Florida Sports Betting

Sports Betting Legalization in Florida to Bring Benefits. Although sports betting is yet to be legalized, there are variety of ways to place a bet illegally in Florida, revealed Senator Jeff Brandes while speaking for Spectrum Bay News 9. According to him, since there are no people prosecuted for betting, the activity should be legalized. Dec 30, 2020 Sports betting legalization could be on the horizon for Florida in 2021. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Peterburg filed three bills for legalizing sports wagering in the state. Proposal for Legalizing Sports Betting in Florida Awaits Legislative Session in March 2021. Betting on sports in Florida is a common pastime, even though the state itself does not specifically sanction any sports betting activity, either on land or online at Internet-based betting shops operating out of the state or elsewhere in the US.

• Florida Sports Betting Vote
• Florida Sports Betting Vote
• Legal Sports Betting Online Florida

The best Florida sports betting sites offer a combination of attributes that set them apart from the pack. We evaluated all of the online sportsbooks serving FL and applied our in-depth ranking process.

This allows us to present you with a list of our top-rated sports betting sites for Florida, all of which have been thoroughly vetted and are completely legit on every level.

Dec 29, 2020 Some experts say that, in Florida, sports betting falls under the definition of casino gaming, meaning the issue can’t be legislated and that voters are the ultimate determiners of whether it. Ultimate Guide to Florida Sports Betting Sites. Florida is widely viewed as the most gambling-friendly state in the South. That may be true, yet major restrictions still exist over most traditional forms of gambling here. Fortunately, there are a number of incredible Florida sports betting sites available right now.

Betting on sports for real money is easier online than any of the alternative options. That’s only really true when you use the right online sportsbooks, though. If you pick the wrong option, you’re likely to have a negative online betting experience overall.

With a range of Florida sports betting sites to choose from, picking the wrong option is all too easy to do. Especially if you don’t particularly know what you’re looking for, or don’t have the time to do the in-depth research required to sort the quality sites from the bad ones.

The good news is that we’ve done the hard work for you. You can confidently join any of our recommendations knowing that we’ve hand-picked only the very best FL sports betting sites. How do we do this? We explain more about that further down this page.

Also on this page is a look at the betting options available at online sportsbooks in Florida, along with details of the benefits of betting online from the Sunshine State.

Each and every one of these recommended sites has been carefully selected based on the criteria that matters the most for online sports bettors.

There’s no doubt for us that these are legitimately the best Florida sports betting sites available right now. They’re all safe to use for real money sports betting, and provide an excellent online betting experience.

How We Rank Sports Betting Sites in Florida

You’re naturally going to wonder how we decided that these particular sites are the ones to use for online sports betting in Florida.

Bottom line, we know what we’re doing. Compiling our rankings is a team effort, and our team is made up of experienced online gamblers who know how to evaluate the most important factors.

Here are some of the main factors we look at for ranking the best FL sites for betting on sports online.

If you drive past a commercial location in your community and see construction, you know the ownership is making a significant investment. They’re not just renting out a space, throwing in some furnishings, and hanging a cheap sign outside.

Florida Sports Betting Vote

From the outset, you know that a business making a significant investment has every intention of staying for the long haul. On the surface, it may not be as easy to apply this approach to sports gambling sites, but if you know what to look for, there are definitely some telltale signs.

The online sportsbooks we recommend don’t operate in the shadows like internet mavericks. They’re all completely legitimate businesses, and they have physical presences in licensing jurisdictions.

Precise regulatory requirements vary depending on the country or territory issuing the gambling license, but there’s a general framework. Applicants must prove that they have the expertise to successfully operate an online gambling site. They’re carefully vetted and go through extensive background checks.

Operators are required to have safeguards for players in place. These would include state-of-the-art encrypting technology to protect sensitive information, along with warnings and information about the dangers of compulsive gambling.

