Is Online Gambling Legal In Florida

The ambiguity surrounding online gambling and the law in Florida is aptly illustrated by the controversy surrounding Internet Sweepstakes Cafes operated in the state. To the casual observer, such cafes would seem to clearly be serving as online casinos - but their operators claim to be within the boundaries of Florida law and may have at least. A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld a circuit judge’s decision that what are known as “pre-reveal” games violate laws preventing slot machines in most of Florida.

• Is Online Gambling Legal In Florida
• Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Florida

Much like California, Florida has protected tribal interest which host casinos and gaming operations, but does that mean online gambling is safe in the state of Florida? When the very basic questions about what the legal gambling age in Florida causes confusion, the question of the legalities of online betting really can cause headaches. As a note the legal gambling age in Florida is 18 for pari-mutuel and poker, but 21 to play the slots or other table games. As with anything check with the establishment first, be it physical or online. There are several other things talked about below that you should consider when researching legal gambling in Florida.

While the physical locations in Florida have their set rules, meaning you can either walk in to a casino or a jai-alai arena and play or not, things are different when you get online This is because you can be located in Miami or Jacksonville and bet placing a wager online or playing poker in Nevada. This is the whole confusion and why so many people carry on and play internet gambling without any official federal word about the legalization of it. Why? Because there are no laws specifically saying that it is illegal to do so, hence no-one ever having been penalized for gambling online.

Florida Gambling Overview. No Florida law states that online poker, casino games, or sports betting sites are explicitly illegal. Florida is the south-easternmost state in America and is. Legal online betting in Florida currently includes horse racing betting, greyhound betting and daily fantasy sports. In-person betting options consist of horse racing betting at racetracks, jai alai betting, tribal casinos and cardrooms attached to parimutuel wagering facilities.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Florida

The federal government has been pushed and pushed to make online gambling legal at a federal level, but nothing has ever come out of new bill proposals. So many states, like Nevada, New Jersey and California, are under their own steam in making online gambling legal. The more states that get on-board with online gambling, the safer and more established an overall set of rules will become. So while players may be having hesitations over the safety of online betting in Florida, there is really little to worry about because laws which do exist at the federal level are not intended to go after players sitting at home wagering their money.

Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Florida

Click Here to learn more about Florida Gambling Laws

The clear message sent by the thousands upon thousands of people practicing it anyway, is that, yes it is. The federal government, has two options, either legalize and regulate or do more to ban operations. The laws currently regulating online betting are basically designed to limit the operations of companies offering gaming and sports betting. There is nothing to punish the player, and with the expected growing zeitgeist trending towards eventual legalization, then there should be little fear about proceeding. As a word of note, it is usually less complicated to bet outside of the state that you are in, than betting online internally.

The fear for the federal government is that it is not what the public want and it could lead to higher taxes and more personal debt. But without legalization players can be subjected to scams and that is why it is always worth doing your online casino games, poker or sports betting at a well established and reputable site like Bovada. If you are looking for a by the book online betting site then they should be near the top of your list. Other great recommended options are Betonline and 5Dimes.

Thousands of Americans gamble online. But is online gambling legal? We break it down to show you what you can do, what you can't do, and what's still up in the air.

by Katherine Butler
updated September 03, 2020 · 2min read

The legality of online gambling is ever-changing. But one thing is constant: it makes a lot of money. Online gambling industry makes an estimated $1 billion dollars annually. This is a huge business, and a lot of people have cashed in on it. But it has led to some ambiguous legal issues, as the legality of online gambling is constantly being challenged.

There are differences in the legality of making bets, taking bets, facilitating payments to casinos, and advertising on websites. And there are constantly new legal challenges. So here is a breakdown of the law on online gambling.

Legal Forms of Gambling

There is no federal law against placing a wager online. So, you can legally place a bet online. However, a wager must not be placed on a site located in the United States. There is a small chance players might run afoul of state law, but there is little chance of prosecution. The only case cited where a person got into trouble with a state was in 2003. Jeffrey Trauman of North Dakota paid a $500 fine on over $100,000 of online sports bet winnings.

Sites that are set up outside of the United States are legal. Therefore, gambling on websites located in areas like Australia, the Caribbean, and Latin America is legal. Just be very clear that the site you are playing on is not based on U.S. soil.

Definitely Not Legal Forms of Gambling

It is never legal to gamble on a website based in the United States. Also, if you are planning to operate an online gambling site, stay outside of the United States. You must also deal only with casino and poker wagers (not sports bets) from people in the US. And you cannot take bets over the phone from people in the United States.

Accepting online gambling advertising is also illegal. If you are a small publisher, you are less likely to be prosecuted, but why risk it? As of early 2009, only large and mid-size publishers had faced prosecution. In 2007, the three big search engines (Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft) each paid a fine for accepting online gambling ads, but did not face criminal charges. Other publishers, such as Esquire Magazine, have been warned by the government not to take online gambling advertising.

Facilitating the transfer of funds to online casinos is also a bad idea. As of 2006, it became illegal for American banks to process transactions originating from or directed toward any online gambling operator. Because of this, several sites then refused to take bets from American players. But as the law seems difficult to enforce, it has not turned the tide completely for American players.

Still up in the Air

Advertisers who promote sports books in magazines and on billboards may or may not face prosecution. So far, sports books have never been scrutinized for advertising online. And online casinos, poker rooms, and sports books have never been prosecuted for buying ads.

Online casinos and operators still accept American players. And international financial parties have continued to process their transactions. The legality is always changing and there have been attempts to declare online wagering against the law, but for now, U.S. citizens who simply place bets online are in the clear.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Florida