Can an operator get a licence for online sports betting in Florida?

No. Sports betting and fantasy sports contests are authorised only for the Seminole Tribe under the 2021 Compact and s. 285.710, and the FGCC says Hard Rock Bet is the only lawful online sportsbook. The Tribe may license management contractors that hold a gaming licence from another US state.

Is online casino legal in Florida?

No. Playing games of chance for money is an offence under s. 849.08, the Constitution reserves new casino gambling to citizens' initiatives, and the Senate's 2026 staff analysis states that Hard Rock Bet's sportsbook is the only legal internet gambling in the state.

What does the state receive from sports betting?

A revenue share of 13.75% of the Tribe's sports betting net win, within total Seminole payments of $1.04 billion in fiscal year 2025-26. There is no separate gaming tax on online betting.

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Florida?

The Attorney General says no: in August 2026 he sued Stake and VGW's Chumba Casino, LuckyLand and Global Poker, and their payment processors, alleging illegal gambling. Florida law allows game promotions only alongside the sale of goods or services and without an entry fee (s. 849.094). The cases are undecided.

Is it an offence to bet with an offshore sportsbook?

Yes. Section 849.14 makes staking or receiving a bet on a contest a third-degree felony, and the FGCC warns that bettors with unlicensed offshore websites could face charges.

Were the court challenges to the compact resolved?

The D.C. Circuit upheld the compact's federal approval in June 2023, the Florida Supreme Court denied a quo warranto petition in March 2024 without reaching the merits, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in June 2024.

How much does a gambling licence cost in Florida?

For the Slot machine licence, the annual fee is $2,000,000 (as of 1 Jul 2026). The Licensing section lists all 4 licence types recorded for Florida. Last verified 21 Oct 2026.

Who regulates gambling in Florida?

The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) regulates gambling in Florida. Other authorities with a role include Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission and Florida Attorney General and Office of Statewide Prosecution.

← Back to the regulatory map

Sub-national

North America

Florida (USA): gambling regulation and licensing

State of Florida

Part of United States

Online sports bettingMonopoly
Online casinoProhibited
Online pokerProhibited
Horse race bettingNot yet verified
Daily fantasy sportsMonopoly
Social and sweepstakes casinoProhibited
Land-based (reference)Regulated

Regulator: Florida Gaming Control Commission
Headline tax: 13.75% GGR
Licence required: Yes
Last verified: 21 Oct 2026

Summary

Florida has legal online sports betting but no licensing market for it. The Seminole Tribe of Florida offers sports betting statewide through Hard Rock Bet under the 2021 Gaming Compact, which runs to 31 July 2051, and state law deems every wager placed on a phone anywhere in Florida to be conducted where the Tribe's servers sit on its Indian lands. The Florida Gaming Control Commission, created in 2021 and operating since July 2022, oversees the compact, regulates pari-mutuel wagering, cardrooms and the eight slot machine facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and runs a law enforcement division; the State Lottery sits outside its remit. Every other form of online gambling is closed. The Commission says Hard Rock Bet is the only lawful online sportsbook, a Senate staff analysis states it is the only legal online gambling of any kind, and betting on a contest with anyone else is a third-degree felony for bettor and bookmaker alike (s. 849.14). Instead of a tax, the Tribe pays the state a share of net win: 13.75% on sports betting and 12% to 25% on slots and table games. Receipts reached $1.04 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Pari-mutuel slot revenue is taxed at 34% from 1 July 2026, and cardroom gross receipts at 5%. Enforcement is the live front. The Commission seized 6,725 illegal slot machines in 2025, and in August 2026 the Attorney General sued Stake and VGW's sweepstakes casinos and their payment processors. A 2026 bill to make internet gambling a specific felony passed both chambers in different versions and died.

Common pitfalls

Florida has legal online sports betting but no route to a state licence: the product is a tribal exclusivity under a compact, so operator counts and tax rates are not comparable with New Jersey or Ohio. The 13.75% is a compact revenue share on the Tribe's net win, not a statutory tax. The courts upheld the compact's federal approval and declined to hear state constitutional challenges on procedural grounds; no court has ruled on the merits of the state-law "deeming" provision, and Justice Kavanaugh flagged equal protection concerns. The slot revenue figure in the market data covers only the eight pari-mutuel facilities; the Tribe does not publish its net win.