Getting back to our original premise that was presented in the opening, the sites that we approve clearly make a very significant financial commitment from the outset.

Another facet that we weigh heavily is the longevity of the books that we’re considering for our list of the best Florida betting sites. When any company has been around for a significant amount of time, they’re likely offering a sound product or service that satisfies their customers on a consistent basis.

There are forums and message boards that revolve around just about any subject imaginable, and the online sports betting niche is no exception. We visit the ones that are the most highly respected, so we always keep a finger on the pulse of what people in-the-know are saying.

Our team members are passionate about sports betting in their own right, so they’re active participants. They’ve had experiences on many of the sites and are part of a network of like-minded colleagues. Information is shared often, and this gives us additional insight to go along with our own experience when we’re ranking gambling sites.

Internet sports betting is popular all over the world, and there are website operators that accommodate customers on a global scale. Clearly, any site that accepts American players will be in the English language, but there are some other nuances to take into consideration.

There are deposit and withdrawal methods that are universal, like Visa and Mastercard. These options are available to American players and sports gamblers from other countries. This being stated, all of the other methods that are offered at the best sites for US players are carefully chosen.

It may go without saying, but currency is a factor as well. A site that in English could be centered around the utilization of the British pound, the Australian dollar, or the Euro. All of the best FL sportsbooks that have made our rankings are designed for people that use the US dollar.

On the subject of depositing and withdrawing, if you use Bitcoin as a currency for sports betting, the transactions are processed instantly at many of the sites.

As a discerning consumer, it’s justified and fully appropriate to have some concerns about the availability of customer service when you’re establishing a new business relationship on the internet.

This may be magnified a bit, as it applies to online gambling sites. Operators must make a strong statement to gain the confidence of their prospective clients. Trust is important when placing real money wagers online.

You can rest assured that you will be able to get in touch with a knowledgeable, empowered representative that has been trained to resolve issues quickly and efficiently. There’s always telephone support available, along with email and live chat functions.

It can be difficult to understand how to proceed if you’ve never experienced online sports betting websites. We examine the navigation at the sites we evaluate, so any operator we’re willing to recommend should make it easy to get around.

Most people are going to be interested in betting from their smartphones and tablets, and we keep this in mind as well. Every site that we’ve included seamlessly translates to all mobile environments.

Florida Sports Betting Vote

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the factors we consider when ranking the best sports betting sites for FL. We’ve hopefully provided enough detail, though, to show just how diligent where are when deciding which online bookmakers and sportsbooks to recommend to our readers.

It perhaps goes without saying, but one of the other factors we look at is the various betting options available.

Betting Options at Online Sportsbooks in FL

The sites that we recommend put a spotlight on all of the most popular American sports. You will have no shortage of options when you make your first deposit and start to fully embrace the online wagering experience.

NFL football is the most popular sport in the United States, and football betting is huge. NCAA football is wildly popular in its own right. The books take a lot of action on college and pro contests throughout the regular campaign, and it all culminates with the bowls, the playoffs, and the championship games.

In-game wagering is another option. As the name would suggest, it allows you to bet on the game after it has started with adjusted odds that reflect the current situation at any given time. The live betting platform is one of the things we look at when ranking online betting sites.

A particular advantage of betting on football online at any of our recommended sites is the variety of prop bets available. There are all kinds of different possibilities, including total passing yards for each quarterback, interceptions thrown, yards gained by particular running backs, etc.

Many of the top sports betting sites offer dozens of props for each individual game.

The sport of basketball is a staple at the best Florida betting sites.

NBA, as you’d imagine, is covered extensively. College basketball is, too, and the March Madness tournament in particular gets a lot of attention.

America’s pastime is well represented at all of our recommended FL betting sites, and there are some variances when it comes to betting options. There are straight bets and totals wagering on the moneyline, but there’s no true point spread. Parlay bets are taken, but there are no teasers because there are no point spreads.

