The legality of sports gambling for Florida residents is often debated, especially as a result of rise and popularity of Internet-based offshore sportsbooks that nominally become a grey area of US legal jurisdiction. The lack of accurate information surrounding online sports betting in Florida could be disconcerting and even off-putting to prospective players, but it doesn’t need to be the case, because once you realize the intricacies of FL sports betting law, you’re going to be able to place your wagers with confidence.
In case it seems daunting to navigate all of the state and federal laws surrounding sports gambling in FL, do not worry — it is not. The rules and laws are rather simple when it comes to betting on sports in the Sunshine State, and once you understand what to search for, you’ll have the ability to bet safely and with peace of mind, no matter where you are in the state.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Florida?
Sports gambling legality in Florida is a catchy thing on the surface. There are no laws specifically banning the activity, but additionally, there are no regulatory legislation permitting it. That said, laws in the US are based on what is prohibited, not on what’s allowed. As such, you can presume — rightfully so — that sports gambling is actually allowed in the state. In other words, FL residents may openly bet on athletics without fear of government reprisal, provided they use a reputable online sportsbook.
Whether you are simply betting for your favourite team such as the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Panthers, Miami Hurricanes, FSU Seminoles, UF Gators, Tampa Bay Bucs, or even theJacksonville Jaguars, you can do this without worrying about governmental repercussions of any kind. To add to this, by using an internet sportsbook rather than a shady neighborhood bookie, you understand the lines on top local teams will be unweighted (i.e. have reasonable vigs, or home takes) and that your winning payouts are always ensured.
Legal Sports Betting Sites Accepting Florida Residents
While there are many legal sports betting websites accepting Florida residents on the market, they are not all made equal. If you’re going to risk your own hard-earned money to put bets on your favorite players and teams in an online, offshore sportsbook, you owe it to yourself (and your bankroll) to make certain that you select only the most reputable Florida sportsbook service providers.
With decades of experience serving the Sunshine State, sportsbooks such as Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, along with other top books (BetDSI, 5Dimes, BookMaker, etc.) are always your best bets to locating and putting winning wagers in their robust, comprehensive gaming planks.
Bovada – Live Betting On Football, Basketball, Baseball, Etc
Bovada SportsbookThe Sunshine State has a lot to offer those who reside there, with its excellent weather, sunny vistas, and sandy shores. Better still, Bovada — the nation’s top online sportsbook — lets you enjoy the tropical outside while you wager on your favorite sports matchups. As a result of Bovada’s top-of-the-line, industry-leading mobile sportsbook portal, you can put money on sporting events no matter where in the state you happen to be.
Among the top reasons to go with Bovada as a Florida player is the betting odds which are on their always-updated betting boards. After all, options are significant, as most FL bettors aren’t strictly likely to bet on their local home teams. Therefore, while all of the Florida teams are represented in Bovada, all the other amateur and professional US teams of notice are also on their boards, together with international wagering options to choose from in addition to sports like soccer, rugby, cricket, and more. New FL residents signing up at Bovada today can even get a generous, low-rollover $250 Welcome Bonus to pad their online betting accounts.
Combine Bovada Now BetOnline – Characteristics Live Dealer Casino + Poker
BetOnline SportsbookFlorida is not the least expensive place in America to phone home, but there is no state income taxation, so that is a massive draw for residents of all age classes. In the end, in the present economy, saving as much money as possible whilst enjoying a casual lifestyle is much more significant than ever. BetOnline also believes this philosophy and it may be seen by how they give away so many free-play bonuses. Anyone residing in Florida that signs up for free at BetOnline will have the ability to qualify for their life bonus. Just enter the voucher code LIFEBONUS on every qualifying deposit and also get up to 25% on top of your deposit.
Along with reload bonuses, BetOnline delivers other valuable perks for both returning and new members. And while their sportsbook is the site’s number-one draw, it is definitely not the only way to gamble at BetOnline. BetOnline features a fully-fledged, Vegas-style live dealer casino, a popular online poker lounge, dozens of table games, hundreds of electronic slots, and a comprehensive international Thoroughbred racebook.
Join BetOnline Today SportsBetting – Spread + Over/Under Can Be Wagered
SportsBetting SportsbookThe hottest gambling odds — and greatest betting limits — anticipate Florida sports bettors in SportsBetting. With actions on pretty much every national and global game, this gambling site is considered the go-to sportsbook for Florida high rollers. But with the deposit and withdrawal options of any FL sportsbook, SportsBetting is equally as well suited to the gaming novice as to the wily older vet.
SportsBetting accepts both conventional and other payment options, from credit cards, debit cards, and bank wires to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, and DASH. Better still, all of these financial options carry high deposit and withdrawal limitations at SportsBetting, which means that — regardless of how much cash you need to bet — you can fill your SportsBetting account in a rush. Just like most other sites, SportsBetting.ag also offers new and returning FL customers lots of valuable bonuses and perks to keep them coming back for more.
