What potential future updates on online casinos in Florida can the state expect?
The most recent legislative updates in the state of Florida around gambling are related to Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) sites. As it stands, the only legal sports betting allowed in Florida is through the Hard Rock Betting app and through in-person sports betting at tribal casinos.
- The Florida Gaming Control Commission sent cease-and-desist letters to several DFS sites operating in the state, such as PrizePicks, Underdog, and Betr. Out of these, only PrizePicks has ceased their operations in the state, starting March 1st, 2024.
- Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen has claimed that the company would be open to welcoming more sportsbooks in Florida.
Currently, there are no major legislations on the horizon to legalize online casinos. So if you were eagerly waiting for real money online casino in Florida with
no deposit bonuses, your best bet would be to try out sweepstakes casinos, where you can find plenty of no-deposit bonuses and a chance to win real prizes, including the chance to redeem cash prizes.
Is it legal to play at online casinos in Florida?
Florida, the sunshine state, known for its stunning beaches in the United States, has seen a lot of shifts in the state government’s stance towards gambling and regulating gambling. However, the state's public opinion has mostly favored allowing different forms of gambling formats.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission, which was created in May 2021 through Senate Bill 4, is the main authority that is responsible for regulating gambling in the state. Most of the gambling provisions can be found in Chapter 849 of the 2021 Florida Statutes.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/Chapter849/All. It says in this chapter:
849.08 Gambling.—Whoever plays or engages in any game at cards, keno, roulette, faro or other game of chance, at any place, by any device whatever, for money or other thing of value, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
However, there are a few exceptions to that. Below are the gambling formats that are considered legal in Florida:
- Tribal casinos
- State lottery
- Poker card rooms
- Sports betting (through Hard Rock Bet exclusively)
- Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing
- Penny-ante games
If you are wondering what a penny-ante game is, the law describes it as the following:
Penny-ante game means a game or series of games of poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes, or mah-jongg in which the winnings of any player in a single round, hand, or game do not exceed $10 in value.
If you are looking for real money online casinos in Florida with no deposit bonuses, you won’t find them. That’s because real-money online casinos are not legal in Florida as of yet. Florida
Sweepstakes casinos
are the primary alternative to real-money casinos, but we’ll get to that soon.
Florida
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Florida?
- Are sweepstakes casinos allowed:
Yes
- Relevant legal code:
Chapter 849.094 of the Florida Statutes: ‘Game promotion in connection with sale of consumer products or services.'
- Any special restrictions:
Yes, casinos cap prizes at $5000
- Legal age of participation:
18
Source:
Chapter 849.094 of the Florida Statutes: ‘Game promotion in connection with sale of consumer products or services.'
Florida allows sweepstakes casinos to operate. However, the state has additional restrictions regarding prizes exceeding $5000.
Prizes in excess of $5000 require the operator to register the promotion with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as per the terms and conditions. The operator also needs to set up a trust account.
In order to avoid these restrictions, sweeps casinos limit Florida players from winning more than $5000.
How have gambling laws evolved in the state of Florida?
Online casinos in Florida and legislation surrounding kicked in much later than traditional gambling. Before that, tribal casinos, horse racing, and other traditional forms of gambling captured much of the public and legal discourse in the state.
We've summarized the main developments in the state around gambling laws:
1930s Horse Racing and Dog Racing laws
Florida was ahead of its time and was one of the first states with legal dog racing tracks. Betting on horse racing and dog racing was legal until 2018, which is when the state banned greyhound racing. Horse racing continues to remain legal in the state.
Bingo was legalized in the state of Florida but the state set some limits on winnings. A major casino gambling regulation was rejected but during this time, the state, for the first time, allowed the start of a legal state lottery based on Florida Amendment 5.
Florida finally legalized poker at pari-mutuel sites in 1996. To host any pari-mutuel wagering operations, you need to have a license from the state. In 2003, a $2 limit was set on pari-mutuel gaming, which was later raised to $5 in 2007 and then $10. During this period, slot machines were also reallowed in pari-mutuel sites in Broward County and Miami-Dade County, after they were banned in the 30s.