There’s run line betting, which can be described as a hybrid with a fixed spread of sorts and an adjustable moneyline. All favorites are -1.5 runs, and the underdogs get 1.5 tallies. A moneyline is attached to each side that is set according to the statistical probability of the favorite winning.

They offer in-game betting and odds on futures, and there are some propositions at times, but they’re much more limited than the football props.

You can bet on hockey at online sportsbooks, and the betting options are identical to baseball.

This would include the “run line,” but as you might imagine, for hockey, it is called the “puck line.”

The “big four” are the primary money makers for betting sites in Florida and throughout the US, but their betting menus expand beyond these offerings. If you like to bet on mixed martial arts and boxing, they post odds on all of the major bouts.

NASCAR and IndyCar racing fans will find what they’re looking for at the top-rated Florida sportsbooks, and you can bet on tennis and golf tournaments, too. If you’re interested in soccer, you’ll find the virtual betting windows open for all of the big matchups throughout the year.

Benefits of Online Sports Betting in Florida

At the present time, there are no in-person sportsbooks in the state, but you can rest assured that illegal bookmakers have been raking it in for generations.

Online sportsbooks are a much better alternative. When you limit yourself to the sites that we vetted and approved, you can go forward with total confidence. This being stated, even if there WERE physical locations, online sports wagering offers many benefits that make it the far better choice.

The best thing about online betting sites is the simple fact that you have access from anywhere at any time. We’re talking 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You can always get your real money wagers down on any sporting event that would be on the board in Las Vegas, and many that wouldn’t even be covered there.

People that live in some parts of the state don’t have easy access to any type of gambling at all, but many of them do enjoy playing games of chance with a little bit of skill mixed in. Online sports betting options change everything on this level, and many of the sites offer casino games as well. There are also dedicated online casinos in Florida.

We invoked the name of Sin City above, but even if you lived there, you may not want to travel to a casino or sportsbook. It can be very smoky and crowded, especially on busy sports days and evenings, and people can be rude or obnoxious.

When you embrace the best FL sports betting sites, you call the shots. In a very real sense, you carry your own sportsbook with you at all times. You can go to your favorite local bar and grill, sit among your friends, and watch your action in total comfort with your favorite food and drinks.

Nobody is going to walk up to you and hand you a nice stack of cash when you walk into a physical sportsbook for the first time. It’s a dog-eat-dog endeavor, and they’re in the business of extracting your money.

The dynamic is entirely different at trustworthy online sports betting sites that have passed our litmus tests. These sites offer generous sign-up bonuses that are based on the amount of your initial deposit. Maximum premiums can reach $1000 and sometimes even more.

There are also promotions offered on an ongoing basis, so the free money opportunities don’t end when you make your initial deposit. You also have the ability to step out of the box and open accounts at multiple different sports betting sites to take advantage of more than one bonus.

If you do this, you could shop for odds when you make your real money wagers. Since you have relationships with multiple different sites, you could place your wagers at the books that are offering the most favorable odds on any given game.

State-Regulated Legal Sports Betting in Florida

If you’re plugged into the sports betting world at all, you have heard about the Supreme Court decision that legalized sports betting on the federal level. This decision was handed down in May of 2018, and since then, any state has had the ability to offer regulated sports gaming.

A number of them acted quickly, and there are a few others that appear on the verge. Almost all of the state legislatures have expressed interest in the possibility of opening up this gambling avenue. Fortunately for sports betting enthusiasts in the Sunshine State, Florida lawmakers have a few proposed bills for 2020.

While the state has always displayed a conservative attitude on the matter, it’s possible things could change in the future. Check out our page on Florida gambling laws for the latest updates as and when they happen.

For now, there are at least the safe and trustworthy online sportsbooks we recommend. They’re just a few mouse clicks away for Floridians.

In summary, there are perfectly legitimate sports gaming operators on the internet. We’ve done the research and will gladly put our stamp of approval on the very best Florida sports betting sites above.

