Betting Apps In Florida
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Florida is one of the most anticipated future additions to the legal sports betting map as the pastime spreads across the United States.
There are 21 million potential customers who live there. There are scores of tourists or seasonal residents there to splash in the waves, watch Spring Training or take in an amusement park.
Two NFL teams, two NHL teams, two MLB teams, an NBA team and rabidly followed big-time college programs also make Florida sports betting an exciting proposition. So do all the Super Bowls and national championship games that bring fans who want to bet on sports in Florida.
Is sports betting legal in Florida?
Sports betting is not legal in any form in Florida. A lot of folks want it. Some key legislators do, too. But it won’t be easy.
Whenever it does become legal, a compromise will have been forged between state legislators and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which currently enjoys a near-monopoly on Florida casino gaming and in 2019 ceased making $350 million-yearly revenue sharing payments in a dispute over that monopoly.
The Seminoles claim the state has failed to enforce its sovereignty as outlined by its 2010 Compact by allowing racinos to conduct so-called banked card games. In 2021, Seminole Gaming chairman Jim Allen said in an interview that the tribe, which also believes it holds exclusive rights to sports betting, is able to renew revenue sharing payments up to $500 million a year if a deal could be struck.
“We feel the state may be interested in working with us to reinstitute our revenue share and if that is the mindset of the state, we’re happy to sit down and discuss it,” Allen told CDC Gaming Reports. “We’ve always had a good relationship (with Florida) in my 20 years.”
That’s not the only impediment, however, as in 2018, voters approved constitutional Amendment 3, which stated:
“This amendment ensures that Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling by requiring that in order for casino gambling to be authorized under Florida law, it must be approved by Florida voters pursuant to Article XI, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution. Affects articles X and XI. Defines casino gambling and clarifies that this amendment does not conflict with federal law regarding state/tribal compacts.”
The public relations campaign powering the successful anti-gambling expansion bill was funded predominantly by the Seminoles and Walt Disney Corp., another powerful force within the state that publicly opposes gambling, although the broader company fosters it through ESPN programming.
Does FL have any plans to regulate online sports betting?
Estimates put Florida’s potential tax haul in the first year of legalization of sports betting at around $500 million.
But Florida’s governor, Republican Ron DeSantis, has been tepid at best regarding gambling, scuttling a cursory agreement between the state and Seminoles in 2020.
The Seminole Tribe generates around $2.5 billion in revenue each year and therefore is not hurting financially because of its hold on Class III gaming. It’s not under pressure to enter a deal it doesn’t love.
Three interconnected sports betting bills were proposed for the 2021 legislative session, which began on March 2.
Realistically, 2023 or beyond feels like the earliest Florida sports fans will get to place bets on their favorite teams. And that’s with quick compromise the state’s numerous stakeholders haven’t exhibited before.
Each year, bills are introduced and each year the hard facts regarding the Seminoles’ exclusivity come back into focus. There’s also the fact that the Florida voter population is extremely disparate in a very large and diverse state and consensus on a potentially divisive issue is difficult to attain on any subject. With Amendment 3 the law of the land, things are even more sticky.
Not only does the Legislature have to pass the necessary laws, but there may need to be another ballot measure.
A little-discussed aspect that hinders movement in Florida is the incredibly short term of the state legislative session: 60 days. That leaves little time for working through nuances legislation such as sports betting would require in Florida.
After this, the operators who would be expected to rush into Florida like spring breakers will need to produce regulations and issue licenses to sports betting operators.
The sports betting operators will need to remodel casinos to create sports betting areas, and online technology will need to be tested and approved before mobile and online sports betting can launch.
Why Florida needs legal sports betting
From a purely commercial standpoint, Florida could set itself up as a Las Vegas-meets-New Jersey type of sports betting economy. Tourists rush to the state every year for multitudes of different entertainment options. But it stands to reason that if the state legalized the type of full mobile and online sports betting that represents the future of the business and entertainment experience, tourists could place bets at Spring Training games, waiting in line for a Disney roller coaster or wading in the surf.