Combine SportsBetting Today 5Dimes – World Class Casino, Poker And Horse Book
5Dimes SportsbookWhen the heat index is 115 degrees Fahrenheit, Florida residents tend to say inside together with the A/C pumping and the trendy drinks coming. Naturally, then, there is not any better time to hop online and place several wagers on a baseball or football game. To that end, 5Dimes is a historic and reputable online sportsbook that accepts Florida residents, and it’s 100% free to join. Provided that you are 18 or older, you can be a member of one of the top sports betting sites on earth.
5Dimes includes a strong sportsbook using numerous wager types on tap, including direct bets, spread bets, totals, props, and futures. But, there are lots of other gaming options which may make matters much more interesting. With alternative lines , 5Dimes provides more wagering customization than any other competing book, perfect for people who prefer to set their stakes into parlays for maximum payout possible. 5Dimes also has lots to do outside of sports betting, with a world-class casino, poker room, and horse book available to all FL members that sign up now.
Combine 5Dimes Now Best Florida Sports Betting Sites – 100% Reputable + Safe
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Best Banking Approaches At Legal Florida Sports Betting Websites All the top sportsbooks serving FL have similar — but not always identical — payment alternatives for deposits and withdrawals. However, the very best banking methods at authorized Florida sports gambling websites are rather universal between these, and it comes down to exactly how much and how long you want to wager. If you need to set your bets right away and need to fill your online sportsbook accounts ASAP, credit or debit fees procedure instantly.
Be cautioned, however, that credit/debit payments carry lower transport limitations than some larger bettors like. In such cases, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (accepted anywhere, with various books accepting distinct altcoins as well) are superior, given they process the same day and take the highest limits of all options at many books. However, some folks prefer to deposit and withdraw their money through older, more conventional methods including check, bank wire, or money order.
In these instances, the limitations tend to be quite high, but the related processing times (1-2 weeks) and added fees make them expensive options than Bitcoin and other altcoins like Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, DASH, Cardano (ADA) and other methods (where accepted).
Mobile Online Sports Betting In Florida
Mobile online sports betting in Florida is the wave of the future, and — after the country institutes a sports gambling law and neighborhood sportsbooks open for business — you will shortly afterward likely be able to use their online portal sites through your cellular phone or tablet to wager from anywhere within the nation. Furthermore, using legalization, it’s probable you will gradually be able to download official iPhone apps and Android programs for your Florida sports gambling facility of choice.
But any mobile web portal site or app-based sports gambling solution from an FL-based sportsbook will be geo-fenced, which means that you will always have to physically be inside the state of Florida to put your wagers.
Right now, together with offshore sportsbooks being online and operational for Florida sports bettors, you can use your iPhone, iPad, or Android device to wager at Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, along with all the other top legal books serving FL residents. Another benefit of using these overseas sportsbooks is they aren’t geo-fenced, meaning FL residents who sign up for these services can still continue to use them even when they are out of FL’s boundaries. Each of those sites is optimized for mobile browsers and a few even have apps which you can download straight from their website.
Florida Sports Betting Laws
There are in reality no existing Florida sports betting laws to talk of, since the state has traditionally relied on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992) to regulate their gaming laws in the athletic arena. Now that PASPA was overturned by the Supreme Court, however, the FL legislature is going to need to institute its own sports betting regulations and licensing strategies before any physical brick-and-mortar or online centre in the state can provide sports gambling inside FL’s borders.
Nevertheless, there is a passage in FL law that could be construed to be a nominal sports betting ban. Florida Statutes 849.14 says the following:
“Whoever bets, bets or wagers any cash or other items of value on the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or power or endurance of human or beast. . .shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree…”
Obviously, there are plenty of semantic technicalities in the above statement that effectively prohibit this”ban” out of having an effective ban. Therefore, though the state sees some 3-4 million taxpayers turn a sports betting handle of roughly $12 billion each year, not one single person has ever been arrested, fined, imprisoned, or otherwise plagued by the FL authorities for putting a sports bet locally or over the Internet in a legal online offshore sportsbook.
When Will Florida Give Legal Sports Betting In-State?
Together with PASPA overturned, the timeline on when FL will offer legal sports gambling in-state is not set in stone. Though most industry experts expect the country to enact a comprehensive set of sport betting laws in the very near future.
Though there might be some tiny difficulties working with the tribes’ charters and compacts such as their exclusive casino gaming rights. A new compact may need to be composed in order to include provisions with this gambling expansion. Sports gambling is far too popular — and far too lucrative — to justify languishing in the state legislature for too much longer.
But with Amendment 3 death on the current ballot, it could make formally legalizing sports gambling all the more difficult. The amendment basically gave voters the right to bring forth any casino gaming expansion legislation they would like to find the country legislators. While the amendment didn’t specifically mention sports betting, some have argued that it might fall under the category of casino gambling. With so many sports fans from the state, it’d be surprising if Republicans didn’t officially ask their state lawmakers to bring about this change through a referendum.
