Poker games, whether tournaments or cash games, do not appear to be legal under charitable gambling law in Florida. Can I Play Poker Legally in Florida? If you play poker for real money at either a recognized tribal casino or in a 'penny ante' game as described above, you are well within the law in Florida. Florida Voters Close The Door On Gambling Opportunity Via Midterm Referendum By Joss Wood on November 7, 2018 14:14 PST. A Florida referendum has given gambling expansion power to the people, removing any short-term path to online poker or sports betting.

Florida has not regulated any form of online gambling, but it has definitely regulated some forms of land gambling, including poker. The state’s residents can legally play poker for real money at any licensed casino or dog track, but not at unlicensed gambling facilities.

This page provides a brief overview of live and online poker laws in Florida. Besides providing an expert opinion on the legality of playing real money online poker at offshore poker sites, we have provided a list of well-researched online poker sites that accept Florida players.

Read on for all the details about the Florida online poker legal climate, the leading internet sites, the history of gambling in the state, and more. Online Poker in Florida, Played w/Real Money = Legal & Legit in 2020! Florida has a state-run lottery that offers jackpot drawing games as well as instant and scratch-off games. Florida residents can also buy Mega Millions lottery tickets and Powerball tickets. Poker in Florida. While poker has been legal in Florida for many years, it used to be limited by a state law that capped maximum wagers at $2. The only real hurdle for real money online poker players is finding a way to make deposits and withdrawals, since that has been made much harder thanks to the UIGEA. The Future of Florida Gambling The main restriction when it comes to gambling in Florida for the time being is online gambling.

Florida Poker Laws & Statutes

Playing poker for money is legal in Florida as long as it is done in licensed and regulated establishments. The state’s definition of gambling is so broad that it can be interpreted in several ways; besides, the state deals strictly with operators who run gambling businesses without a license.

According to Section 849.08, residents will be guilty of a second degree misdemeanor if they wager anything of value on games such as card games, roulette, keno, or any other game based on luck. The use of gambling devices is also forbidden until and unless they are approved and authorized by the state. Florida has a separate law for “games of skill,” making it illegal for its residents to place bets on the outcomes of games requiring skills and strategies to win.

While Florida tends to let off players lightly, it deals in the strictest possible manner against operators running unlicensed poker games + operations within its jurisdiction. Illegal operators can be booked on serious charges such as racketeering, but the state hardly cracks down on players caught taking part in games at those illegal establishments.. but it will be noted.

Social gambling, under certain circumstances, is perfectly legal in Florida as long as players have completed 18 years of age and nobody profits financially from the games.

Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Florida?

There is no law in Florida’s law books that specifically states that it is against the law for residents to register real money accounts at offshore online poker rooms and play online poker games for real money. Since Florida cannot use a non-existent law against it residents, one may safely say that it is legal and safe for Florida poker players to play online poker at offshore online poker rooms. Since the state lacks proper online poker laws, it is in no position to license and regulate any online poker company to run poker sites in its jurisdiction. Players will, therefore, not find any Florida-licensed online poker room, but they can safely register at any of the offshore online poker rooms we have mentioned on this page.

Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker Florida?

As an individual poker player in Florida playing for real money at an offshore online poker room, you will never get into trouble with your state’s law-enforcement agencies. In the first place, Florida laws do not specifically prohibit residents from playing real money poker online. Second, the online poker rooms accepting Florida residents are all based in foreign countries far away and have nothing to do with Florida’s gambling laws. Licensed and regulated in offshore gambling jurisdictions, they do not come within Florida’s jurisdiction.

You have reason to worry only if you are trying to run an online poker business without getting the state’s permission. The state’s laws are designed to curb the activities of illegal operators, owing to which it does not tolerate any illegal gambling business in its jurisdiction.

Legal Poker Sites That Accept Florida Players

Poker Online Florida Real Money Winning

In many states across the continental US, residents have an overwhelming curiosity about legal online poker and almost no access to quality information. Florida is no exception. Listed below are several good online poker rooms that cater especially to Florida residents, all thoroughly tested and verified as safe and legitimate.

Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Florida

Florida residents should always start with the best. Since its activation almost 20 years ago, the Bovada online poker room has been open to US citizens and serving Florida residents for that entire span of time. In that time, this legal poker site has developed into not only one of the easiest to use legal online casinos on the entire web, but one of the most complete. Whether a players prefers tournament play or to merely sit in on a game for a couple of hands, Bovada provides all the features needed to get the absolute most from a legal online poker experience.

As if it weren’t enough to simply have access to some of the highest quality online poker experiences available, more and more Florida residents are finding that one of the best bargains in the history of bargains is available with Bovada. When a new account is activated and funded for the first time, it will is eligible to earn 100% of the deposit back just from remaining active and participating in poker games. Win or lose, all Florida residents have the ability to claim this excellent bonus from the Bovada poker room. Check their promotions tab for details, and be sure not to miss out!

BetOnline Poker - All Florida Players 18+ Welcome Here

Florida residents who wish to check in with more online poker rooms are urged to log on to BetOnline. Although BetOnline is a relative newcomer to the game, it’s one of the fastest growing legal poker sites around right now, and Florida residents are getting hooked. Maybe it’s the fact that the BetOnline network comes endorsed by major media outlets like CNBC and FOX, but Florida residents are not only getting comfortable with the idea of an account with this top notch poker site, they’re loving it!

BetOnline poker room offers hundreds of ways to earn through playing poker, and a quick visit to their tournament page will show off just a few of those examples. The legal poker room for Florida residents has a tournament for every budget and skill level, and they give away more guaranteed money than any online poker room in existence. Take advantage of specialty tournaments, such as tournaments centered on Valentine’s Day or 4th of July and see that not only can incredible profit be earned playing legal online poker, but that it can be great fun.

Legal Florida Poker Sites	Welcome Bonus	What To Play
Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up	$1,000 FREE - 100% Match	Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo
BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up	Maximum $1K: 200% Rate	Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo
SportsBetting Play / Sign Up	200% Match / $1,000 Max	Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo
5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up	Vary Weekly - Check Website	Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo

Does Florida Have Legal Land-Based Poker?

Players can safely and