Key facts

Regulator: Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC)
Regulator type: Sub-national body
Headline tax: 13.75% GGR
Licence required: Yes
Minimum age: 21+
Tax base: There is no state tax on online gambling. The 13.75% figure is the revenue share the Seminole Tribe pays the state on its net win from sports betting under Part XI of the 2021 Compact (10% on net win from patrons using software branded by a qualified pari-mutuel permitholder). Slots, raffles and drawings pay 12% of net win up to $2 billion, rising in bands to 25% above $3.5 billion; table games pay 15% up to $1 billion, rising to 25% above $2 billion, per revenue sharing cycle (October to September). Land-based pari-mutuel slot facilities pay 34% of slot machine revenues from 1 July 2026, and cardrooms 5% of monthly gross receipts.
Capital: Tallahassee
Currency: USD
Official languages: English

How to get a gambling license in Florida

Online sports betting in Florida is a state monopoly: only a single state-owned or designated operator is permitted.

The regulator is the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC).

We record 4 licence types for Florida.

For the Slot machine licence, the annual fee is $2,000,000 (as of 1 Jul 2026).

Applications: Closed at present
Headline tax: 13.75% GGR (see Taxation for the full position)

Licence fees in Florida

Licence type	Application fee	Annual fee	Term
Slot machine licenceNonrefundable annual licence fee of $2 million; thoroughbred permitholders exempt from 1 July 2025, and from 1 July 2026 permitholders barred by the Constitution from live racing in a county with at least two Seminole casinos also exempt. Plus a $250,000 annual compulsive gambling programme fee and the 34% revenue tax.	Not yet verified	$2,000,000 (as of 1 Jul 2026)	12 months

Built from the record on this page, last verified 21 Oct 2026. The Licensing and Taxation sections carry the full detail and sources.

Legal framework

Primary statutes

Constitution of the State of Florida, article X, sections 7, 15, 23, 30 and 32
Year
1968
In force
Yes
Summary
Section 7 prohibits lotteries other than pari-mutuel pools authorised when the 1968 Constitution took effect. Section 15 (1986) allows state-operated lotteries. Section 23 (2004) allowed Miami-Dade and Broward counties to approve slot machines at existing pari-mutuel facilities by referendum. Section 30 (2018) makes a citizens' initiative the only way to authorise casino gambling, while preserving tribal compacts under IGRA. Section 32 (2018) bans greyhound racing and wagering on it after 31 December 2020.
Florida Statutes chapter 849, Gambling
In force
Yes
Summary
The criminal code for gambling: keeping a gambling house (s. 849.01), playing games of chance for money (s. 849.08), lotteries and their promotion or advertisement (s. 849.09), betting on contests of skill, speed or endurance (s. 849.14, third-degree felony) and slot machines (s. 849.15). It also sets the conditions for cardrooms (s. 849.086), penny-ante games, bingo, charitable drawings and game promotions (s. 849.094).
Florida Statutes s. 285.710, Compact authorization
Year
2021
In force
Yes
Summary
Ratifies the 2021 Gaming Compact (executed 23 April 2021, amended 17 May 2021), designates the FGCC as state compliance agency, authorises the Tribe's covered games including fantasy sports contests and sports betting from anywhere in the state, deemed conducted on Indian lands, sets 21 as the minimum age, and allocates 3% of the Tribe's payments to local governments. The compact is void if its provisions on covered games, revenue sharing or exclusivity are held invalid.
Florida Statutes ss. 16.71 to 16.718, Florida Gaming Control Commission
Year
2021
In force
Yes
Summary
Enacted by ch. 2021-269. Creates the five-member Commission within the Department of Legal Affairs but independent of it, gives it all regulatory and executive powers of the state over gambling except the lottery, creates the Division of Gaming Enforcement with sworn officers, and requires an annual report by 1 December.
Florida Statutes chapter 551, Slot Machines
Year
2005
In force
Yes
Summary
Implements art. X s. 23: slot machine licences for eligible pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, an annual licence fee, the tax on slot machine revenues (34% from 1 July 2026), an 85% minimum payout, a minimum player age of 21 and a compulsive gambling prevention programme funded by a $250,000 annual fee per licensee.
Florida Statutes chapter 550, Pari-mutuel Wagering
In force
Yes
Summary
Permits, operating licences and taxes on handle for horse racing and jai alai; the FGCC's Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering administers it.

