Online Poker Legal In Florida
Florida isn't the worst state for poker players, but it isn't the best either.
For states where online poker is legal, this is a guide for US online poker room reviews, poker sites available in your area, deposit bonuses, and online poker announcements. US online poker laws seem to be changing monthly since government attorneys announced that the Wire Act cannot be used to prohibit states from allowing online poker. Legal Gambling Age in Florida Players must be 18 years of age or older to play at offline and online poker rooms, horse and dog tracks, and online bingo sites. The minimum age to play at land based casinos. Until traditional, real-money online poker is legal in Florida sweepstakes poker can be a great alternative. Global Poker is the largest and most trusted brand offering it. The platform is offered in both the US. There is no law stating the specific legality or illegality of online poker in Florida. Quite a bit of gambling has been going on in Florida for nearly a century. Pari-mutuel wagering at racetracks.
On one hand poker players are able to play in home poker games, licensed clubs and casinos. However, casinos and home games have to deal with lots of rules to stay compliant.
Intrastate poker legislation has been introduced to inject revenue into the state. On the other hand, the bills were shot down and Florida has recently banned the operation and use of internet sweepstakes cafes. It’s possible that these laws carry over to online gaming.
Do you see what I mean? It is possible to play poker in the Sunshine State, but it could be much easier and player-friendly. Read on to see exactly what I mean.
Playing Poker Legally in Florida
Is Online Poker Legal in Florida?
Like most states online poker isn't specifically addressed. There is nothing stating that online poker is legal, or that it’s not legal.
However, there are sections of Florida law that might push you to think that online poker is, in fact, illegal in Florida.
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.
Poker is a card game and according to Florida poker is a game of chance. And online poker sites do not cap how much you can bet or win per round, therefore preventing online poker to fall underneath the social / home game exception. These points lead me to believe that online poker would be (or is) considered illegal in Florida.
What About Home Poker Games?
Home games are only acceptable if you stick to the 'pennie-ante' rules.
849.08 Gambling.--
(a) '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.
Players must also be 18 to participate.
Other than that, home games are legal so long as no one is profiting from operating the game -- like taking a cover charge, rake, profiting from food and so on.
Do Casinos in Florida Offer Poker?
There are casinos that offer poker in Florida. One of the more popular casinos is the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. They're known for running deep-stack guaranteed tournaments and WPT events.
It's also possible to play poker offshore via companies like Victory Casino Cruises. This enables players to bypass Florida casino rules like:
- Limits of $2 per betting round.
- Limits of $5 bets.
- Rooms can only operate for a 12 hour period, per day.
- Players can only receive $100 of chips at a time.
The only thing to keep in mind is that these boats must be at least 9 miles off shore to prevent any legal problems.
Florida Poker FAQs
We receive a lot of questions about Florida poker law. We thought it'd be helpful to post those questions and our answers here.
Will online poker be regulated in Florida?
Poker Sites For Florida Residents
It's not looking that way. Not any time soon, at least.
Efforts have been made, though. Florida state rep Joseph Abruzzo introduced a bill to regulate intrastate poker in 2010, but it failed and was pulled in April of 2011.
Other than bills failing, another challenge to introducing online poker to Florida is the attitude towards and recent banning of internet sweepstakes cafes. The ban was put into effect in 4/2013. Both (poker and sweepstakes cafes) are considered games of chance, so I think that might impact legislators opinions on whether to regular poker or not. There is a current contract with the Seminole Tribe, too, which the new law(s) would have to comply with.
In short, online poker regulation will be a challenge. But it’s not impossible.
Is there an online poker room that accepts players from Florida?
Yes, Florida players can play at Bovada, Sportsbetting Poker and BetOnline.
What other forms of regulated gambling is offered in Florida?
Florida residents can bet on horses and dog races. There are casino games, bingo and the state lottery, too.
Where can I read more about Florida poker laws?
Is Online Poker Legal In Florida
You can read more about Florida's gambling laws here:
- Florida Senate website - http://archive.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm
Here are some interesting gambling themed facts about Florida.
- Florida casinos have $100 caps on their table games. However, it's possible to take a ship offshore to play high stakes games.
- It's illegal for you to gamble or bet on racing within one mile of a religious camp.
- Several pro poker players call Florida home. One such player is Cardplayer Magazine 2006 Player of the Year Michael Mizrachi. He has won numerous events including the 2010 and 2012 WSOP $50,000 Players Championship, 2 WPT titles and he finished 5th in the 2012 WSOP Main Event.
In 2010 Mizrachi faced a tax lien of over $300,000, which were related to unpaid taxes on his 2005 to 2007 earnings. He also had to foreclose on 2 properties. Fortunately for him these hiccups have had no effect on his ability to play well.
Additional Gambling Law Reviews
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You'll Only Ever Find Sites That Take Fair Play and Your Security Seriously.