The state reached a 1-billion deal with the Seminole Tribe to give them the exclusive rights to offer slot machines and table games. Sports betting was also made legal post-2019, but Hard Rock Bet is the sole sports betting site that is legal in Florida.
Is it legal to play at sweepstakes casinos in Florida?
Sweepstakes laws in Florida are primarily enshrined in
Chapter 849.094 of the Florida Statutes:
‘Game promotion in connection with sale of consumer products or services.’According to this chapter, operators can offer sweepstakes games in Florida as long as they comply with the limitations placed on them by law.
The following limitations apply to all ‘Operators’, which refer to Florida sweepstakes casinos:
- Operators cannot ‘design, engage in, promote, or conduct such a game promotion’ where the winner is predetermined or the game is rigged.
- Operators cannot remove, disqualify, disallow, or reject any entry arbitrarily without offering a just explanation.
- Operators cannot fail to deliver the prizes promised in the sweepstakes.
- Operators cannot ‘print, publish, or circulate literature or advertising material used in connection with such game promotions’ that is misleading or deceptive.
- Operators cannot make any form of payment mandatory to play sweepstakes games.
As you can see, Florida’s sweepstakes rules are designed to protect players participating in and playing sweepstakes in the state. You should never have to purchase anything to enter sweepstakes casinos and the sweepstakes casinos operating in Florida will have a responsibility to ensure fair and free game options.
Are sweepstakes casinos operating in the state of Florida licensed?
As we mentioned,
sweepstakes casinos can operate legally
in the state of Florida, as long as they comply with all of Florida’s sweepstakes rules, outlined in the section above. There is no need to secure a separate license to be able to offer sweepstakes games to residents of the state.
However, if a sweepstakes casino has any game promotions where the total announced value of prizes is greater than $5,000, the sweepstakes casino will have to file a copy of the rules and regulations of that game promotion with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services . They'll also need to list out all prizes being offered at least 7 days before the start of the game promotion. The rules and regulations can't be modified thereafter.
How do you know which sweepstakes casinos to trust?
If you are interested in trying out Florida sweepstakes casinos but are worried about scam sites, here’s a simple checklist for what you should be looking out for.
- Never sign up on a site that asks you to make a purchase in order to access the sweepstakes games. According to the law, no purchase can be made necessary to enter a sweepstakes.
- Check the reviews of the sweepstakes casinos you are considering on platforms like Reddit and Trustpilot, where other players candidly share their experiences of playing on those sites.
- If you want to find out more information about sweepstakes casinos, you can check out the various sweepstakes casino reviews we publish on our website. These reviews will give you all the information you need to make a decision about the site.
No-deposit bonus wagering requirements in Florida
Considering there are no online casinos in Florida that are legal yet, we recommend trying out sweepstakes casinos as they have plenty of no-deposit bonuses for players.
Sign up and claim the welcome bonus; no deposit is required.
If you are signing up at a good sweepstakes casino in Florida, you're bound to find a welcome bonus waiting for you. For example, Stake.us offers a welcome bonus of 55 Stake Cash and 250,000 GC to all
new sweepstakes casino
players on the site.
You won’t be able to redeem the coins on the site immediately though, since there is a 1x playthrough requirement for SC before redemption.
Some of the easiest no-deposit bonuses you'll find on sweepstakes casinos include
daily login bonuses, social media giveaways, and mail-in bonuses. The first bonus is offered to players for simply logging in once a day.
For example, you can get 1,500 Gold Coins and 0.20 Sweepstakes Coins per day, by simply logging into McLuck Casino. All coins received as part of these bonuses come with playthrough requirements, which you should review in advance.
| Sweepstakes Casino | No-deposit bonus | Playthrough requirements |
| McLuck | 27.5 Free SC + Up to 57.500 GC | SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 75 SC for cash, 10 SC for gift card |
| Stake US | 25 SC + 250,000 GC | Must play through 3x before redemption |
| High 5 Casino | 5 SC Free + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds | SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC for a gift card, 100 SC for cash prizes |
| WOW Vegas | 35 SC Free and 1.75M WOW Coins | SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Zula Casino | Get 10 SC Sign-up Bonus + 100K GC | SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC is the minimum required for redemption |
| Fortune Coins | 1,400 Fortune Coins+ Free 650,000 GC | SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Sweeptastic | 50% First Purchase Discount: Get 40K Lucky Coins + 40 SC Free | SC must played through 1x before redeeming; 100 SC minimum for redemption |
| Vegas Gems | 1K Gems + 50% Extra Gems On First Purchase | SC must be played through 1x before redeeming: 100 SC required at the minimum for a redemption |
| Sportzino | SC 7 Welcome Bonus + Up to GC 170,000 | SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| Hello Millions | 2.5 SC +15,000 GC | SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
What are users saying about playing sweepstakes casinos online in Florida?