These sites are tailor-made for American players, and they make it easy to deposit and withdraw money in a timely fashion. The customer service is better than the average web-based business, and the sites show their appreciation by offering hefty sign-up bonuses and ongoing promotions.

All the major sports are on the betting board day after day, and they set lines on other sports like NASCAR and IndyCar racing, boxing and MMA, tennis, and golf. If you’re interested in the type of football that’s played in other countries, you can also place wagers on the international variety.

If you’re interested in betting on sports from Florida, these online betting sites are open for business. Now’s the time to choose a site from our approved list and enhance your enjoyment of the sports you love.

Choosing Where to Bet Online in Florida

The online sports betting industry is already full of options and increasing all the time. We want to give you more information on what to look for when choosing a sportsbook to bet with. There are a few things to consider when finding the right sportsbook for you.

What to consider when choosing a sportsbook

So what should you be looking for from an online sportsbook?

One of the main points to check is the sports markets available from the bookmaker. You want to make sure that they offer bets for your preferred sports. Once you have ascertained this, you should also check out the bet types on offer. Again, you want to know that a sportsbook is offering the wagers you would choose.

With the online sportsbook industry being so competitive, you can find many bonus offers available at bookmakers. These will often be sign-up offers, and sometimes recurring bonuses such as free bets. Once you’ve found a sportsbook, check out the bonuses that they offer. Make sure that you’re benefiting from placing bets with that bookmaker.

One last thing to take note of is the operator’s terms and conditions. This includes things like wagering requirements, deposit and withdrawal fees, and any limits for certain payment methods. Don’t sign up for a sportsbook that isn’t offering you transparent and fair options.

Registering to an online sportsbook

Registering to most online sportsbooks is a straightforward process.

1. Once you’ve found one that suits your preferences, you will need to fill in some basic details to create your account. This will usually involve your name, age, and address.
2. Often, you will also need to provide some proof of identification, in the form of a photo of your ID, passport or driving license. You may also be asked for proof of billing address in the form of a recent bank statement or utility bill.
3. Once your account is set up and verified, you’ll be able to start placing your bets!

Understanding Sports Betting Odds

Sportsbook odds are the way that bookmakers tell you how much money you will make from winning a bet. It’s always important to check what odds are available and make sure you’re getting the best offer. Odds can be displayed in a few different ways, as we’ve explained below.

Decimal Odds

Decimal odds are also known as European odds. They are most commonly seen at sportsbooks based in Europe, Australia, and Canada. They are straightforward to understand and compare and are therefore a preferred representation for many sportsbooks around the world.

The odds shown for decimal odds represent the profit you would make from a bet of $1. So the formula for calculating the winnings is as follows:

Stake x Odds = Payout.

For example, if you place a successful $100 bet at odds of 2.75, then the calculation would be:

100 x 2.75 = $275.

Therefore, you would make a profit of $175 on a successful bet.

Fractional Odds

Fractional odds are the original form of odds used in horse racing bets. They are most commonly used in UK or Ireland based casinos.

Fractional odds represent the profit yielded, without the inclusion of the original stake. The denominator represents the amount wagered, and the numerator represents the potential profit, so they would be written as follows:

profit/stake

As an example, let’s say you’re betting on a football game with 10 to 15 fractional odds. This means you would win $10 for a successful bet of $15. Below is an example with a wager of $150:

Odds 10/15: $150 bet + $100 profit = $250 winnings.

American Odds

American odds are the ones you will see the most on sites that offer betting in Florida. These are also known as moneyline odds. American odds are the easiest to understand and compare. The odds shown represent the amount of money required to make a profit of $100.

In the odds for each match, one team will be the favorites and one team the underdogs. The odds for the favorites will be prefixed with a minus (-) and the odds for the underdogs will be prefixed with a plus (+). The higher the number for the favorite, the more likely their chances of winning. The higher the number for the underdogs, the less likely their chances of winning.