Secondary instruments

2021 Gaming Compact Between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida
Year
2021
In force
Yes
Summary
Authorises the Tribe's covered games, including sports betting, and sets revenue share payments on net win (Part XI): 13.75% on sports betting (10% on wagers through software branded by a qualified pari-mutuel permitholder), 12% to 25% on slots and 15% to 25% on table games in bands, with a guaranteed minimum of $2.5 billion over the first five revenue sharing cycles. If the state allows anyone else to offer online gaming, the Tribe may offer the same form statewide (Part XVIII.B). The compact became effective on publication in the Federal Register on 11 August 2021 and terminates on 31 July 2051 (Part XVI).
Florida Administrative Code chapters 75-2 to 75-15 (pari-mutuel wagering, cardrooms and slot machine operations)
In force
Yes
Summary
FGCC rules for pari-mutuel permits, occupational licensing, auditing, cardroom operations (75-11) and slot machine operations (75-14). The FGCC held information-gathering sessions on possible cardroom rule changes in March to May 2026.
31 CFR Part 1021, Rules for Casinos and Card Clubs (federal Bank Secrecy Act)
In force
Yes
Summary
Applies to casinos and card clubs licensed under state law or IGRA with gross annual gaming revenue over $1 million: AML programme, currency transaction reports over $10,000 and suspicious activity reports at $5,000.

Key amendments

17 May 2021The compact executed on 23 April 2021 is amended; the legislature ratifies it by ch. 2021-268 and creates the FGCC by ch. 2021-269. The amendment deleted the clause on negotiating online casino games within 36 months.
11 Aug 2021The compact takes effect on publication of its approval by operation of law in the Federal Register (86 Fed. Reg. 44,037).
1 Jul 2022The Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering transfers from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to the FGCC.
1 Jul 2025Cardroom tax cut from 10% to 8% of monthly gross receipts, and thoroughbred permitholders exempted from the annual slot licence fee (ch. 2025-208).
1 Jul 2026Slot machine revenue tax cut from 35% to 34%, cardroom tax cut from 8% to 5%, and certain slot licensees in counties with at least two Seminole casinos exempted from the annual licence fee (ch. 2026-239).
1 Jul 2026SB 168 (ch. 2026-145) adds the site of a gambling house to the places that may be declared a public nuisance and removes the cap on nuisance fines.

Case law

West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland, No. 21-5265 (D.C. Cir.), 71 F.4th 1059
30 Jun 2023
Reversed the district court decision that had set aside the compact and remanded with instructions to enter judgment for the Secretary of the Interior. The court held that IGRA governs only gaming on Indian lands, that the compact authorises the Tribe's on-reservation activity, and that whether off-reservation wagers are lawful is a question of state law outside the Secretary's review; the Wire Act, UIGEA and Fifth Amendment challenges failed.
West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland, No. 23A315 and No. 23-862 (U.S. Supreme Court)
17 Jun 2024
The Court denied a stay on 25 October 2023, Justice Kavanaugh noting that a state law authorising only the Tribe to conduct off-reservation gaming would raise serious equal protection issues, and denied certiorari on 17 June 2024.
West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. DeSantis, No. SC2023-1333 (Fla.)
21 Mar 2024
Denied a petition for a writ of quo warranto arguing that statewide mobile sports betting under the compact breaches art. X s. 30 of the Constitution, because quo warranto cannot be used to test the substantive constitutionality of an enacted law. The court did not rule on the merits.

Licensing

Licence required: Yes
Application window: Closed
Local establishment required: Not yet verified
Local server required: Not yet verified
Active licences: 8 (as of 23 Sept 2026)
Certification requirements: Slot facilities must keep a payout percentage of at least 85% and give the Commission and the Department of Law Enforcement real-time access to their computer systems (s. 551.104(4)). Cardrooms may not use electronic devices other than mechanical shufflers or offer banking games (s. 849.086(12)).
Barriers to entry: There is no licence for any form of online gambling: sports betting and fantasy sports are reserved to the Seminole Tribe by the compact, and any new casino gambling needs a citizens' initiative (art. X s. 30). The FGCC states that opening a new legal gambling business is generally prohibited, and cardroom and slot licences are limited to pari-mutuel permitholders that held an operating licence for fiscal year 2020-21. The count of 8 is the non-tribal slot machine licensees stated by the FGCC. The Tribe may license management contractors only if they are licensed to conduct gaming by another US state regulator (2021 Compact).

