Are sportsbooks legal in Florida?
Yes, sportsbooks are generally legal in Florida, but not without some issues. The state’s betting story has been one long rollercoaster. Back in 2021, Florida signed a deal with the Seminole Tribe, giving them exclusive rights to run both online and in-person sports betting through a betting brand.
For a while, people in Florida could actually place bets online, but it didn’t take long before other operators and anti-gambling groups pushed back, saying the deal broke federal law under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The big argument is about location. If someone bets while sitting at home, but the servers are on tribal land, is that still legal?
That question has been bouncing around the courts for years, causing several shutdowns and relaunches. For now, only one betting site legally operates in the state, and until new laws or court rulings come through, that’s not changing anytime soon. However, the presence of only one online betting site in a state comes with lots of disadvantages from the point of view of bettors themselves.
Like I said earlier, they won’t be able to compare odds, bonuses, or betting markets the way bettors in other states can. Having just one option limits competition, and that usually means fewer promotions, tighter odds, and less variety overall.
However, just like I stated in my California sweepstakes sportsbook guide, bettors in Florida can also improve their overall experience by looking at top-rated sweepstakes betting sites, which I’ll be exploring later. But before then, it might interest you to note this restriction is not unique to Florida alone, as even Texas sportsbooks are yet to get a green light from the state due to its restrictive stance.
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Why are sweepstakes sportsbooks the best alternatives in Florida?
While I can’t tell you about any of the best sportsbooks in Florida because there’s obviously no competition in the state when it comes to online sports betting, here are some of the reasons why sweepstakes sportsbooks are worthy alternatives:
🤑 No Purchase Needed to Bet
This is one of the biggest advantages that sweepstakes sportsbooks have over traditional sportsbooks in New York and other states where online betting is legalized. Since Gold Coin bundle purchases are 100% optional on sweepstakes brands, you can still place picks on your preferred sports events without spending a dime. This is made possible with the availability of regular user bonuses on top-rated sweepstakes sportsbook brands.
🏆 Chance to Redeem Real Prizes
Another reason why sweepstakes sportsbooks are good alternatives to betting sites in Florida is that they provide users with the chance to redeem their Sweepstakes Coins (SC) for cash prizes and gift cards. However, it’s very important to note that users must meet certain conditions before they can redeem their SC for cash prizes or gift cards. Some of these conditions include meeting playthrough requirements and the accumulation of enough SC to reach a minimum redemption threshold.
✅ Don’t Need a License to Operate
The fact that sweepstakes sportsbooks don’t need a license to operate is a big win. Technically, since they operate under the US sweepstakes model and don’t allow real money wagering, they don’t need to get a license to operate in any state. This gives lots of sweepstakes brands the opportunity to operate in Florida, and by extension, gives users the opportunity to compare options while choosing the best from the lot.
How virtual currencies work on sweepstakes sportsbooks
As stated earlier, sweepstakes sportsbooks use virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins, instead of real money. Therefore, newbies may find it hard to understand how these virtual currencies work in practice.
Basically, Gold Coins are used to play games or place picks in fun mode, while Sweepstakes Coins are used to play games or place picks in promotional mode. For more details, I’ve differentiated them below in the following table:
| Gold Coins (GC) | Sweepstakes Coins (SC) |
| Can be purchased from the store | They can’t be purchased from the store |
| Used to place sports picks in fun mode | They are used to play games or place sports picks in promotional mode |
| You can’t redeem them for cash prizes | Cash prize redemption potential |
| Don’t come with playthrough requirements | Usually have playthrough requirements attached |
The social sportsbooks we recommend
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What betting sites are legal in Florida? My top picks
Since there are not so many traditional betting sites in Florida to choose from, I’ve taken the time to explore a range of sweepstakes sportsbooks that will serve as worthy alternatives to bettors in the state. Out of the pack, I’ll be reviewing my top 5 picks below:
Thrillzz – Easy sign-up process
- Highly rated social sportsbook app
- 3,000 Thrillzz Coins + 3 Thrillzz Sweeps welcome offer
- User-friendly interface
- Always free to use
- No desktop social sportsbook
Thrillzz is one of the newest sweepstakes sportsbooks, and it’s already winning fans. There are over 10 sporting options that you can place picks on, including NCAAF, MMA, NFL, NCAAB, and NBA. So, if you’re a fan of the NBA, for instance, you can place picks on options like moneyline, points spread, player and team props, and over/under in both fun and promotional modes. Signing up for a Thrillzz account sets you up for a welcome bonus of 3000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps, and you don’t even need to enter any promo code to unlock it.