In the USA, the online poker real money situation has confused a lot of people. There used to be three massive sites. Then they got shut down and players assumed anteing up was against the law. But the truth? It’s perfectly cool to play online poker. Real money sites are so popular in fact that three US states offer online gambling to their residents directly.
Today, the landscape in the United States has changed and the legality of playing online poker for real money in the US is much clearer. We’ve put together this guide to help you find and join the best USA online real money poker rooms without having to worry about whether a site will or will not allow players in your country or state. Use it to:
Poker In Fl
- Find the best promotions and bonuses for US players
- Discover banking and deposits US poker players will love
- Get all the answers to your real money poker site questions
Where Can You Play Online Poker For Real Money 2021
- U. S. Poker Site
- Compatibillity
- Editor Rating
- Deposit Bonus
- Very player friendly
- Generous cashback
- Great mobile play
Play Online Poker for Real Money 2021
You are probably wondering what to look for in a real money site to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. Online poker real money USA players should keep an eye out for bonuses and promotions.
When playing poker online for real money, bonuses are one of the best ways to make your likelihood of winning much higher, and can quickly boost your bankroll if played right. The best sites will have large welcome bonuses for new players. Before signing up for a new site, compare welcome bonuses so that you can maximize your first deposit and enable yourself to bet at higher levels without spending an extra dime. Welcome bonuses give you a valuable cushion that you can use to bet higher and more frequently.
Something else to look out for when playing online poker with real money on legal sites are promotions. This is a good way to tell if a site is one where you can easily make money, or if it will be a constant uphill battle against the house. Look at the stakes, the competition, and the promotions that a site offers to find out if they are player-friendly or not. Good sites will have not only welcome bonuses but regular promotions for long term players. This means that they want to keep you coming back for more, and will offer incentives to make sure that you do. Take advantage of these incentives and you will be able to achieve larger payouts when you play online poker for real money!
Money In & Money Out, Easily & Effortlessly
Whether you are playing with a real cash credit card, bank deposits, e-wallet or other deposit options, payout times are a huge factor in deciding on what poker room to play. Payout times can vary based on which deposit type you choose, with checks and bank deposits generally taking the longest because they must go through the individual bank’s verification process, which can take days or even weeks. E-wallets are generally much faster when it comes to both deposits and payouts. Make sure you read the fine print and contact customer service if necessary to find out the payout times before joining any new sites.
We Found the Best USA Online Real Money Sites
It is so important when playing for real money that you find a site that you can trust, and stick with it! We have searched the web to find the best online poker rooms for US players so that you don’t have to. There are a lot of scams out there who will either cheat their players with improper licensing, fake bonuses, or they might even just take your initial deposit and run with it. Only trust sites that are licensed and have great customer service reviews.
Look for verification on the site’s homepage that they have guaranteed finances, and that they can accept major credit cards and payment options. Scam sites usually do not bother with these formalities, they just try to lure you in with fake real cash poker bonuses. Scam sites also use robots for their customer service. If you are on a legitimate site, you should be able to reach a real person who can answer any question about their licensing and guarantees.
FAQs
How do I start playing for real money?
All you have to do to start playing for real money is sign up for a real money poker room, make your first deposit and you can start playing immediately! It really is that simple. You will then be eligible for sign-up bonuses, promotions, and winning real cash.
How does it work?
Real money gambling sites work by creating an individual bankroll for you on their site. This is completely secure and guaranteed safe. You can access the money in your bankroll in order to buy in to new rooms, make bets, or add to the bankroll with your winnings or bonus offers.
How can I find the best real money poker site?
We did the hard work for you when it comes to finding the best sites. All you need to do is choose a real money poker site from our list of guaranteed legitimate sites, sign up, make your first deposit and start winning today.
Can I play for money on my mobile or tablet?
Yes! All of the sites we review are accessible from any mobile device. Many sites even have a special mobile app that you can download. If you don’t want to download, you can play on the mobile website just like you would on a computer.
Are there good apps for iPhone?
Many of the sites we review do have specialty apps for iPhone players. The apps make it much easier and more user friendly to play on a mobile device, so take advantage of them when you can.
Are there good apps for Android?
Yes! If a site has an app available, it is almost always available for both iPhone and Android. We make it easy by spelling out which sites have apps for which devices, so just look out for Android app mentioned in our reviews.
Can I take advantage of freerolls?
Absolutely! The best US online poker real money websites usually do include freerolls and freeroll tournaments as part of their game selection. Freerolls are tournaments with no entry fee, although usually they do require some form of deposit at some point in the game in order to play the tournament.
Can I play on a Mac?
Yes, you can play at any real money poker site on a Mac. Sometimes the poker sites will have a for-download online casino that may or may not be available to Mac users. But even if that is the case you can always play the web-based version.
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