If you’ve been following gambling news in the Sunshine State, the question “Will Florida legalize online casinos?” comes up again and again — and with good reason.
As of 2026, Florida still does not have a regulated online casino market. Sports betting through the Hard Rock Bet app stands as the only fully legal form of online gambling in Florida, operating under an exclusive 30‑year compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe.
While residents can log in to online FL casino sites operating outside the state, offering slots, table games, and more, these sites are not regulated locally. Instead, they are licensed by trusted international gaming commissions.
For now, it seems online casinos are still a long way off; however, legislation keeps surfacing.
Inside Tallahassee: Lawmakers Weigh In
Over the past few legislative sessions, Florida lawmakers have taken a cautious approach to legalizing online casinos. Rather than opening the door to regulated iGaming, several proposals aim to further restrict internet gambling.
During the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers filed Senate Bill 1164 and House Bill 591 to tighten internet‑gambling rules, potentially ban online gambling and online wagering statewide, and further reinforce the Seminole Tribe’s exclusive digital role in sports betting.
One key argument from lawmakers: the state shouldn’t simply create a legal market to replace an unregulated one. Some officials and legal experts argue that allowing online casinos could lead to increased addiction, fraud, and challenges around enforcement.
Meanwhile, proponents of legalization argue that a regulated market could generate significant tax revenue and move players away from offshore sites that currently operate without state oversight. However, no major online casino legalization bill has gained serious momentum in 2026, and there’s been little indication that Governor DeSantis or legislative leaders will champion one this year.
Complicating matters further is the presence of tribal gaming. The Seminole Tribe already monopolizes much of Florida’s regulated gambling landscape, particularly sports betting, and may resist opening the market to outside online casino operators.
Florida Players: What They’re Doing Now
So, if online casinos aren’t legal in Florida, where are players turning? The answer for many is offshore online casinos. The online casinos we review in Florida let residents sign up, deposit funds, and play slots, blackjack, and live poker with real money.
From Bovada to Slots.lv and others, these platforms offer bonuses, mobile play, and crypto banking options. They also typically advertise themselves as safe and secure, with encryption and established gaming catalogs.
This situation has created a kind of unofficial online gambling culture in Florida: players eagerly participate on offshore sites, lawmakers express concern (and often seek to crack down), and industry insiders watch to see whether Florida might join other states in legalizing and regulating online casinos sometime down the road.
For now, the only technically legal option is offshore sites that offer FL mobile casino games.
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