Sportzino – Best for bonuses and sports variety
When I joined, I didn’t have to enter any promo code. All I did was sign up, and I immediately received 220,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweepstakes Coins.But to claim the offer in its entirety, you’ll need to link your Facebook account, verify your phone number, opt into email promos, and complete other tasks listed on your account dashboard. Sportzino stands out with more than 40 markets, including popular picks like football, soccer, basketball, horse racing, and tennis. Fans of casino-style games can also have a great time here, thanks to the over 1000 options that it houses.
Fliff – Social sports betting at its best
- Daily bonuses and challenges
- Excellent sports coverage and odds
- Strong social and community features
- No web-based predictions
Everything at Fliff happens using Fliff Coins and Fliff Cash instead of real money, and signing up makes you eligible for a welcome bonus of 5000 Fliff Coins and 1 Fiff Cash. Users have the chance to redeem their Fliff Cash for cash prizes once the 1x playthrough requirement is met. Fliff also has a very active community. You can challenge friends, climb leaderboards, and even follow influencers’ picks. To crown it all, with a mobile app available for both Android and iOS, Fliff’s interface is fast, modern, and simple to use, even for beginners.
Kickr – Simple, fast, and beginner-friendly
- Free Bits and Bucks for new players
- Several free promos for existing players
- Exclusive VIP program
- No live chat
Kickr is one of those sweepstakes sportsbooks that focuses on keeping things simple. Everything is laid out clearly, and the learning curve is almost nonexistent. Kickr gives you a generous welcome bonus of 150,000 Bits and 4 Bucks, which you can immediately use to make picks across a range of sports. From football and basketball to soccer and tennis, the app covers most major leagues and events, and also offers casino-style games. The last time I checked, the site is home to over 400 options, including widely played titles like Pyro Joker Ultimate, Easter Catch, and Muddy Waters.
Onyx Odds – Sleek mobile design
- Free sports picks and predictions
- VIP program for existing users
- Low minimum Onyx Cash prize redemption
- Not available in some US states
Onyx Odds might be one of the newest sweepstakes sportsbooks out there, but it’s already turning heads for all the right reasons. The site feels sleek, modern, and easy to use, with no confusion. As soon as I signed up, I was welcomed with a generous welcome bonus of 1000 Onyx Coins. From there, I could place picks on major leagues like the NBA, NFL, MLB, and even European soccer. The site also gives you helpful stats and real-time updates, so you can make smarter picks without having to jump between tabs.
Pros and cons of placing picks on Florida social sportsbooks
Once again, Florida doesn’t have a long list of betting sites that you can use at the moment. However, here are some of the pros and cons of all the sweepstakes sportsbooks that I recommended above:
- Impressive mobile performance
- Player-friendly bonus terms and conditions
- Wide variety of sports and games
- No real money involved
- Limited options compared to real sportsbooks
The bottom line – Sweepstake sportsbooks fill the gap
After all is said and done, Florida still has only one traditional sports betting site operating in the state at the time of writing this guide. However, with the availability of alternative sweepstakes sportsbooks like Thrillzz, Sportzino, Fliff, Kickr, and Onyx Odds, bettors in Florida can still have access to making sports prediction picks on their favorite sporting events.
Fortunately, they give you this access for free, so you don’t need to make any deposit or purchase GC bundles. Having said that, if you’ve followed this guide from the top, I’m sure you now have an idea of what each of these sites offers. So, if you want to check them out yourself, all you need to do is create an account in no time. You’ll find their respective registration links on the banners displayed on this page.
Discover the social sportsbook bonuses we recommend
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FAQs: Florida sportsbooks
Is online sports betting legal in Florida?
Yes, but only through one betting site, which operates under the Seminole Tribe’s agreement with the state.
️ Are sweepstakes sportsbooks legal in Florida?
Yes, all the sweepstakes sportsbooks including Fliff, Thrillzz, Sportzino, Kickr, and Onyx Odds are fully legal since they don’t allow real money activities.
Can I redeem cash prizes on Florida sweepstakes sportsbooks?
Yes, you can redeem your Sweepstakes Coins for cash prizes once you’ve met the attached playthrough requirements.