Licence types

Slot machine licence
Scope
Slot machine gaming at eligible pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties only
Term
12 months
Annual fee
$2,000,000 as of 1 Jul 2026
Fee basis
Nonrefundable annual licence fee of $2 million; thoroughbred permitholders exempt from 1 July 2025, and from 1 July 2026 permitholders barred by the Constitution from live racing in a county with at least two Seminole casinos also exempt. Plus a $250,000 annual compulsive gambling programme fee and the 34% revenue tax.
Renewal terms
Annual, on the anniversary of the initial licence; not transferable.
Cardroom licence
Scope
Non-banking poker and dominoes at a pari-mutuel facility
Fee basis
Tax of 5% of monthly gross receipts from 1 July 2026, plus an admission tax where a separate admission fee is charged.
Pari-mutuel permit and annual operating licence
Scope
Horse racing and jai alai wagering at licensed tracks and frontons
Term
Annual operating licence
Fee basis
Taxes on handle under s. 550.0951
Occupational licences (pari-mutuel, cardroom and slot machine)
Scope
Employees, managers, suppliers and service companies at licensed facilities
Term
Same term as a pari-mutuel occupational licence, or 3 years on full payment
Fee basis
Slot occupational fees set by rule, capped at $50 for employee licences and $1,000 for business licences

Taxation

Headline GGR tax: 13.75% GGR
Effective date: 11 Aug 2021
Player winnings tax: Florida levies no personal income tax (Constitution art. VII s. 5). Gambling winnings are federal taxable income, and payers issue Form W-2G for certain winnings.
Withholding mechanism: Federal withholding applies to certain gambling winnings under the Form W-2G rules.
Tax base: There is no state tax on online gambling. The 13.75% figure is the revenue share the Seminole Tribe pays the state on its net win from sports betting under Part XI of the 2021 Compact (10% on net win from patrons using software branded by a qualified pari-mutuel permitholder). Slots, raffles and drawings pay 12% of net win up to $2 billion, rising in bands to 25% above $3.5 billion; table games pay 15% up to $1 billion, rising to 25% above $2 billion, per revenue sharing cycle (October to September). Land-based pari-mutuel slot facilities pay 34% of slot machine revenues from 1 July 2026, and cardrooms 5% of monthly gross receipts.

Earmarked levies

Seminole Tribe revenue share payments: 13.75% of sports betting net win; 12% to 25% of slot and 15% to 25% of table game net win; guaranteed minimum of $1.5 billion by the end of the third and $2.5 billion by the end of the fifth revenue sharing cycle (General Revenue Fund; 3% distributed to local governments near the Tribe's casinos (s. 285.710(9) to (11)))
Tax on slot machine revenues: 34% from 1 July 2026 (35% before) (Educational Enhancement Trust Fund)
Cardroom gross receipts tax: 5% of monthly gross receipts from 1 July 2026 (10% before 1 July 2025, 8% in 2025-26) (Half to the Pari-mutuel Wagering Trust Fund, half to the General Revenue Fund)
Compulsive or addictive gambling prevention fee: $250,000 per slot machine licensee per year (FGCC-contracted prevention programme and helpline)