They would place bets while in town to watch their team play in a Super Bowl or championship game. They could place bets while living in Florida in the winter, before they go home in the summer, leaving all those tax dollars for Florida’s educational system.
Also, no nearby state has legal sports betting yet. Not Georgia. Not Alabama. Mississippi does, in sportsbooks only, but that’s hundreds of miles away. The nearest legal option is the Bahamas.
The debate over legalizing sports betting in Florida has largely moved past the arguments of those who are pro- and anti-gambling.
It is now clear that the best option for providing protection to the public is a legal sports betting offer that is well regulated with controlled advertising.
Research estimates that the US sports betting market takes upward of $150 billion in bets each year. The revenue from these bets has flowed to offshore illegal betting sites and to criminal bookies for years.
Americans want to bet on sports, and they do bet on sports even if the law won’t allow US businesses to offer them the chance to do so. And in most states that’s the case. Online sports betting is normally illegal for the operator, but not illegal for the bettor. No sports bettor has ever been prosecuted for placing online bets at an offshore site.
Legalizing sports betting provides a channel to recover the revenues currently flowing offshore, and it provides a safe space where sports bettors can pursue their hobby legally.
Regulation provides real measures to reduce problem gambling, and sports betting operators in the legal sector are obliged to monitor their customers for signs of incipient problem gambling.
Even the tone of any communication made between sports bettor and operator is evidence of potential problems. When identified early, there is scope for intervention, and those gamblers who are at risk can be referred to the right providers of support services.
From a consumer perspective, legal sports betting offers customers legal redress against any operator in case of a dispute, protection of their funds from misuse and the support of a regulator that puts a high priority on their interests.
Revenues from sports betting are generally targeted for education in Florida as they are in many other states like Tennessee. Even though legislators wrote the $350 million annual revenue share payments out of the Florida budget when the Tribe stopped paying them in 2019, the state faced a $3 billion shortfall from 2020-22.
Who will regulate sports betting in Florida?
Adults can play poker in Florida at 18, but all the sports betting bills introduced would put the age limit at 21 and up, which is in line with the vast majority of other states.
Currently, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering regulates:
- Harness horse racing
- Jai alai games
- Cardroom poker games
In addition, Broward and Miami-Dade counties authorize slot machine gaming at pari-mutuel facilities. Tribal gaming is regulated separately from the state through a contract with the government that is called a Compact.
Each year the state Department of the Lottery sets out a regulatory plan for the lottery’s activities.
It seems clear that a new regulator is required for sports betting. Under the bills that have been brought before the State Senate, the regulator would be part of the Department of the Lottery, and the lottery would be the final authority for the issue of licenses.
Regulating online sports betting is a major change from anything Florida gaming regulators have undertaken. The lottery will have to recruit new staff skilled in the problems of online gambling and sports betting in particular.
Which sportsbooks will offer legal sports bets in Florida?
The introduction of state-regulated sports betting has shaken up the corporate landscape of sports betting companies not just in the US, but globally. The last few years have provided a constant flow of mergers and acquisitions as companies scale up and combine to take advantage of the new market.
Nevertheless, we can already see some of the big brands emerging as market leaders in the states where sports betting is legal.
Whether they get to enter the Florida market is a different matter. Florida, Texas, New York and California are the most coveted untapped sports betting markets in the US, and so far none of them have online sports betting. The vast majority of sports betting revenues come from online wagers – in some states it’s as much as 90% or more – so this part of the market is critical to the industry.
Without these four states, more than 100 million Americans don’t have access to legal sports betting in their home state.
Assuming that the Florida Lottery launches sports betting – it would in recent bills – it will need to partner with one or more international sports betting platforms to provide the technology necessary. If the lottery licenses other state gambling regulators to provide sports betting, there is more scope for other brand names to enter the market.
