In the current legal landscape, Florida online casino players are limited only to sweepstakes casinos. These sites let you play for free, purchase coins (optional), and, in some cases, allow opportunities to redeem your winnings for cash prizes.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Florida online casino market. We’ll take you through the current options, what you can expect to find on them, and how to get started playing. If you’re looking for land-based options, we’ll give you those details as well.
Florida online casino options
Our experts have reviewed all of the top FL casino sites that currently accept players in the state. Focusing on game selection, bonuses, user experience, prize redemption speeds, security, and customer service, we ultimately decided that these are the best sweeps casinos options in Florida:
Are online casinos legal in Florida?
The most recent gaming compact didn’t authorize the Seminole Tribe to offer real money Florida online casinos. As a result, Floridians are still limited to sweeps options.
However, after a lengthy legal battle from a pari-mutuel ownership group, the courts authorized the compact. Thus, the Seminoles were cleared to launch online sports betting in 2023. During the appeals process, Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen said that if the tribe was vindicated, they would likely begin to lobby for a new compact to offer Florida online casino games. It’s possible we see an updated compact soon.
Florida online casino alternatives
As Florida real money online casinos are not legal yet, the only option to play casino-style games is through sweeps sites. These sites use virtual currencies and abide by the state’s sweepstakes laws, enabling anyone aged 18 or older the chance to play the games for fun and even, in some cases, with a chance to redeem winnings for cash prizes.
Here are our current picks for these types of online casinos in Florida:
WOW Vegas
WOW Vegas is our top choice thanks largely to its large library of games, including over 700 slots. The site features a great selection of exclusive slots as well as many from top studios like Pragmatic Play, Betsoft, and Novomatic. In addition to the great welcome offer there are lots of promos, too, including daily and weekly giveaways in the Prize Drops Lobby. Look as well for other features like Lunchtime Loot, the Wowzer Prize Drop Games, the Wake Up and Win promo and more.
McLuck Casino
McLuck Casino also features a great selection of slots, including popular titles from NetEnt, Pragmatic, Playson, and other developers. There are over 750 slots at McLuck, ranging from exclusive “in-house” slots to familiar titles like Twin Spin and Super Hot 7’s. You’ll also find live dealer games at McLuck Casino that include blackjack, baccarat, and roulette. The welcome offer gets you started in style at McLuck, and there are constant promos as well for regular players.
High 5 Casino
High 5 Casino stands out among other sites for two major reasons. One is its huge slot selection with more than 1,000 titles and more being added constantly. The other is the selection of live dealer games at High 5 Casino, where you’ll find 15 tables in action, including blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and casino poker. Check out the welcome offer for new sign-ups as well as the social media giveaways and other features like “Boosts on Demand,” which awards free spins and multiplier payouts.
Pulsz Casino
Pulsz features more than 800 slots in its library, sourced from leading providers such as NetEnt, Relax Gaming, Playson, and 3 Oaks. You can also play online scratchcards, arcade-style games, multi-hand blackjack, and poker-style games at Pulsz. The site offers a broad range of bonuses, and it also provides a neat, accessible user interface and a simple, secure prize redemption process. New sign-ups can get a head start as well, thanks to the generous welcome offer at Pulsz.
Other Florida online casino alternatives:
- Hello Millions Casino
- Modo-US Online Casino
- Real Prize Casino
- PUNT.com Social Casino
- MoonSpin Sweepstakes Casino
Common bonus types at FL online casinos
Online casinos must work hard to attract new customers in competitive markets such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. As a result, casino sites like BetMGM Casino, Caesars Palace Online Casino, FanDuel Casino and others often roll out large bonuses to stand out from their competitors. A similar situation could unfold in Florida if the Sunshine State were to permit real money online casinos to launch.
Here are some of the bonuses commonly found at online casinos.
A welcome bonus provides new players with an incentive to sign up. Examples can include a no deposit bonus or a deposit match bonus or a no deposit bonus. With no deposit bonuses, you are given site credit with which to play games right away. Meanwhile deposit match bonuses require you to deposit first.
As mentioned above, some online casinos offer to match a percentage of your first deposit with bonus funds. Sometimes the match is for 100% of your deposit, meaning you receive a bonus worth an equivalent amount in return. Generally speaking, you must then complete a playthrough requirement on the bonus credits before withdrawing.
Some online casinos may offer new customers bonus spins or “free spins.” Usually these come with certain restrictions, such as not being able to use them on progressive jackpot slots or having to use your free spins on a particular slot or group of slots. Sometimes you also have to complete a playthrough requirement on winnings earned with free spins as well.
A reload bonus is like a deposit match bonus, although in this case the bonus works as a reward to existing customers for topping up their account balances. Reload bonuses tend to be smaller than sign-up deposit match bonuses, but they can still be attractive. For example, you may be offered a 50% reload bonus of up to $100 on a particular day at your online casino.
