Florida Gaming Commission

Key Details About the Gaming Commission in Florida

Several state organisations take care of the regulation of gambling activities. They play the role of a gaming commission in Florida and they regulate both types of gaming facilities: commercial and tribal. This Florida Gaming Commission undertakes numerous activities that are also an integral part of the initiatives of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (or DBPR) and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (or DACS). Also, the state laws do not include or mention online gambling, which means that players from The Sunshine State can play at offshore online casinos, although it is not legal.

On the other hand, there are many other forms of gambling in Florida that are regulated and that you can enjoy legally. For instance, there are cardroom poker games, horse racing, slot machines and many others, only if they are pari-mutuel games. You can do it in some of the biggest land-based casinos in Florida such as Casino Miami, Calder Casino and Racecourse or the Casino at Dania Beach. You can also take on some of the best casino cruises and casino boats in Florida, and enjoy an amazing getaway with your friends and your favourite gambling adventures. With this in mind, please check out the following table with more information about the Florida Gaming Commission and the other organisations that have regulatory functions. You will learn only the basics and the key details about it while further down in this blog post, you will discover each of these organisations thoroughly explained.

Overall, there are two main divisions (commercial and tribal) on the gambling floor in Florida. The role of a Florida Gaming Commission that regulates the commercial gaming facilities is played by the Department of Business & Professional Regulation under its Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Additionally, the role of a Florida Gaming Commission for the tribal gaming facilities is played by The Seminole Tribe of Florida which is the only authorised institution that can offer Class III (casino-style) gaming. These classic or casino-style games include and not only: blackjack, roulette, craps and cardroom poker. Now, in the following sections, we invite you to take a look at some at the main responsibilities of all these administrative bodies, licensing and socially responsible organisations that play the role of a gaming commission in Florida.

Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

This Division of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation regulates every gambling aspect in the Sunshine State that is related to commercial pari-mutuel facilities. This type of gambling includes different games and facilities, such as greyhound racing, horse racing and harness horse racing facilities, jai alai games, cardroom poker and slot machine facilities. The common thing between them is the pari-mutuel form of betting, which means that all the bets are placed together, and the players are not obliged to observe the game.

The Office of Slot Operations is the main body in this division that is responsible for the regulation and licensing of operators of pari-mutuel slot machine facilities in Florida. According to this Florida Gaming Commission mission statement, you can find some of the biggest and most famous racino facilities only in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Examples include the 100,000 sq. ft. Calder Casino or the 40,000 sq. ft. Casino Miami, which are highly recommended places to visit while in Miami! Check out the next list with the main initiatives of the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering in Florida:

• Regulates and licenses pari-mutuel wagering in Florida for horse racing, harness horse racing, greyhound racing, jai alai games and cardroom poker games;
• Regulates and licenses pari-mutuel slot machine facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties via its sub-division – The Office of Slot Operations;
• Collects and safeguards associated revenues due to the state;
• Issues Florida Gaming Commission reports for the pari-mutuel wagering permit holder operating licenses on an annual basis;
• Issues various publications and annual reports, including newsletters, general, licencing and auditing forms, brochures, and others;
• Investigates and approves applicants for permits and licences.

Florida Lottery

The lotteries in Florida are a quite new gaming activity that started in 1986 when it was authorised by a constitutional amendment. Florida Lottery was established as the main organisation responsible for maximisation of the revenues by offering high-quality lotto games in the state. Nowadays, there are many popular lotteries including draw games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play and Fantasy Five. The scratch-offs are also famous and they include a diverse portfolio with games like Remaining Top Prizes and $10 Games among many others. Players can purchase tickets and other products only at the authorized Florida Lottery offices and retailers, but as of now, the Florida legislature does not approve the use of video lottery machines.

Florida Department of Agriculture

This is the administrative body that is responsible for issuing rules for different businesses about game promotions and sweepstakes. These operators offer various forms of contests or games of chance, such as sweepstakes or gifts, and they must comply with the rules of FDACS. In this type of games, the prize or the element of chance is present. Therefore, operators that offer game promotions with prizes over $5,000 must be authorised by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in the first place. In other words, this administrative department plays the role of a Florida gaming commission.

Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission

The tribal gaming facilities are regulated by The Seminole Tribe of Florida which is the sole tribe in the state that can offer Class III game venues in Indian casinos. If you want to contact Florida Gaming Commission, you can do so by phone: (800) 683-7800 or on their address in 6300 Stirling Road Hollywood, Florida 33024. It has various regulatory responsibilities, and it undertakes activities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) while The State Compliance Agency (SCA) is the federal institution that monitors the Indian casinos. The land-based casino complexes are one of the big similarities of Indian with commercial gaming sites in Florida. On the other hand, a big difference from commercial gaming is the testing requirement.