Then there is the Seminole Tribe, again. It could do what some other major casino operators like Penn National have done, and partner with several technology providers. On the other hand, it could just go with one major brand. It has partnered with bet365 and William Hill in the past.
The Seminoles own Hard Rock International and offer online sports betting in New Jersey, Iowa and Nevada (in conjunction with William Hill) through that brand. It has had a technology platform partnership with bet365 since 2018. If the Tribe was given exclusivity on online sports betting in Florida – which was a negotiating chip in 2020 – that brand could be expected to be front and center, or even exclusive. Or it could license out market access or “skins” as laid out by whatever law was agreed upon by all the parties. Competition would be better for the market.
It should be noted that newly created Hard Rock Digital is filled with former executives of the Stars Group and set to focus on sports betting and iGaming.
The big brands looking to enter the market if they are allowed to do so include:
- 888
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- BetRivers
- Caesars
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- FoxBet
- PointsBet
- William Hill
What would retail sportsbooks in Florida look like?
There are no retail sportsbooks in Florida. Whereas horse players can walk into pari-mutuel betting parlors and plunk down bets on horses, sports bettors have no such recourse in the state.
If sports betting in Florida developed like most of the states that legalized and launched since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, the seven casinos around the state – and anyone else allowed to do so in the new law – would retrofit bar space into sportsbooks.
They would very much resemble massive sports bars with walls of televisions, betting windows with live tellers accepting wagers and loungers for hours of game-viewing comfort. Las Vegas casinos have taken these opulent spaces to new levels and made them destinations as a means to offset the encroachment of online play.
If Florida follows the pattern of most states, live sports betting should be available before online sports betting is offered.
On the other hand, putting the lottery in charge could mean that online sports betting makes it to the market first — there is precedent for that in other states where the lottery controls sports betting.
Either way, sports betting at a casino or other physical location is not entirely dissimilar to sports betting online. The reality of the industry is that sports betting is now a highly technological endeavor, so the platform used for live and online sports betting is almost the same.
In a casino, the first thing to do is register with the house VIP player scheme. This will give you discounts on casino services such as hotel rooms and meals. Every dollar you spend betting will help qualify you for more casino rewards, so the short time necessary for filling out a form is well worth the effort.
After that, head to the dedicated sports betting area. In other states, casinos have spent a fortune updating their facilities to ensure that sports bettors have a quality experience. Trendy bars and banks of huge widescreen monitors enable sports betting in style, with current games broadcast and different bet options clearly displayed for patrons.
Once you have decided what bet to make, a quick trip to the teller is all that it takes to hand over your money and receive a betting slip in return. That’s the legal record of your bet, so don’t lose it!
How online sports betting works in other states
There is no cut-and-paste model for sports betting rules just as there is none for how states tax, police or fund education.
New Jersey became the shining example of how a sports betting economy could be set up, with its roaring popularity, financial success and record-breaking amounts wagered. Its early adoption of an online market proved experts were right in asserting that bettors wanted to play anywhere.
But its rule didn’t work for every state. New Jersey had an existing gambling infrastructure to build sports betting upon while Tennessee had nothing but a lottery. Legislators found no appetite for retail sportsbooks in a place that never opted for casinos.
Florida has a gambling background with tribal casinos and horse racing.
It doesn’t have mobile and online sports betting, but its success and popularity elsewhere make it a must. In places like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, more than 90% of wagers are placed on phones or computers, creating a steady flow of revenue for state coffers.
Neighboring New York, meanwhile, continues to try to implement mobile betting – it only has retail in a handful of casinos away from New York City – to keep bettors from day-tripping to New Jersey to bet or do so with illegal offshore markets.
Tennessee, which doesn’t even license casinos, set up a mobile-only sports betting market that launched in 2020 and is already being hailed as a success.
It can be done. And given the size of the state of Florida and its dispersed population, mobile betting is the only feasible way to make it not only available, but something new customers and tourists would want to play.