Games available at Florida online casinos
You will be able to play thousands of high-quality games for real money on your phone or computer if Florida legalizes online casinos. In the meantime, you can visit social and sweepstakes casinos to play many of the same popular casino games online found at real money sites. These include the following:
Online slots
The best online casinos offer hundreds of slots from elite providers such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Relax Gaming. They include classic three-reel slots, Megaways slots, 3D slots, and progressive jackpot slots. There is always a wide variety to stay entertained at online casinos as a slot player.
Online blackjack
Blackjack is a popular table game, as it has a very low house edge and a relatively simple format. You will be able to play online blackjack and even live dealer blackjack at all Florida online casinos when they become legal. Variants include single-deck blackjack, multi-hand blackjack, and Spanish 21.
Online roulette
Online roulette will be available at all Florida online casinos. There are numerous roulette variants are available, including the popular American, European, and French roulette. French and European roulette are preferred, though, due to their lower house edge over American roulette.
Online craps
Nearly all Florida online casinos will offer craps games. There are plenty of variations available as well as live dealer options at the top online casinos. Enjoy the experience of a real-life casino experience in the comfort of your home.
Lottery Games
Lottery-style games such as keno will also available at some Florida online casinos. You will often find these games in the “Arcade Games” or “Variety Games” sections. Some online casinos also offer video bingo games, plus live bingo games, so there are lots of options for players who enjoy lottery-style games.
Florida online casino and gambling laws
In 2021, Florida expanded its gambling market through an updated gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe. The new compact legalized online and retail betting, as well as expanded gaming selections at both tribal casinos and pari-mutuel facilities. As a result, Seminole-owned properties now have craps and roulette, while pari-mutuels have more leeway with house-backed games.
This controversial deal handed the tribe an online betting monopoly. The tribe’s Hard Rock Bet app is the only expressly legal option in the Sunshine State. In return, the Seminole Tribe agreed to new revenue-sharing payments estimated to send the state $2.5 billion over the first five years of the new agreement.
In response to the new sports betting model, the ownership group of two pari-mutuel facilities, West Flagler Associates, mounted a legal challenge. This led to a lengthy court battle and Hard Rock Bet operations shuttering. But the Seminole Tribe eventually received a favorable ruling and relaunched Hard Rock Bet in late 2023.
With the betting controversy behind them, the tribe has already started talking about a Florida online casino expansion. The 2021 compact had online casino language, but it was removed to ensure its passage in the legislature. However, if political winds change course, it wouldn’t take much for the state to draft a new compact with the tribe to expand the market one more time. On the other hand, there hasn’t been a serious discussion to do so.
- Retail casinos: Yes
- Online casinos: Only sweeps alternatives
- Number of casinos in Florida: Eight tribal casinos, but pari-mutuels in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are permitted to operate slot machines.
- Gambling age: 18 for poker, pari-mutuel wagering, and sweepstakes casinos. 21 for everything else.
- Top online casino alternatives: WOW Vegas, McLuck Casino, High 5 Casino, Pulsz
Who regulates casinos in the state?
The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) is the primary gambling regulator in the Sunshine State. The commission oversees most non-tribal gambling in the state. This includes pari-mutuels with slot machines like Calder Casino and Harrah’s Pompano Beach. The FGCC does not have any authority over the Seminole Tribe. Since they are considered a sovereign nation, the tribe mostly regulates itself.
Additionally, the Florida lottery doesn’t fall under the purview of the FGCC. There is a separate lottery commission for that. Since the tribe would run a potential Florida online casino industry, the FGCC would be hands-off that market as well.
Steps required to legalize Florida online casinos
Most states have taken one of two paths when legalizing online casinos:
- The legislature passes an online gambling bill, which then gets signed into law by the governor.
- Voters approve a constitutional amendment permitting online gambling via a statewide referendum, and the legislature then passes the relevant law.
But in Florida, the Seminole Tribe is king of the gambling world. The state gave them exclusivity over casino gaming. As a result, nothing can happen without tribal approval. Consequently, the gambling landscape doesn’t change without a new compact.
Previous compacts ensured the tribe exclusivity over Las Vegas-style casinos in Florida. The most recent iteration of the Florida gaming compact allowed the tribe to run Florida’s online sportsbook via servers located on tribal lands. It was an innovative, albeit controversial approach that had to withstand a significant legal challenge before finally receiving approval.
How does Florida tax casino winnings?
You do need to pay taxes on gambling winnings in Florida. That said, there is no state income tax in Florida, so you will only need to pay federal income taxes on your winnings.
The amount you pay the IRS for your gambling winnings will depend upon your income bracket. Gambling winnings are treated just like any other form of income and need to be added in when you file your federal income tax return. The amount you add may or may not affect your tax bracket which determines how much federal income tax you owe. Your federal tax obligation can range from 10% at the lowest up to 37%.