If the favorite odds are -$150, then you need to bet $150 to win $100. If the underdog odds are set at +300, then you would win $300 on a successful wager of $100. So remember, for favorite odds you are risking that amount to win $100, and for underdog odds you are risking $100 to win that amount.

Types of Bets

While some sportsbooks will offer special bets for certain events, there are several common bet types that you will find available for most events. We have listed these for you to have an idea of what’s on offer:

Legal Sports Betting Online Florida

Win Bets

These are by far the most common and most wagered bet available. This is the traditional bet where you simply select which player or team you are expecting to win the match.

Point Spreads or Straight Bets

These are a popular bet in the US, and you will find many on offer at Florida sportsbooks. With these bets, the bookmaker will decide on a point spread for both the favorite and the underdog.

The favorite needs to win by a greater margin than the spread for a successful bet. The underdog needs to either win or lose by less than the margin for a successful bet.

Handicap Betting

This form of betting is intended to either increase your chances of winning, but at lower odds, or lower your chances of winning, but at higher odds.

The bookmaker will offer some different options for handicap bets. This will usually involve awarding ‘extra goals’, or removing goals from the final score to change the outcome of the match. Each handicap option will have its own, adjusted odds.

Mobile Betting Apps

Many sportsbooks nowadays will also offer a downloadable app. This will allow you to view the available odds and place your bets from your iPhone or Android device. Most apps will also be available for android devices.

Using a mobile app is a great way to take your online sportsbook on-the-go. It can be especially useful when placing live bets, as you can place your wagers from wherever you are. Some sportsbooks will also offer live streaming of matches through their mobile apps.

Types of Sports to Bet on in Florida

There are many types of sports available to bet on at online sportsbooks. The following sports are those most popular with online bettors in Florida.

Bet on Football

Many sportsbooks will offer a huge range of betting markets for American football. This is the most popular sport for bettors in Florida and the US. You can find betting lines both for Professional level teams and for college football tournaments within the state. There will be a huge range of bet types offered for the majority of football games.

Bet on Basketball

Again, you can find betting lines available for both professional and college basketball tournaments. Basketball is another huge market for US online sportsbooks. You can also find plenty of bet types available for basketball. You will be able to bet on the top Florida teams, including Gainesville Galaxy and the Jacksonville Giants.

Bet on Baseball

Florida has a plethora of teams for Baseball, and all bettors will want the opportunity to back their favorite. Luckily, this is another popular sport at US bookmakers. You will be able to find various bets available on games with the Jacksonville Suns, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and the Bradenton Marauders, among others.

Sports Betting Bonuses

All online sportsbooks will offer some kind of bonus to entice or hold onto their customers. These will range from matched deposits to free bets, to bonus cash. It’s always worth checking the current bonuses on offer from a sportsbook, especially when you’re signing up for a new account.

What are welcome bonuses?

Welcome bonuses will be available at the majority of online sportsbooks. These will usually be the most competitive offers available. Sportsbooks want to offer new customers a reason to join them over a competitor.

The most common form of welcome bonus is a matched deposit offer. The bookmaker will offer to give you a percentage of your initial deposit for free. This will then either be available for free bets or can be withdrawn as cash. Bonus money will be subject to wagering requirements, so read the terms and conditions when claiming a bonus offer.

What are Free bets?

Free bets will be offered either as part of a welcome bonus or to continuing customers as a loyalty reward. The sportsbook will offer you a certain amount of money, usually dependent on a deposit, to place on bets.

These allow the customer to have the opportunity to make a profit without losing their stake on an unsuccessful bet. You won’t receive the stake with your winnings on a free bet. The only money you make is profit.

Often, there will be limits on free bets, such as minimum odds or particular types of bets. This is to encourage bettors to try something new or take a bigger risk with their free bet.

What are Risk-free bets?