How sports betting apps work
Setting up an online sports betting account is simple. It’s no surprise that sports betting operators want to make it as easy as possible for new customers to get into the action. You will have to wait and see which operators get the go-ahead in Florida and register with the ones of your choice.
There is a simple online form to fill in. You will need to provide your first name and last name, details of any promo code (check PlayUSA for the latest codes) and your email address.
State regulators and the banking laws mandate that you provide proof of your age, identity and address before you can bet on sports for real money, so you will need to provide this information either at sign-up or as part of an account verification process.
Introductory offers are valuable
Once you have your account established, you can take advantage of any special bonus offers for new customers.
These are very valuable. Online sports betting operators spend a lot of money to get new customers, estimating that the lifetime value of a happy customer is worth a sizable up-front investment.
If you see new player offers with bonuses of up to $1,000 or more, don’t be surprised. There are terms and conditions attached that you should check out, but the offers are real — at least they are in the legal industry.
Beware of any offshore gambling site accounts; your money is not safe, and offers are not subject to the advertising standards in place in the US.
One offer to look out for is no-deposit free bets. Some sites offer to give you a couple of low-stake free bets before you have even made a deposit. These offer a great way to try out a site in a crowded market.
Will geolocation be required from Florida sports betting apps?
Yes. This is standard throughout the industry to make sure that bettors are actually in locations that allow sports betting. The software that ensures this comes embedded in the sports betting apps you download to your phone or computer. Users’ location will be verified every time they log in.
How payment options should work in Florida
A few states have included a minimum set of payment methods that sports betting operators must use in their legislation. There really is no need to legislate at this level of detail because the operators will offer as many methods of depositing as their customers need. It’s in their own interest to offer deposit methods that suit their customers.
Payment processors are also licensed by the state, providing another layer of accountability and security over illegal offshore sportsbooks.
The most common deposit methods in other states are:
Cash — There are usually two ways used to fund your account with cash: either by visiting the cashier at the casino with which the online operator is partnered, or by using a deposit service such as PayNearMe, which is offered at most 7-Eleven stores.
Credit/debit cards — Mastercard and Visa are most commonly offered, although some sports betting sites also accept Discover cards. Note that some banks such as Capital One, Bank of America, Santander and JPMorgan Chase do not allow their cards to be used for gambling transactions.
Payment processors — PayPal, Skrill and NETELLER are three commonly used payment methods. These online accounts can be funded by credit/debit cards and allow almost instant deposits to sports betting sites.
Bank transfers — Using a direct bank wire transfer is useful if you are making large bets and want to move large sums of money.
ACH e-checks — A cheap and easy alternative is to use e-checks. The online sports betting site cashier will explain what information you need to copy from your bank checkbook to make a payment this way.
Branded prepaid cards — All the major operators offer their own prepaid cards on the Mastercard, Visa or Discover networks. These can be funded by credit or debit cards and can be used in shops or to withdraw cash just like your debit card.
Not all deposit methods can be used to make withdrawals. For example, you can’t withdraw to PayPal unless you have made a deposit using PayPal first. You can’t use PayNearMe for withdrawals, and sometimes you cannot withdraw back to your credit or debit card.
In the absence of a card-based withdrawal method, you can always withdraw directly back to your bank account using an e-check.
Withdrawals are extremely quick when you use a legal sports betting operator. Should you have experience at trying to withdraw money from an illegal offshore site, you will know that the process can be complex and take many weeks.
Fast and simple financial transactions are one of the major benefits offered by the legal sports betting sector. Plus you know your money is safe and you have legal redress in case anything goes wrong.
Which markets are Florida sports bettors most likely to see?
States have conformed what sports and events are bettable by the appetite of their citizens and politicians. Often college sports or “special” markets like the Oscars or other awards shows are forbidden to allay fears that the college athletes or awards voters could be compromised.