Compliance

Minimum age: 21+
National self-exclusion: Not yet verified
AML regime: Federal Bank Secrecy Act rules for casinos and card clubs (31 CFR Part 1021). The FGCC evaluates reports of abnormal betting, match fixing and suspicious or illegal wagering, including the use of illicit funds, and notifies law enforcement and the Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission (s. 16.712(1)(e)).
AML supervisor: FinCEN (federal); the FGCC for sports betting integrity reports
Deposit limits: No statutory limit. The FGCC states that Hard Rock Bet provides deposit limits, self-exclusion and activity tracking tools.
Source of funds thresholds: Currency transaction reports for cash transactions of more than $10,000 in a gaming day; suspicious activity reports for transactions of at least $5,000 (31 CFR 1021.311 and 1021.320).
Central monitoring system: Slot facilities must give the FGCC and the Department of Law Enforcement continuous real-time access to their facilities-based computer systems, with power to suspend play (s. 551.104(4)(f)).
KYC requirements: No state online KYC regime exists because only the Tribe offers online betting, under its own rules reviewed by the FGCC (s. 16.712(1)(d)). Casinos, including tribal casinos, with gross annual gaming revenue over $1 million must run a federal AML programme that includes verifying customer identity when required (31 CFR 1021.210). Slot machine play is limited to people aged 21 or over (s. 551.113) and cardroom play to people aged 18 or over (s. 849.086(12)(b)).
Stake limits: Not yet verified
Mandatory player messaging: Slot licensees must work with the compulsive gambling prevention programme, whose advertising for the state helpline must appear publicly and inside slot areas (s. 551.118). The state helpline is 1-833-PLAYWISE.
Reporting obligations: Slot licensees file monthly reports under oath and keep daily records for five years (s. 551.104); the Tribe provides audited net win figures for revenue sharing (Compact Part XI); federal CTRs and SARs to FinCEN.
Game content restrictions: Outside tribal land, banked games are prohibited in cardrooms, which may offer only poker and dominoes, and slot machines are lawful only at the eight licensed pari-mutuel facilities. Slot machines must pay out at least 85%, including at Seminole casinos under the compact.

Minimum age by vertical

Online sports betting: 21+
Daily fantasy sports: 21+

Advertising

Advertising permitted: Not yet verified
Affiliate rules: Affiliates are not licensed. Anyone who aids, assists, abets or influences betting on a contest outside the compact commits a third-degree felony under s. 849.14.
Celebrity and influencer rules: No specific rule. The Attorney General's August 2026 complaints cite celebrity and influencer campaigns by sweepstakes casinos as part of their alleged deceptive marketing.
Bonus advertising rules: The FGCC treats deposit matches, giveaways and sign-up bonuses offered by unlicensed operators as illegal lotteries (s. 849.09).
Penalties for breach: Lottery advertising: third-degree felony, up to five years and a fine up to $5,000 (s. 849.09(2)).

Restrictions

No state advertising code for gambling exists. The FGCC may propose consumer protection measures on the advertising and marketing of sports betting to the Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission (s. 16.712(1)(d)).
Advertising a lottery is a third-degree felony (s. 849.09(1)(c) and (2)). The FGCC told offshore operators in February 2025 that deposit-matching promotions, cash giveaways and sign-up bonuses offered to Florida residents are illegal lotteries whose promotion or advertisement is a felony.
Game promotion (sweepstakes) operators may not publish false, deceptive or misleading advertising and must publish the rules in advertising copy (s. 849.094).
SB 1580 (2026), which would have created a specific felony for making or disseminating advertisements for illegal gambling (proposed s. 849.48), died on 13 March 2026.

Payments

Credit card ban: Not yet verified
Crypto stance: Not yet verified
Payment blocking regime: No payment blocking list. By June 2026 the Attorney General had notified payment processors, including Visa, that facilitating illegal online gaming may implicate Florida's RICO Act, and his August 2026 lawsuits against sweepstakes casino operators also name their payment processors. Knowingly becoming the custodian or depositary of money bet on a contest is itself an offence under s. 849.14.

Enforcement

ISP blocking: Not yet verified
DNS blocking: Not yet verified
Payment blocking: Not yet verified
App store takedowns: Not yet verified
Administrative penalties: The FGCC may deny, suspend, revoke or refuse to renew licences; a slot licensee that fails to pay tax faces up to $10,000 for each day of delay (s. 551.106(4)).
Criminal penalties: Betting or receiving bets on a contest (s. 849.14) and conducting, promoting or advertising a lottery (s. 849.09): third-degree felony, up to five years and a fine up to $5,000. Keeping a gambling house (s. 849.01) and playing a game of chance for money (s. 849.08): second-degree misdemeanour, up to 60 days and a fine up to $500.
Operator liability: Offshore sportsbooks and casinos serving Florida commit felonies under ss. 849.14 and 849.09 and offences under ss. 849.08 and 849.15, as the FGCC set out in its February 2025 cease-and-desist letters. The Division of Gaming Enforcement has 18 sworn officers with powers of arrest, warrantless inspection of gaming premises and seizure, and refers cases to state attorneys or the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
Player liability: Playing a game of chance for money is a second-degree misdemeanour (s. 849.08), and staking a bet on a contest outside the compact falls within the third-degree felony in s. 849.14. The FGCC warns that bettors with illegal bookmakers or unlicensed offshore websites could face charges.