Legal Gambling Age For Florida Residents
The State of Florida is quite progressive when it comes to gambling, with some kinds of gambling available as soon as you turn 18. For wagering on sports on line, however, it is advisable (but by no means mandatory) that you’re at least 21 years old in order to participate. When land-based sportsbooks open in FL today that PASPA has been overturned, but those facilities will probably require their participants to be 21 or older.
What Cities In Florida Have Sportsbooks?
Currently, no cities in Florida have sportsbooks to offer the gaming people. However, there are a number of possible places for land-based sports betting in Florida when the country passes formal sports wagering regulations, and even though it’s not a certain thing that each one of the probable places will start their own sportsbooks, nearly all them likely will.
These locations include the following, in order of their likelihood to offer sports betting upon formal legalization by the country (with Tampa and Hollywood being first up, as they’re home to the country’s two biggest casinos, both of which are Seminole Hard Rock properties):
Tampa, FL
Hollywood, FL
Hallandale Beach, FL
Okeechobee, FL
Immokalee, FL
Pompano Beach, FL
Dania Beach, FL
Coconut Creek, FL
Miami, FL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Along with the casinos listed above, in addition, there are numerous card rooms and pari-mutuel facilities scattered across Florida. Whether or not these will be included in the sports betting movement going forward remains to be seen, and much of this will depend on the way the sportsbook taxation and application/licensing fees are established by the Florida state government.
Florida Sports Betting FAQs
What is live betting?
Live betting, also called in-game wagering, is a recent development from various online sportsbook suppliers which allows players to bet on sports since the contests themselves unfold in real-time. Thanks to mobile devices with constant net connections, it is simpler than ever to take part in live betting, including a huge number of daily opportunities to win to your standard sports gambling docket.
What are the consequences of wagering on sports over the Internet under the age of 18?
All of the top online FL sportsbooks only need their customers to be 18 years old or older to use their services, including all of their casino games and racebook options. However, once you attempt to maintain your capital, you will need to provide evidence of your identity. If you’re underage, or if you signed up underage and since turned 18, your account will be terminated and your winnings — and account balance — will be forfeited. However, in order to remain safest, we recommend that you wait until you are 21 to start using these websites. The reason being is that it is the highest required gaming age in the state of Florida and makes sure that you can properly avoid any potential trouble with the condition down the line.
How do I finance my online sports gambling account if my credit card fails to procedure?
There are many alternate methods via which you are able to fund your Florida sports betting account in case your credit card fails to process. For rapid transfers, nevertheless, cryptocurrency is the only viable option to card payments, along with other alternatives (money orders, bank wires, etc.) can take up to 14 days to process and show up on your sportsbook wallet. Seeing as how Florida has sports teams in each significant game, there is always an event occurring at some stage in the season and people 14 days may mean the difference in cashing in on a match and not.
Do I have to pay to sign up with an online sports gambling site?
No, you never have to pay to join with an online sports gambling site. If you ever encounter any sportsbook that needs this, then avoid themas they’re probably untrustworthy and may be outright scams. The top online offshore sportsbook sites that accept Florida residents are free to join and many of them actually offer a welcome bonus. This may provide an extra cushion for if you want to bet about the Dolphins or other groups for the first time.
Do I must pay taxes on my own online Florida sportsbook winnings?
Yes, you need to pay taxes on your online Florida sportsbook winnings. The requisite government types and instructional overviews can be found here. Even though this can look to be an annoying procedure to do, it is the very best way to remain safe from any penalties in the future. Florida also does not have a state income tax which is one less cost you have to fret about when filing your taxes.
Is online sports gambling a federal offense?
No, at least not with offshore sportsbooks. The Wire Act is the only federal law in place that has got something to do with online sports betting plus it only prohibits people in 1 state from utilizing an online sportsbook placed in another state. By way of example, if you’re enjoying a day in South Beach and wished to place a sports bet, you can not use one put in New Jersey. However, the law has no jurisdiction over the operations of sports gambling sites located in different nations or users of these websites.
How do I combine a valid Florida sports betting site?
To be able to join a legal Florida sports gaming website, you merely have to enter your name and some basic personal information to your gambling site of choice’s automatic subscription portal site. This is no different than, say, registering for a Netflix or Amazon account, and your private information is secured using state-of-the-art encryption. Better still, the entire process only takes approximately five minutes or not! You could register for you in less time than it would take to arrives at one of Florida’s sandy shores.
When a Florida sports gambling site payout is moved via test, do I have to do anything special with it?
No. However, because of the nature of overseas tests of this sort, it is wise that you don’t try to cash the check immediately, as on rare events, such checks require additional time to clear. Just deposit your check in your bank account, and then once it clears, you can draw it out as cash at your convenience. This applies to any bank you use or some other Florida credit union you may be apart of.
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