In New Jersey, for example, bettors cannot make wagers on in-state college teams like Seton Hall or Rutgers or on college events taking place within state borders because of a provision in the state constitution. New Jersey isn’t alone.
States that disallow betting on in-state college teams:
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Indiana (prop bets disallowed only)
- Iowa (prop bets disallowed only)
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon (via Lottery site)
- Illinois
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington
That said, expect Florida to follow Michigan and North Carolina’s lead as a state with an ingrained, in-state college sports culture that allows wagering on in-state schools. Certainly, protecting young athletes is paramount, but sports betting in Michigan and North Carolina would be hamstrung without the opportunity to play Michigan and Michigan State football and Duke and North Carolina basketball, respectively.
In Florida, the market would be hammered without Florida and Florida State on the menu.
All the most popular US sports will be available, plus a whole string of sports and betting events that draw smaller audiences. The limitations on what sports can be offered and what competitions can be covered are based on the availability of reliable data.
The new entrants to the US sports betting market are online companies from Europe. These businesses have over 20 years of experience with online sports betting globally. As a result, they have established excellent data sources and are able to offer a huge variety of sports betting options.
The typical list of sports offered by operators includes:
- Aussie rules football
- Auto racing
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Darts
- Football
- Golf
- Hockey
- MMA
- Rugby union
- Soccer
- Tennis
Esports could be authorized full-time or just for special events. They are growing in popularity, and some jurisdictions such as Nevada are creating regulations to allow bets on the most popular events.
High school sports or any sports where there is a majority participation by minors are forbidden.
The Sunshine State has seen a ton of growth in the gambling realm over the past handful of years with the expansion of brick and mortar casino and poker action all the way from down south in the 305 through the Mickey Mouse corridor and up to the panhandle that feels it deserves its own time zone. We love you panhandle.
The one area that still is lacking, though, are brick and mortar sportsbooks. Current count = 0. But if you’re looking for a way to bet on sports in Florida, you have options, thanks to the best online Florida sports betting sites and Florida betting apps.
Our team has researched and narrowed down the safest and most reliable online bookies for Florida residents. Here are our top picks to get you into the real money Florida sports betting action right away:
Betting Site | Bonus | Bet Now | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | up to €30 Free Bet | Go to Site | |
2 | 22Bet | 100% up to €122 | Go to Site |
3 | 100% up to €200 | Go to Site | |
4 | 10Bet | 100% up to €50 | Go to Site |
5 | 100% up to €50 | Go to Site |
The Top 3 Florida Sportsbooks Online
1. MyBookie – Best Overall Florida Sports Betting Site
- Welcome bonuses often come with free bets
- Live in-play betting on all major sports
- Casino and racebook action available through one account
- Unique sports betting contests like survivor pools and squares
2. BetNow – Best Florida Sportsbook for In-Play Betting Options
- One of the most robust in-game betting platforms on the market
- Variable sign-up bonuses with rollover requirements from 5x-10x
- Annual $1,00,000 college basketball bracket challenge
- Weekly NBA, NFL, and MLB contests
3. Bovada – Best for Multiple Ways to Bet (Poker, Casino, Racebook, and Sports)
- Options to bet sports in Florida, as well as action on casino games, a racebook, and poker
- Rewards and loyalty program where you can redeem points for cash
- Great track record with customer care since founding in 2011
- Deposits available in Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Union Pay, Zelle, and through transfer vouchers
Feature Comparison – MyBookie vs. BetNow vs. Bovada
MyBookie | BetNow | Bovada | |
---|---|---|---|
Year Established | 2014 | 2016 | 2011 |
Welcome Bonus | Up to $1,000 | Up to $500 | Up to $750 |
Bonus Rollover | 10x | 5x – 10x | 5x |
U.S. Players? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
In-Play Betting? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bitcoin? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Casino Options? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Live Chat Support? | Yes | No | Yes |
Phone Support? | Yes | Yes | No |
Sign Up Now! | Visit MyBookie | Visit BetNow | Visit Bovada |
How to Bet On Sports in Florida – 3 Options
Use Florida Sports Betting Sites Online
The easiest and most straightforward method to bet on sports online in Florida is using FL sports betting sites. You can also download Florida sports betting apps right to your phone. Super convenient!