Notable actions

Action Arcade and The Zoo Sports Club and Grille, St. Petersburg (Operation Final Spin)10 Sept 2026
163 illegal slot machines and $247,285 seized; three people issued notices to appear
Stake and VGW (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand, Global Poker) and their payment processors19 Aug 2026
Attorney General filed two lawsuits in Hillsborough County Circuit Court alleging illegal online gambling and breaches of the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, seeking injunctions, recovery of player losses, disgorgement and civil penalties
Illegal gaming operations in Lee and Collier counties10 Jun 2026
479 machines and $294,150 seized, 11 arrests; 3,114 machines, $1.7 million and 81 arrests statewide in 2026 to that date
Illegal slot machine arcades statewide (2025 totals)30 Dec 2025
6,725 illegal slot machines and $14,474,336 seized in 2025, against 1,287 machines and $7,110,613 in 2024
BetUS (Milvus Ltc), Bovada (Harp Media B.V.) and MyBookie (Gaming Services Provider, N.V.)3 Feb 2025
FGCC cease-and-desist letters demanding they stop offering sports, racing and casino wagering in Florida
DraftKings, Inc., CEO Jason Robins and GUS III LLC (DraftKings Predictions)8 Oct 2026
The Seminole Tribe sues in Broward County circuit court under s. 546.10(8), Fla. Stat., alleging that DraftKings Predictions sports contracts and Pick6 are illegal gambling outside the compact. It seeks an injunction, disgorgement and fees, with a Florida RICO count against Robins.

Market data

Figures on this record are drawn from official regulator data.

Online GGR: Not yet verified
Reporting year: 2026

GGR by vertical

Land-based (reference): $706,312,361 as of 30 Jun 2026

Timeline

2004
Voters approve art. X s. 23, allowing Miami-Dade and Broward counties to authorise slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities
2018
Voters adopt art. X s. 30, reserving any expansion of casino gambling to citizens' initiatives, and art. X s. 32, banning greyhound racing
23 Apr 2021
Governor and Seminole Tribe execute the 2021 Gaming Compact, amended 17 May 2021 and ratified by the Legislature
11 Aug 2021
Compact takes effect on publication in the Federal Register
1 Jul 2022
Florida Gaming Control Commission begins operating with the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering
30 Jun 2023
D.C. Circuit upholds the Secretary of the Interior's approval of the compact in West Flagler v. Haaland
25 Oct 2023
U.S. Supreme Court denies West Flagler's application for a stay
7 Nov 2023
Seminole Tribe relaunches Hard Rock Bet mobile sports betting in Florida, at first for existing customers
Jan 2024
Revenue share payments under the 2021 Compact resume, the first since February 2022
21 Mar 2024
Florida Supreme Court denies West Flagler's quo warranto petition
17 Jun 2024
U.S. Supreme Court denies certiorari in West Flagler v. Haaland
3 Feb 2025
FGCC sends cease-and-desist letters to BetUS, Bovada and MyBookie
1 Jul 2025
Cardroom tax falls from 10% to 8%
13 Mar 2026
SB 1580, the illegal gaming bill, dies in returning messages
1 Jul 2026
Slot revenue tax falls to 34% and cardroom tax to 5%
7 Aug 2026
Revenue Estimating Conference records $1.04 billion of Seminole revenue share for 2025-26
19 Aug 2026
Attorney General sues Stake, VGW and their payment processors over sweepstakes casinos
8 Oct 2026
Seminole Tribe sues DraftKings, its CEO and DraftKings Predictions in Broward County, alleging an illegal sportsbook outside the compact
31 Jul 2051
The 2021 Gaming Compact terminates