Note that you are supposed to pay income tax on any gambling winnings, and not just on the profit you enjoy when gambling. You can deduct gambling losses when filing your federal income tax, but if you do you will not be able to take the standard deduction and instead must itemize all your deductions, including those from gambling. If you do that, your deductions for gambling losses cannot exceed the amount you report for gambling winnings.
All Florida casinos
There are currently eight tribal casinos in Florida. The Seminole Tribe runs six of them, among them some huge casino resorts replete with thousands of slots, table games, poker rooms, and sportsbooks. Meanwhile, the Miccosukee Tribe owns a casino in Miami and another small travel center casino called Little Trail Casino in Ochopee.
Horse racing tracks and are also permitted to offer certain forms of casino gaming, as are the former greyhound racing tracks. Dog racing was banned in Florida in the 2018 election, but the tracks still operate other forms of gambling. Most have poker rooms and the ones in Broward and Miami-Dade counties operate slot machines.
Properties like Daytona Beach Kennel Club and Tampa Bay Downs have poker, but no slot machines. Since slot machines are not available, we kept them off the list of retail casinos in the Sunshine State.
These are the land-based casinos that you can visit in Florida.
| Casino | Slot Machines | Table Games | Casino Type | Owner | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calder Casino | Yes | No | Racino | Churchill Downs Inc. | 21001 NW 27th Ave, Miami Gardens, FL 33056 | (305) 625-1311 |
| Casino Miami | Yes | No | Racino | Phil Ruffin | 3500 NW 37th Ave, Miami, FL 33142 | (305) 633-6400 |
| Creek Entertainment Gretna | Yes | No | Racino | Poarch Band of Creek Indians | 501 Racetrack Drive, Gretna, FL 32332 | (850) 875-6930 |
| Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino | Yes | No | Racino | Stronach Group | 901 S Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 | (954) 454-7000 |
| Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa | Yes | Yes | Tribal | Seminole Tribe | 5223 Orient Rd, Tampa, FL 33610 | (954) 627-7657 |
| Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood | Yes | Yes | Tribal | Seminole Tribe | 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33026 | (954) 327-7625 |
| Harrah’s Pompano Beach | Yes | No | Racino | Caesars Entertainment | 777 Isle of Capri Blvd, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 | (954) 972-2000 |
| Hialeah Park Casino | Yes | No | Racino | John Brunetti | 100 E 32nd St, Hialeah, FL 33013 | (305) 885-8000 |
| Little Trail Casino | Yes | No | Tribal | Miccosukee Tribe | 47801 W State Rd 84 Ochopee, FL 34141 | (305) 925-2555 |
| Magic City Casino Miami | Yes | No | Racino | Poarch Band of Creek Indians | 450 NW 37th Ave, Miami, FL 33125 | (305) 649-3000 |
| Miccosukee Casino & Resort | Yes | Yes | Tribal | Miccosukee Tribe | 500 S.W. 177th Avenue, Miami, FL 33194 | (305) 222-4600 |
| Seminole Classic Casino Hollywood | Yes | Yes | Tribal | Seminole Tribe | 4150 North State Road 7 Hollywood, FL 33021 | (954) 961-3220 |
| Seminole Casino Coconut Creek | Yes | Yes | Tribal | Seminole Tribe | 5550 NW 40th Street, Coconut Creek, FL 33073 | (954) 977-6700 |
| Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee | Yes | Yes | Tribal | Seminole Tribe | 506 South 1st Street, Immokalee, FL 34142 | (23) 658-1313 |
| Seminole Casino Brighton | Yes | Yes | Tribal | Seminole Tribe | 17735 Reservation Road, Okeechobee, FL 34974 | (954) 961-3220 |
| The Big Easy Casino | Yes | No | Racino | Jeffrey Soffer | 831 N Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 | (954) 924-3200 |
| The Casino @ Dania Beach | Yes | No | Racino | Dania Entertainment Center, LLC | 301 E Dania Beach Blvd, Dania Beach, FL 33004 | (954) 920-1511 |
We will keep readers updated with any new casino openings in Florida. Bookmark this page to stay tuned for any developments.
Responsible Florida online casino gambling
It is important to gamble responsibly if you play at land-based casinos or sweepstakes casinos in Florida. Set a budget, keep track of your spending, and never play with money that you cannot afford to lose. Take regular breaks from gambling, too.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling site.
The future of Florida online casinos
As noted above, there have not yet been any concerted efforts to legalize Florida real money online casinos, but the situation is almost certain to change soon. Hard Rock International, the corporate entity of the Seminole Tribe, made it clear it wants to expand into the online casino space, making it more likely lawmakers will enter negotiations about a new compact. In the meantime, you can sign up at sweeps casinos such as WOW Vegas, McLuck Casino, High 5 Casino, Pulsz and others if you would like to play slots and table games online in Florida.
We’ll continue following the latest news and progress in getting Florida online casinos legalized in the state and the options to come.