You can make bets in real-time from your phone without ever leaving the beach, the theme parks, or the mile-long line to get a Publix sub.
Heck, if you don’t want to leave the house, you don’t even have to put your flip flops on if you don’t want to. The best Florida online sportsbooks are the premier option for real money sports betting in the state.
Take a Sports Betting Cruise
Before land-based casinos started popping up in the state of Florida, casino cruises were your only in-person betting option. And while you now have an option for casino action, the cruises still hold one leg up over the brick and mortar establishments—sports betting.
If you’re dead-set on in-person Florida sports gambling, a casino or sports betting cruise could be an option. Typically, these cruises sail from the major ports in the state and go into international waters for a few hours to let people gamble. As long as you don’t get seasick and are able to get a spot (they get busy), it can be fun.
Victory Casino Cruise Line – Port Canaveral, FL
Located across the bridge just north of Melbourne Beach and Patrick Air Force Base is Port Canaveral. This is where the Victory cruise line docks and sails out with its regularly scheduled casino cruises. If you happen to live in one of the neighboring areas, you may be able to snag a free shuttle ride from the company.
In addition to regular sports betting, there are special events in the Victory Casino Cruises Sportsbook Lounge, like Super Bowl parties and tailgates.
Drive to Mississippi
The validity of this solution depends on where you live in Florida and how much you can stand I-10, I-95, and I-75. They’re not as terrible as I-4, but they’re not always the most relaxing of driving. Now that we’ve gotten the Florida road bashing out of the way, let’s talk about this option.
Currently, there are no brick and mortar sportsbooks in the state of Florida, Georgia, or Alabama. The closest option you have is to drive to Biloxi, Mississippi. If you live in the panhandle, that’s not that bad.
However, the farther east and farther south you get in the state of Florida, the farther that drive gets.
- Tallahassee to Biloxi is 304.3 miles via I-10 (4 hours and 25 minutes)
- Gainesville to Biloxi is 450.8 miles via I-10 (6 hours and 47 minutes)
- Orlando to Biloxi is 557.6 miles via I-10 (7 hours and 53 minutes)
- Tampa Bay to Biloxi is 575.7 miles via I-75 and I-10 (8 hours and 2 minutes)
- West Palm Beach to Biloxi is 717.7 miles via the Turnpike and I-10 (10 hours and 5 minutes)
- Miami to Biloxi is 783.4 miles via the Turnpike and I-10 (10 hours and 59 minutes)
Is Betting Online in Florida Legal?
At the close of last year, Florida introduced several pieces of legislature to begin regulating sports betting through the state’s lottery program. S968, S970, and S972 aim to set out the parameters and guidelines for betting in the state as well as the requirements to earn a license. Licenses would cost $100,000 for providers, and holders would be responsible for a 15% revenue tax. Online betting is included in the legislation.
In 2018, the federal government passed legislation removing roadblocks for states to lay out their own guidelines and frameworks for regulated sports betting within their state limits.
Additionally, in the most recent election, Florida voters moved the power to fully legalize and regulate Florida online sports betting out of the hands of legislators and into the hands of the state’s residents.
Because of Amendment 3, Florida voters now control “casino gambling” within the state. We put the exact wording in quotes because there is the debate on whether sports betting falls under the heading of casino gambling, as many would argue it’s a game of skill.
In other words, the legality of online betting in Florida is a gray area. We’d hope to get more clarity in the coming months or years from the state legislature, but nothing is guaranteed.
