Despite being one of America’s most populous states with an abundance of sports teams, traditional sports betting is relatively limited in Florida. With only one mobile app, the state lacks the variety of betting options found in other states with legal sports betting.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the online sports scene in Florida.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Florida after a long and tortuous journey. After a false start in 2021, it was finally legalized there in late 2023.
Online sports are controlled through the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which operates the state’s only legal site (Hard Rock Bet). As a result, mobile sports are limited in Florida.
Retail sportsbooks can be found at all six Seminole-owned casinos. Whether you bet online or in person, you will need to be 21 years of age or older and physically located in the state to legally bet on sports in Florida.
Here’s what you should look for before deciding whether or not to sign up for an online sports site in Florida.
The only legal sports site in Florida is Hard Rock Bet, operated through the state’s Seminole Tribe.
Compared to other online sportsbooks, Hard Rock Bet is a high-quality option. While not as popular or widely available as bigger brands like DraftKings and FanDuel, the app works well and has almost everything sports bettors are looking for.
It features a welcome offer, a rewards program, live betting, odds boosts, market depth, smart deposit features, and a modern interface.
Hard Rock Bet is also available in other states, so Florida bettors can still use it if they travel to other parts of the country.
We take the time to analyze and study sportsbooks, narrowing down a list of the most productive in the industry. These ratings can help you decide which ones to review first.
Our rankings are based on scores in the following categories:
Below, we’ll break down each category and why it’s vital to your sports betting experience.
A quick and easy way to get an idea of how smart a sportsbook is is to compare user reviews on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android). Since the scores exceed five stars, a reputable bookmaker with an average score of at least 4 stars is usually needed.
You can also check out users’ quick reviews to get an idea of what other people are saying about the app and if there are any recurring cases or court issues. This can be useful for features that are difficult to compare until you use the app, such as heist or visitor service.
Many critics are there to complain, so don’t put too much emphasis on express criticism.
That said, if you notice any common themes in the comments, take it as a warning about any problems you have with the app.
Each state handles sports differently. Some states permit either in-person and cellular sportsArray whilst others would possibly only permit in-person sports or impose a strict cap on the number of cellular sports permited.
As a result, sports betting varies by state, as both states will have to approve a sportsbook before it can be introduced there. There are no sportsbooks in one or both states that offer legal online sports betting, however, some have been introduced in most of them.
Generally speaking, the more states a bookmaker is available, the better. This means it’s more likely to be available in your state, in a border state, or in a state you’re likely to go to, making it less difficult and more convenient to use. This way, you can take your sportsbook with you instead of having to sign up for a new one every time you leave your state.
While smaller “local” sportsbooks usually offer profit boosts and other bonuses based on hometown teams, they’re usually only available in a handful of states at most, offering limited availability.
This is a question. How much cash will a bookmaker give you for signing up?
Most bookmakers offer welcome offers to attract new customers, but it’s vital to know how they work. Just because an offer is related to a higher amount doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better.
Some sportsbooks have “bet and get” promotions where you receive bonus bets (site credit) just for wagering a small amount of money. For example, you might get $200 in bonus bets just for placing a $5 wager. You’re essentially getting free money to bet with.
Other sportsbooks have “no-sweat” offers that give a bonus bet only if your first bet loses.
For example, if you place a $20 bet after registering and lose, you will get a $20 bonus bet that will be refunded.
These offers tend to wow bettors with larger amounts than “bet and get” promos, often going up to $1,000 or $1,500. However, you’ll only receive a bonus bet if your first wager loses, in which case you’ll need to use the bonus bet to try to win your money back. If your wager wins, you’ll receive your cash winnings like a normal wager but won’t receive any bonus.
Accordingly, “no sweat” offers generally aren’t as good as “bet and get” promos.
When comparing sports betting, it is most productive to opt for welcome offers with guaranteed bonuses that give you credits on your site no matter what.
The duration of the bonus offered will be important if it is difficult to claim.
The best sports bonus offers are as undeniable to claim as they are generous, being undeniable and straightforward without needing to jump through any hoops.
The most productive bonuses are guaranteed and arrive immediately to your account as soon as you place your first bet. They will also be easy to fulfill and may not require you to check boxes to get your bonus.
Some sports betting bonus offers require you to place bets or wait days or weeks to unlock your full bonus. This can be annoying, especially if you’re looking to get your full bonus before a major sporting occasion like the Super Bowl or March Madness.
More complex offers can be a pain, so we prefer simplified offers with fewer requirements.
If you gamble and plan to use a sportsbook frequently, a counterfeit rewards program is essential.
Loyalty systems differ between betting houses. Some offer you praise points to bet on, which can then be converted into bonus bets or other praise. Others offer high praise like free trips, hotel stays, tickets to sporting events, and more.
On the other hand, some sportsbooks don’t have any rewards. That might not be a big deal for casual bettors, but it can make a difference for frequent sports bettors.
It’s like paying for anything with money that isn’t a credit card. If you place a bet on a site without a loyalty program, you will miss out on problems elsewhere.
While major sports such as football or basketball can only be accessed through classic cable or streaming services, some bookmakers offer the ability to stream smaller sports within the app, which is a wonderful option. Merit to bettors.
For example, FanDuel‘s app often streams tennis matches, which makes it easier to follow the action and place live wagers.
Beyond live streaming, we also considered the length of the stream, the amount of battery used, and the number of occasions available to stream on the app.
Most bookmakers offer some form of welcome and offer to attract new customers, but where they differ is their promotions for existing customers.
Some sportsbooks offer a slew of daily promotions like odds boosts, no-sweat bets, bonus bets and more to keep customers coming back every day. Others only offer these sparingly, however, if at all.
A key promotion for existing users is the referral bonus. Many sportsbooks offer some type of referral bonus to entice someone else to sign up, but the amount can vary ($50 per child, $100, $200, etc. ). If you plan to bet with friends or family, this can be a wonderful way to get bonus bets for you and them.
Similar to a rewards program, you’ll need a bookmaker with common offers for existing customers if you plan to gamble regularly.
Strong customer service features are a must for any sportsbook, as most disputes or appeals involve someone’s money.
High marks were given to all bookmakers that provide visitor service 24/7 (after all, sporting events end at night), while problems were deduced if a betting house Betting relied on an FAQ page as a key component of its visitor service profile. If you touch on visitor service (email, chat, phone, etc. ), the better.
Customer support is essential to guaranteeing a smooth sports betting experience. If a problem arises, it’s important to have it handled quickly and effectively.
You’ll have to be at least 21 years old to legally bet on sports in Florida, which matches most states where sports betting is legal.
Hard Rock Bet verifies your age when you create an account by confirming your date of birth and social security number. If you are under 21 years of age, you will not be able to create a sports betting account or place bets as a user in Florida.
Hard Rock Bet is the only sports betting app available in Florida.
There are two tactics for placing a sports bet in Florida.
One way is by registering for Hard Rock Bet on your mobile device. Once you’ve created an account, verified your identity and deposited money in your account, you can wager on anything you want.
If you prefer to bet in person, you can place a sports bet at one of the six Seminole-owned casinos.
Yes, mobile sports betting is legal in Florida, but it can only be done through Hard Rock Bet. Online sports betting has been available in the state since November 2023.
To download Hard Rock Bet, go to the app store on your mobile device and download it from there. Once downloaded, provide non-public details to create an account.
Once your account is verified and you’ve made an initial deposit, you can start wagering on whatever you’d like.
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