This is again usually offered to new sportsbook users. If a player places an unsuccessful bet, then the sportsbook will credit them bonus money of the same amount of the wager. This means that if you have a successful bet, you can keep the stake and the profit. However, if you’re unsuccessful, the bookmaker will return your money so you can try again.

Top Florida Sports Betting Events

There are certain events in the sporting season that bettors do not want to miss. We have listed the most popular events for sports bettors in Florida. Make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to back your favorite.

Super Bowl

Most people won’t need to be reminded of the biggest annual event of the National Football League (NFL). The super bowl is enjoyed by spectators around the world and is hugely popular with sports bettors. This is the championship game of the NFL and is played every year between mid-January and early February.

Many online sportsbooks, particularly those that have customers in the US and Florida, will offer special markets for the super bowl. This gives an even wider range of options than usual. Bettors can be very specific in their choices and have the option to try out new betting types for this significant event in the sporting calendar.

NBA Final

Again, this is a huge event for sports bettors. Anyone who regularly bets on basketball will not miss the opportunity to have their say on the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The teams will play the best-of-seven game series, which will decide the league champion.

This is the biggest basketball event of the year. Similarly to football, many sportsbooks will offer special bet types for this event. The odds for these prestigious events are often very competitive, so make sure you’re getting the best offer for your wager.

World Series

The World Series is the annual championship for Major League Baseball (MLB). It is a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champions and the National League (NL) champions.

This series is played by the best basketball teams from two different leagues. These are extremely competitive matches and so offer huge excitement for baseball bettors. Again, you will often find special markets available for World Series bets.

Florida Top Sports Teams

Florida has teams playing in all major league sports. If you’re interested in betting in Florida, it’s natural to want to show support for your local teams. Here, we’ve given you some more information about the top sports teams in Florida, so you can be sure you’re placing the right bets.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the most notable names in American Football. The Jaguars compete in the NFL, playing their home games at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars originally joined the league as an expansion team in 1995. They were winners of the division championships in 1998, 1999, and 2017. They have also qualified for the playoffs on seven separate occasions.

Orlando City S.C.

Soccer in America has been rising in popularity in recent years. The Orlando City Soccer Club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Orlando City SC began playing in 2015, becoming the first Florida MLS team since Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny.

Miami Heat

Miami Heat is Florida’s top NBA basketball team. They began playing as an expansion team in the 1988-89 NBA season. The team gained notoriety throughout the 1990s under head coach Pat Riley, whose trades brought the team four division titles in the following years. From 2010 until 2016, Miami Heat attended the NBA Finals every year and has won the championship three times.

Payment Methods for Sports Betting in Florida

Individual online sportsbooks will offer various payment methods for placing betting deposits. However, there are a few payment methods found at most casinos. The most popular payment methods are listed below.

Credit or Debit Cards

The most straightforward and most used form of payment for betting sites. Online sportsbooks will usually support fully secure transactions for both VISA and MasterCard.

Bank Transfer

This is again widely available at online sportsbooks. The downside of bank transfers is that they generally take longer than other methods for withdrawal and deposit.

E-wallets

This is an extremely popular form of payment for online sportsbooks. It includes online payment methods, such as Skrill and Neteller. While a lot of sportsbooks support these methods, they are sometimes excluded from deposit offers.

Prepaid cards

The most common of these is Paysafecard, which you can buy in many local stores. It’s worth knowing that this is only available as a deposit method, and can’t be used for withdrawal.

PayPal

Unfortunately, PayPal isn’t available at all online sportsbooks. However, for those that do support it, it’s an extremely reliable and secure method of payment.

Sports Betting in Florida - the Legal Situation

Face-to-face sports betting is illegal in Florida, due to agreements between the state and the Seminole Tribe. However, placing online bets with bookmakers based outside the state is a grey area in the law. You are not breaking any legal statutes by placing online bets on a variety of sports from the state of Florida.