Are these sites legal? Again, it’s a gray area and two separate discussions—the legality for the site operators and the legality for the bettors. While you’ll need to contact a gaming attorney for a full breakdown (their opinion) of the situation, we can provide this information for color. To date, zero Florida residents or visitors have been in any legal trouble for using Florida online betting sites to our knowledge.
What Parts of Florida Are Most Interested in Sports Betting?
According to Google Trends, the metro in Florida with the most search traffic for information about sports betting is the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.
Coming in second, with about 80% of the volume of the Tampa area, is Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. And rounding out the podium finishers is the Orlando-Daytona Beach area with about half the search volume as the Tampa area.
Here’s the top 10 list over the past 12 months in the state of Florida:
- Tampa-St. Petersburg (Sarasota) FL
- Miami-Ft. Lauderdale FL
- Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne FL
- Gainesville FL
- West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce FL
- Myers-Naples FL
- Tallahassee FL-Thomasville GA
- Jacksonville FL
- Mobile AL-Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach) FL
- Panama City FL
Professional Sports in Florida – Teams and Popularity Data
While you aren’t required only to bet on Florida teams at these Florida betting sites, it tends to be one of the more popular pastimes, especially with recreational bettors. Additionally, what we have found is that states with more prevalent professional sports markets have a much more flourishing and exciting sports betting community.
Currently, Florida has 10 professional sports teams. The state did have a few more MLS teams a few years back, but lack of interest forced some of those teams to fold.
Speaking of interest, what are the most popular sports to bet on in Florida? What are the most popular sports? While there’s limited data available about what people are betting on, there are some ways we can determine which professional sports in FL are the most popular.
One of the ways we like to do this is by looking at how well professional sports teams in the state can fill their stadiums or arenas. Based on average attendance numbers aggregated for each professional sporting league over a recent season, here are the most popular sports in the state of Florida in order:
Here are some other key takeaways from the data study:
Are Betting Apps Legal
- The Miami Dolphins had the best average attendance capacity percentage over the studied season at 101.20%.
- The Miami Marlins didn’t fare as well. The team had the lowest average attendance capacity percentage over the studied season at 26.70%.
- In the NFL, average capacity percentages ranked the teams in order—the Dolphins first, the Jags second, and the Buccaneers third. However, this may change with all the new talent the Bucs have brought to the Tampa area.
For those interested, here is the raw data:
Team | League | # of Games | Average Attendance | Total Attendance | % of Capacity |
Miami Marlins | MLB | 81 | 10,013 | 811,104 | 26.70% |
Tampa Bay Devil Rays | MLB | 81 | 14,258 | 1,154,973 | 41.80% |
Miami Heat | NBA | 41 | 19,631 | 785,250 | 100.20% |
Orlando Magic | NBA | 41 | 17,893 | 715,728 | 94.90% |
Jacksonville Jaguars | NFL | 7 | 66,674 | 466,719 | 98.30% |
Miami Dolphins | NFL | 8 | 65,560 | 524,480 | 101.20% |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | NFL | 8 | 54,356 | 434,855 | 82.80% |
Florida Panthers | NHL | 41 | 13,261 | 543,734 | 78.20% |
Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 41 | 19,092 | 787,772 | 100.00% |
Orlando City SC | MLS | 34 | 22,761 | 773,874 | 89.26% |
League | Avg Capacity % | Total Attendance |
MLB | 34.25% | 1,966,077 |
MLS | 89.26% | 773,874 |
NBA | 97.55% | 1,500,978 |
NFL | 94.10% | 1,426,054 |
NHL | 89.10% | 1,331,506 |
Get Started Using Florida Sports Betting Sites Now!
Betting Site | Bonus | Bet Now | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | up to €30 Free Bet | Go to Site | |
2 | 22Bet | 100% up to €122 | Go to Site |
3 | 100% up to €200 | Go to Site | |
4 | 10Bet | 100% up to €50 | Go to Site |
5 | 100% up to €50 | Go to Site |