Outlook

The Attorney General's August 2026 suits against Stake, VGW and their payment processors will test whether dual-currency sweepstakes casinos are illegal gambling under Florida law. The 2026 session ended without a new internet gambling offence after SB 1580 died in returning messages; no gambling bill had been filed for the 2027 session by 23 September 2026. The Legislature's revenue estimators forecast Seminole revenue share of $1.14 billion in fiscal year 2026-27, 9.1% up on 2025-26, driven by sports betting. The FGCC is reviewing its cardroom rules and plans a new enforcement squad in Southwest Florida. Two new fronts opened in the autumn. On 25 September 2026 the Attorney General gave Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok until 23 October to say how they will stop promoting the sweepstakes sites he has sued. On 8 October 2026 the Seminole Tribe sued DraftKings in Broward County, alleging that its prediction-market sports contracts and Pick6 are illegal gambling outside the compact.

Frequently asked questions

Can an operator get a licence for online sports betting in Florida?: No. Sports betting and fantasy sports contests are authorised only for the Seminole Tribe under the 2021 Compact and s. 285.710, and the FGCC says Hard Rock Bet is the only lawful online sportsbook. The Tribe may license management contractors that hold a gaming licence from another US state.
Is online casino legal in Florida?: No. Playing games of chance for money is an offence under s. 849.08, the Constitution reserves new casino gambling to citizens' initiatives, and the Senate's 2026 staff analysis states that Hard Rock Bet's sportsbook is the only legal internet gambling in the state.
What does the state receive from sports betting?: A revenue share of 13.75% of the Tribe's sports betting net win, within total Seminole payments of $1.04 billion in fiscal year 2025-26. There is no separate gaming tax on online betting.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Florida?: The Attorney General says no: in August 2026 he sued Stake and VGW's Chumba Casino, LuckyLand and Global Poker, and their payment processors, alleging illegal gambling. Florida law allows game promotions only alongside the sale of goods or services and without an entry fee (s. 849.094). The cases are undecided.
Is it an offence to bet with an offshore sportsbook?: Yes. Section 849.14 makes staking or receiving a bet on a contest a third-degree felony, and the FGCC warns that bettors with unlicensed offshore websites could face charges.
Were the court challenges to the compact resolved?: The D.C. Circuit upheld the compact's federal approval in June 2023, the Florida Supreme Court denied a quo warranto petition in March 2024 without reaching the merits, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in June 2024.
How much does a gambling licence cost in Florida?: For the Slot machine licence, the annual fee is $2,000,000 (as of 1 Jul 2026). The Licensing section lists all 4 licence types recorded for Florida. Last verified 21 Oct 2026.
Who regulates gambling in Florida?: The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) regulates gambling in Florida. Other authorities with a role include Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission and Florida Attorney General and Office of Statewide Prosecution.

Glossary and directory

Glossary terms for this profile

iGT coverage of Florida (USA)

A betting app on a phone beside rolls of dollar bills and a football

Regulatory

3 Nov 2026

Louisiana Class Action Calls FanDuel and DraftKings Apps Defective Products

Three New Orleans bettors, two of them heavy parlay players, have asked a Louisiana court to treat the FanDuel and DraftKings apps as defective products. The petition also names the two casinos whose licences the apps operate under, a choice that may keep the case out of federal court.

Crypto

10 Aug 2025

US Crypto Firms Still Face 'Debanking' Despite Pro-Industry White House

Despite a change in the US administration and a decidedly pro-crypto tone from the White House, American digital asset firms report they are still being

Sources

Source tiers. Tier 1: the law, official gazette, licence register or regulator itself. Tier 2: other official sources such as ministries, parliaments, courts and statistics agencies. Tier 3: established trade press, used to find and date the primary source. Only tier 1 and tier 2 sources can support a fact on their own.

