily Fantasy Sports
The practice of daily fantasy sports exists in legal limbo since, according to the letter of the law, it is not sanctioned but it is also not against the law.
There have been no laws passed that expressly prohibit the games, and there have been no reports of anybody being arrested for playing daily fantasy sports, therefore it appears that the state does not really care if its citizens participate in daily fantasy sports.
Failed Efforts
An organization known as the Florida Education Champions was instrumental in the state’s decision to decriminalize and eventually legalize sports betting. It was hoped that the group’s efforts would lead to the legalization of betting, but those hopes were dashed within only a short period of time. The group received support from some major companies, including FanDuel and DraftKings.
In order to satisfy the prerequisite set by the state, they needed an additional 370,000 signatures. The group, on the other hand, has not given up, as evidenced by the fact that they have restarted the process of gathering signatures from the very beginning with the goal of qualifying for the election in 2024.
Future of Online Gambling in Florida
The decision of a court judge in the Columbia District to determine that the compact of the Seminole Tribe breaches federal Indian gaming regulations has resulted in the entire agreement being deemed null and void.
The acts of the court have prevented the legalization of sports betting in the state, despite the fact that the people living there have been pleading for the regulations to be loosened.
Given that the casino business already generates significant money for the state, it would be prudent to allow betting given the nature of the industry. The 15 casinos that are currently operational in the state of Florida have generated more than 54,000 employment and contributed $7.55 billion to the state’s economy.
At this point in time, it does not appear like there will be any changes made to the legal system in the near future. However, until the law changes, there are several other things you can do instead of gambling, like reading a book or going on an adventure!
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
