Best Casinos in Florida

Florida is one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S. With its beautiful beaches, shopping excursions, some of the best theme parks in the world, it is no wonder that people from all over visit this peninsula-state.

Another reason it draws so many visitors each year is its phenomenal commercial and tribal casinos, which offer everything from top-notch slots and electronic games to greyhound and horseracing. USA Online Casino has put together a list of the highest-rated land-based casinos in Florida for the most fantastic casino game experience.

Below we have featured the best land-based casinos within the state of Florida according to customer, industry and peer reviews. These casinos have a fantastic selection of card and table games as well as the latest slot machines.

Based on our expert analysis of the best casinos throughout the state of Florida, our team has come up with a review based on combined offerings – from popular card games like blackjack and baccarat o in-casino accommodation, featured entertainment and live events, such as casino nightlife and dining, and bonus and reward promotions. Each casino is award winning in its class and the top two belong to the popular Hard Rock International brand, operating in conjunction with the Seminole Tribe of Florida – Native Americans.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa

Located 20 miles from Florida’s west coast, The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa is the state’s premiere gambling destination and one of the largest in the country. This property features a massive 190,000+ square foot casino, which offers live poker rooms, 110 table games including mini-baccarat and Pai Gow and tri-card poker, and over 5,000 of the latest video slot machines. The Seminole Wild Card loyalty program rewards players with fantastic membership incentives. Dining and accommodation options include a five-star rated 24-hour buffet with sushi and lavish rooms overlooking West Tampa in its 12-story tower. The casino also features vibrant nightclubs and hosts weekly live music events. During the day time families can enjoy pool service, and buy rock n’ roll gifts from the Hard Rock Store as well as enjoy musical memorabilia exhibits throughout the complex.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood is located on 100 acres of the Hollywood Reservation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The casino features a 140,000 square foot casino hall, which holds live poker, over 2,000 incredible slot machines, and popular table games featuring blackjack and baccarat. Electronic versions of craps and roulette also exist. The casino grounds features a golf course, a lagoon-style pool sitting on 4 acres, exclusive restaurants, nightclubs, shopping and the Hard Rock Live concert venue fit for 5,500 people – hosting headline musical acts, boxing events, and even rodeo and indoor football. The casino is currently undergoing a whopping $1.5 billion expansion set for completion by 2020, intended to double its current size with over 3,200 slot machines and 180 table games. It will also include an 18,000-square foot poker room topped off with a massive 450-foot tall, 600-room, iconic guitar-shaped tower hotel building.

Seminole Coconut Creek Casino

Seminole Coconut Creek Casino is a fully integrated and stylish casino complex located just 40 minutes north of Miami Beach. The venue offers an upscale South Florida casino experience and features over 2,000 of the newest state-of-the-art slot machines, 70 live table games including Mississippi Stud, Three-card poker, and a VIP-game lounge. Seminole Casino also holds one of the most exquisite and highly awarded steakhouses in the region, NYY Steak. In addition to its top-notch dining, the casino property is host to an incredible live music venue, The Pavilion, a 1,200-seat capacity entertainment venue, which has been home to acts like Frank Sinatra Jr. and Joan Collins. The acclaimed Legends Lounge is also a staple nightclub of the complex, featuring music from world-renowned DJs. Players can enjoy club rewards, real money giveaways, and WSOP satellite tournaments with grand prizes reaching $1 million.

See All Casinos in Florida

Visitors flock to Florida for its warm climates, sunny beaches, and highly entertaining venues. Without question, among these popular destinations, both locals and snowbirds enjoy the casinos. However, although the Florida public and its officials hold relatively lax views on gambling, there is still a lot subject to amendment concerning gambling laws and attitudes. Let’s look at the colorful history, legislation and fun facts concerning games of chance in the Sunshine State.

History of Gambling in Florida

In 1932, Florida legalized pari-mutuel betting a county-basis in efforts to bring in tax revenue during the Great Depression. Casino gambling remained illegal, but this aided the state in a time of economic crisis.
Popular among Latin American communities, the ball game Jai alai became a legal sporting event not long after, but illegal betting also took place in conjunction. Slot machines were legalized statewide in 1935, but a 1973 law repealed this legislation, effectively banning them until a 1979 provision allowed for the legal operation of bingo and gambling halls on Native American tribal land.