The legal landscape about sports betting and online casinos in Florida can be complicated and a simple search on Reddit can confirm that many Redditors are unsure about what is legal and what is not legal.
The good thing is that more and more people are realizing that although online casinos are not legal in Florida, sweepstakes casinos are 100% legal in the state. As long as you sign up to play sweepstakes games on a safe and verified site, you're not violating the law.
On the Chumba Casino thread on Reddit, someone asked whether they can redeem their SC coins from the site if they are based in Florida. We followed up on this and learned that you shouldn't have any issues with redemptions from sweepstakes casinos, as long as you fulfill the playthrough requirements and have the minimum SC coins in your account to request a redemption.
One important thing to note is that in states like Florida and New York, you can't redeem more than $5000 in a day. We found a thread on this topic and what others are saying confirms what we know. If you've won more than that, you should redeem your coins in batches and make sure you don't redeem more than $5k per day.
Final thoughts on sweepstakes casinos in Florida
Florida has much to offer to those who like casino-style games. You can play at land-based tribal casinos in the state but you can also play at sweepstakes casinos, without making any real-money deposits, from the comfort of your home.
The important thing to remember is that you're not allowed to redeem more than $5000 in a day. Make sure you comply with the redemption limit and only sign up at sweepstakes casinos that are verified and secure. You can find a list of the top sweepstakes casinos operating in Florida on our website.
Florida Legal Sweepstakes Casinos FAQ
🧑⚖️ Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Florida?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal in Florida, as long as they don't make players purchase anything to play sweepstakes games.
❓ Does Florida have land-based casinos?
Based on the Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, tribal groups can operate casinos legally on their sovereign land. You will therefore find land-based casinos in Florida, which are run by the Semoline Tribe..
💸 Are there no-deposit bonuses at Florida sweepstakes casinos?
You can find a variety of welcome bonuses and other no-deposit bonuses while playing on top sweepstakes casinos in Florida.
⚖️ Who regulates gambling sites in Florida?
The Florida Gaming Control Commission regulates all forms of gambling and gaming providers in the state.
🏆 Which are the top sweepstakes casinos in Florida?
Some of the top sweepstakes casinos that you can access while in the state of Florida include Stake.us, Chumba Casino, High 5 Casino, McLuck Casino, Sweeptastic, and more. You can find a full list of these casinos on our website.
🏇 Is Horse Racing legal in Florida?
Yes, betting on horse racing is legal in Florida. Betting on horse racing has been legal in the state since the 1930s and is one of the few forms of commercial gambling that continues to remain legal in Florida.
🚏 What kind of gambling is legal in Florida?
Some of the common forms of gambling that are considered legal in Florida include horse racing (parimutuel wagering), state lottery, sports betting (through Hard Rock Bet), tribal casinos, penny-ante games etc.
⁉️ Can I redeem my SC coins in Florida?
Since sweepstakes casinos are legal and can offer prizes to players in Florida, you can legally redeem your SC coins in Florida, as long as you meet all the eligibility requirements.
🏅 Which is the best sweepstakes casino in Florida?
The best sweepstakes casino in Florida can be different for different folks, depending on what you are looking for. However, some of the top rated Florida sweepstakes casinos include Stake.us, McLuck Casino, and High 5 Casino.
👮 Is sports betting legal in Florida?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Florida but only through one exclusive app called the Hard Rock Betting app. You can't bet on sports on any other site in the state.
Disclaimer: Kindly note that we are not legal or tax experts. While we always strive to present the most accurate information, this is not binding legal advice. Always reach out to a licensed lawyer or tax advisor when in doubt.