The gaming commission in Florida for commercial facilities regulates and approves only licensed slot machines by independent testing houses, while the tribal gaming legislation does not require game testing. Nevertheless, you can be sure that the Indian casinos offer some of the best slot machines or other games! They are something like a monopole of slot machine facilities in the state, except for the Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Exactly the Indian casinos include some of Florida’s largest gaming resorts and venues, such as Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Center, Seminole Casino Immokalee and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. That being said, check out some of the responsibilities of this Florida gaming commission in the next list:

• Plays the role of a gaming commission in Florida by issuing gaming licenses to operators and suppliers of game services in the state;
• Regulates the Indian casinos under the tribal gaming ordinance and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act;
• Reimburses of the state on an annual base for the cost of the monitoring activities of the State Compliance Agency;
• Provides the state with a minimum required payment or with a percentage of the revenue from the gaming facilities;
• Uses this gaming commission Florida revenue for its tribal government programmes and operations, for promotion of the tribal economic growth, for donation to charitable organisations, and other purposes;
• Compiles lists of the voluntarily or self-excluded patrons from the tribal gaming facilities;
• Issues annual reports, self-regulation certifications, news releases and other publications.

Responsible Gaming in Florida

Numerous organisations are committed to providing an enjoyable and safe gambling experience to the players from the Sunshine State. These agencies and organisations are also an important part of the gaming commission in Florida, and their main initiatives are in the field of advocating responsible gaming. They can help players with gambling problems and/or provide professional consultation to prevent gambling addiction. Here is a list of the main national and local agencies that take care of the responsible gambling in Florida:

• American Gaming Association
• Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG)
• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)
• Gamblers Annonymous (GA)
• National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG)

History of Gambling in The Sunshine State

The Florida Gambling Commission in all its forms and legal entities, has a long historical background from the early 1930s. Pari-mutuel betting was first legalised in 1932 when the Great Depression put a significant setback on the state’s economy. Years after the legalisation of the pari-mutuel gaming, it was noticeable that the main tourist destinations and seaside resort cities like Tampa and Miami were the principle gambling destinations in Florida.

Indian bingo facilities were first legalised in 1979 and numerous casino cruises started to emerge as the most preferred places to gamble. The first lotteries in Florida were legalised in 1986 and the next couple of decades featured several periods when gambling was illegal in the state. Yet again, gambling was legalised in 2004 and is still legal until today when the state became one of the leading US states in terms of casino and gaming facilities.

In conclusion, there are nearly 130 commercial and tribal gaming facilities in Florida and they play a major role in the flourishing tourism of the state. The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering and the Seminole Tribe play the role of a gaming commission in Florida that licenses and regulates, respectively, the state’s commercial and the tribal casinos. If you enjoyed this blog post about the Florida Gaming Commission and the legal situation in the state, please check out the next FAQ section, too!

FAQ: Florida Gambling Commission

If you still have some questions about the legislative organisations that act as a Florida Gaming Commission, why not checking out the next Q&As? They will help you out in the most important aspects that we included in this Bestcasinosites.net blog post and you could find your question explained right to the point. So, check them out!

📜 How to obtain a gaming licence in Florida?

To obtain a gaming licence as a facility operator in Florida, you will have to submit an application form to the main gambling regulators that play the role of a Florida Gaming Commission. They will investigate your application and after approval, you could proceed with the legalisation process of your gaming business.

🎲 Is any form of gambling regulated by the Florida Gaming Commission?

No, there are several forms of gambling that are not regulated, such as online gambling. Casino cruises that go in the ocean outside the legal area of The Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering are also not regulated. However, the forms of gambling that are legal in Florida include pari-mutuel betting, slot machines, card rooms and many others, which are regulated.

⛔ Is online gambling legal in Florida?

No, online gambling is not legalised in Florida, but the state laws do not mention anything about it, except for the prohibition of video lottery machines. In other words, you can play at offshore gambling sites or at some of the best online casinos for US players.

💲 What payment methods are allowed by the gaming commission in Florida?

The commercial and the Indian casinos in Florida allow only cash wagering as a legal payment method. The organisations that act as a Florida Gaming Commission under The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the Florida Statutes prohibit the use of credit/debit cards, phone betting, wiring and check cashing at the casino operators.

⚽ Can I bet on sports in a casino regulated by the Florida Gaming Commission?

Yes, players in Florida are allowed to bet on pari-mutuel sports events such as horse racing, greyhound racing and harness horse racing. Unluckily, online sports betting is not allowed in the state yet, but there is a recent bill introduced for the legalisation of this form of gambling, while the DFS betting is still a grey market in Florida.

🔞 What is the legal age in a Florida casino with slot machines?

The legal gambling age for Indian and pari-mutuel casinos in Florida is 18, except for slot machine facilities. A player must be 21+ to access, operate or play in the gaming facilities with slot machines in Florida. This complies with the socially responsible organisations that act to prevent illegal gambling in Florida.

❓ Who is the Florida Gaming Commission?

There is no official Florida Gaming Commission as a unified legislative agency. Instead, several federal and local organisations act as a gaming commission in Florida and, respectively, they are responsible for the licensing and the regulation of the casino operators. These are the DBPR and its Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, as well as The Seminole Tribe of Florida.

🎴 What cardroom games can I play in Florida?

The licensed cardrooms in Florida offer only poker and domino games. These games are played in a strict player vs player manner or, in other words, the cardroom or ‘The House’ does not participate in the game and the spreading of the winnings.