By 1984 “cruises to nowhere” were introduced to circumvent state laws forbidding gambling, which allowed people to take to the seas from the Florida coast on ships fitted with casinos, effectively operating outside of state boundaries. The Florida Lottery was introduced in 1986, with proceeds going to state education each week. Despite efforts to legalize casino gambling by Florida voters in 1978, 1986, and 1994, it would not be until 2004, that casino gambling became legal within the state. Today there are some 140 land-based casinos in operation in the state of Florida, and the state ranks 4th in terms of number of casinos out of 46 states with legalized casino gambling within the U.S.

Gambling Laws in Florida

The types of physical casinos that exist in the State of Florida are Native American casinos, boat casinos, and commercial establishments with gaming machines that offer pari-mutuel betting. With the passing of a U.S. federal law allowing for independent enterprise on Native American soil, starting with bingo halls, the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes of Florida now operate tribal land-based casinos freely in accordance with state legislators.

The pari-mutuel wagering facilities within the state also have authorization to feature horse and greyhound racing, Jai alai games, and cardroom poker games. The minimum gambling age in Florida is 18 for pari-mutuel betting or poker, and 21 for gaming machines. Specialty games including craps and roulette are illegal due to conflicting interests, and cannot be found in the state’s land-based venues. Electronic versions of these games do however exist in land-based casinos. Popular casino boats offer gamblers the opportunity to play on cruise ships that operate offshore, taking excursions to the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean. Scratch-off games and the Florida are also legal, and very popular, with revenues going to education within the state.

Online casino gambling, unfortunately is illegal in the state, however, persecution regarding online casino patrons is in most cases extremely rare due to the legal grey are regarding these operations. Charity bingo games or raffles are allowed, with Seminole tribal territories allowing for cash prizes.

Florida Gambling Facts

Visitors and residents alike have been gambling in the state of Florida for years with popular sporting events like horse and dog racing, as well with Jai alai. The most popular table game in Florida is without question 21 card games such as blackjack and Spanish 21. These types of table games and slot machines are among the overwhelming favorite games of chance in Florida-casinos. However, the state’s colorful gambling history also presents some interesting facts.

Disney’s anti-gambling stance

Disney World, located in Orlando, is one of Florida’s most popular tourist destinations. However, since its construction in 1971, the Disney Company has been notorious in its stance against casino gambling; donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the political action committee Voters in Charge to limit gambling in Florida. Disney continues to discourage lawmakers from expanding all forms gambling within the state; concerned that these gambling venues will take away from resort revenues and promote a less family-friendly agenda.

“Little Chicago”

Al Capone moved to Miami in 1928 and gambling within the state took on a more sinister tone. Throughout the 30s, the city became a hotbed for illegal gambling, particularly the Cuban-based numbers game Boilita, in addition to illegal card games. The city was once referred to as “Little Chicago” at the height of the Prohibition Era due to the onset of gambling and gang-related violence. Capone’s two-bedroom home on Miami Beach went up for sale in 2014 for nearly $15 million, offering stunning views of famed Biscayne Bay.

Big gaming

Although the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Tampa is the largest casino facility in the State of Florida, the largest casino in terms of gaming space in square footage is actually the Casino at Dania Beach. It holds 200,000 square feet of gaming space, featuring a range of slots and electronic table games as well as poker card rooms and Jai alai via live stream.

Florida is home to 140 land-based casinos including boat casinos, pari-mutuel betting and tribal establishments. Many of these venues offer top-tier gaming from card games and tournaments to slot machines and electronic specialty games. Florida is the ideal gambling destination due largely to its year-round tropical climate, scenic views and massive entertainment offerings. In Florida’s casinos, you will enjoy games of skill such blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker and Three Card Poker and live hold‘em. Be sure to check out the game and promo offerings at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood and Seminole Coconut Creek Casino to name a few.