Florida Gaming Control Commission website (mission, divisions, compact oversight, Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission appeals)
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
About the Commission: commissioners and executive director
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (legal gambling, slot machines, cardrooms, online sports wagering and fantasy sports)
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Division of Gaming Enforcement
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Statutes and Rules (index of governing statutes, the 2021 Gaming Compact and Florida Administrative Code chapters 75-2 to 75-15)
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
2021 Gaming Compact Between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida (executed 23 April 2021), scanned copy
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 23 Apr 2021
Florida Gaming Control Commission Demands Overseas Bookmakers and Casinos Cease Their Illegal Online Gambling Operations in Florida
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 3 Feb 2025
Florida Gaming Control Commission Urges Smart Choices as Football Seasons Kick Off
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 14 Sept 2026
Florida Gaming Control Commission Celebrates Four Years of Protecting Floridians
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 16 Jul 2026
Florida Gaming Control Commission Investigation Tames "The Zoo" (Operation Final Spin)
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 15 Sept 2026
Florida Gaming Control Commission Doubles Down on Illegal Gambling (2025 seizure totals)
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 30 Dec 2025
FGCC Hosts Cardroom Rule Discussions (chapter 75-11, Florida Administrative Code)
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 19 Mar 2026
Monthly Slot Activity per Facility, FY 2025/2026 (updated 15 July 2026)
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 15 Jul 2026
Cardroom Gross Receipts From Regular Play and Tournament Play, Fiscal Year 2025/2026
Florida Gaming Control Commission
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Constitution of the State of Florida, art. X ss. 7, 15, 23, 30 and 32, and art. VII s. 5
The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Florida Statutes s. 285.710 (compact authorization)
The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Florida Statutes ss. 16.71 to 16.712 (Florida Gaming Control Commission; Division of Gaming Enforcement)
The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Florida Statutes chapter 849, Gambling (ss. 849.01, 849.08, 849.09, 849.094, 849.14, 849.15)
The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Florida Statutes s. 849.086 (cardrooms authorized)
The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Florida Statutes chapter 551, Slot Machines (ss. 551.104, 551.106, 551.107, 551.113, 551.118)
The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Chapter 2025-208, Laws of Florida (HB 7031, taxation), approved 30 June 2025
Florida Department of State (laws.flrules.org)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 30 Jun 2025
Chapter 2026-239, Laws of Florida (HB 7031-E, taxation), approved 29 June 2026
Florida Department of State (laws.flrules.org)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 29 Jun 2026
CS/CS/SB 1580 (2026), Illegal Gaming: bill history
The Florida Senate
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Bill Analysis and Fiscal Impact Statement, CS/SB 1580 (Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government)
The Florida Senate
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 24 Feb 2026
SB 168 (2026), Public Nuisances (Chapter 2026-145)
The Florida Senate
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Bill search, 2026 session, "gambling" (11 bills) and 2027 session (no bills found)
The Florida Senate
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland, No. 21-5265 (D.C. Cir. 30 June 2023), 71 F.4th 1059
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Archived copy
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 30 Jun 2023
West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland, No. 23A315, order denying stay and statement of Justice Kavanaugh
Supreme Court of the United States
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 25 Oct 2023
Docket No. 23-862, West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Haaland (certiorari denied 17 June 2024)
Supreme Court of the United States
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 17 Jun 2024
West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. DeSantis, No. SC2023-1333 (Fla. 21 March 2024)
Supreme Court of Florida
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 21 Mar 2024
Revenue Estimating Conference, Indian Gaming Revenues, Executive Summary, 7 August 2026
Office of Economic and Demographic Research, The Florida Legislature
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 7 Aug 2026
Revenue Estimating Conference, Indian Gaming Revenues, Adopted Forecast with revised monthlies and historical receipts, August 2026
Office of Economic and Demographic Research, The Florida Legislature
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 7 Aug 2026
Attorney General James Uthmeier Files Lawsuits Against Operators of Illegal Online Casinos
Office of the Attorney General of Florida
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 19 Aug 2026
Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Illegal Gaming Enforcement Operation Results; Setting Pace for Record Year
Office of the Attorney General of Florida
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 10 Jun 2026
31 CFR Part 1021, Rules for Casinos and Card Clubs (ss. 1021.210, 1021.311, 1021.320)
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (FinCEN rules)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
31 CFR 1010.100, definition of casino (including casinos authorised under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act)
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (FinCEN rules)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Topic no. 419, Gambling income and losses
Internal Revenue Service
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
Seminole Tribe of Florida v. DraftKings, Inc. et al., Broward County Circuit Court, complaint (8 October 2026)
Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County (copy published by InGame)
Tier 2Accessed 21 Oct 2026Published 8 Oct 2026
Online sports betting returns to Florida in a limited capacity with Hard Rock Bet (FOX 35 Orlando, 7 November 2023)
FOX 35 Orlando
Tier 3Accessed 21 Oct 2026Published 7 Nov 2023