Best Casinos In Florida
The Sunshine State has an endless supply of ways to keep you occupied. Gambling is among the up and coming forerunners.
Florida casinos offer 2 racinos with different games such as slots, roulette, blackjack and other gambling games. FL racinos namely Gulfstream Park & Isle Casino Pompano offer dog tracks, roulette and diverse gambling choices. Native Seminole tribe runs the Indian racino activities in Florida. Bonita Springs Naples Fort Myers Casino. Welcome to the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Racing & Poker. Cape Canaveral Victory Casino Cruise. The Victory Casino Cruise Port Canaveral features.
If you’re over the Disney resorts and have had your fill of sand getting in all the wrong places, check out these seven best casinos for gambling in Florida.
1 – Seminole Hard Rock Casino
The Hard Rock brand was launched in the 1970s. It was the 90s when the brand hit its peak level of popularity.
While the brand isn’t the juggernaut it once was, it still holds enough weight to draw in the crowds.
Visitors to Tampa can enjoy a unique partnership between the Hard Rock brand and the Seminole Tribe. The result of the collaboration is the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
The luxurious hotel-casino offers guests well-appointed rooms to recharge after a long day and night of gambling fun. Of course, there are several bars and restaurants to choose from aligning with the brand’s principle area of operations.
The casino at the Hard Rock is a true standout. The impressive gaming floor has nearly 50 tables for gamblers to enjoy games like Mississippi Stud, baccarat, and Texas Hold’Em.
If you’re not into card games, you’ll be happy to hear about the casino’s slot machines. The casino recently expanded the casino to make room for over 100 new machines.
However, I encourage you to take advantage of brilliant rooms after a long night. The Rock Spa offers a full-service experience for visitors.
You can receive services ranging from a complete barbershop to the latest in spa therapy treatments.
If you’re in the Tampa area and looking to party like a rockstar, the Hard Rock definitely fits the bill.
2 – Dania Jai-Alai
Jai-Alai is not at the forefront of most casino gamblers in the U.S. I imagine it’s not top of mind for many Americans at all.
Despite that, the sport is alive and thriving in South Florida. The Miami establishment offers jai-alai matches every day of the week.
Bettors crowd the facility to place their wagers on the forgotten sport. Weekends are especially busy at Dania, with multiple matches taking place.
Visitors are also able to place simulcast bets on harness racing, thoroughbreds, and jai-alai.
The gambling no longer stops there, though. The Dania has added a traditional casino to its repertoire, and the games have made an immediate impression.
The casino has over 900 slot machines for gaming enthusiasts to pick from. Gamblers also have their choice of the most popular table games.
The standards like blackjack, craps, and roulette all sit at the ready. If you’re a poker aficionado, you’ll be right at home on any of the two dozen poker tables.
Poker is the Dania casino star, and you can choose from Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, and 7-Card Stud.
If you’re expecting a Las Vegas experience at Dania Jai-Alai, you’ll be disappointed. However, it’s proving to be a great place for locals and tourists to get their gambling fix in Florida.
3 – Seminole Casino, Brighton
The Seminole Casino Brighton is an entertainment mecca in the heart of Florida. The casino draws large crowds from both Tampa and Orlando year after year.
Gamblers at the Seminole Casino can enjoy over 400 different slot machines during their visit. From classic games to the latest video slots, Seminole has it all.
If you’re not having fun on one game, take a stroll around the 28,000 square feet of real money slots, and you’re sure to find a game you like.
From penny slots to $5 per spin, the Seminole can keep you gambling all night regardless of your bankroll.
If you’re in the mood for table games, you’re in luck. Table games are where the Seminole truly shines. Players gather around the blackjack and poker tables well into the morning hours.
Be sure to sign up for the Seminole’s Wild Card. The Wild Card is a tier-based rewards program and is accepted at several different Floridian casinos.
You can earn player bonuses and comp dollars to spend on food, hotel rooms, and even merchandise in the gift shop.
4 – Magic City Casino
Magic City Casino is on the cutting edge of casino gambling. Magic City transitioned from a Greyhound racing complex to Jai-Alai back in 2018.
So, if you’re traveling to Florida in search of the elusive jai-alai, you can find matches Wednesday-Sunday. Of course, jai-alai doesn’t really qualify as cutting edge casino play.
However, electronic table games are some of the latest in casino technology. In fact, all 40 of the casino’s table games are electronic.
That means virtual dealers for games like blackjack and a virtual wheel for roulette. When you enter the gaming area at Magic City, it’s easy to mistake the electronic games for slot machines.
The entire floor resembles a massive arcade, and players gather around the machines to play and out of general curiosity.
The slot machine selection at Magic City is large enough to impress almost any critic. The casino has over 800 slot machines to choose from and plenty of variety to boot.
Poker is king at Magic City. The poker room has 18 tables with action going into the wee hours of the morning seven nights a week.
The poker room has daily promotions for rewards members to earn bonuses. There are massive poker jackpots that can instantly turn a player’s luck around.
The Big Mouth Buffet is worth mentioning. I’m not a buffet connoisseur by any means, but if you’ve drained the battery and in need of a recharge, this buffet has you covered and smothered.
5 – Victory Casino Cruises
Victory Casino Cruises makes a list for many reasons, but I’ll be real. Ingenuity is at the top of the list.
While it’s illegal to gamble in many parts of Florida, Victory has found a massive loophole and exploited it.
You see, by taking the casino 12 miles out to sea, the vessel is no longer bound to federal or state laws. Maritime law becomes the authority aboard the vessel, and gambling is fair play.
Victory Casino Cruises take passengers on their open water adventures twice a day, seven days a week. The length of the excursions varies between five and six hours, and you’ll have your pick of the time.
Sports bettors often crowd the ships on their trips to the sea. Sports bettors are able to find competitive lines on everything from MMA to golf.
Victory Casino Cruises definitely gets the win for ingenuity, but they also boast an impressive table gaming experience.
6 – Seminole Coconut Creek Casino
Seminole Coconut Creek is one of the biggest casinos in the state of Florida, and it has plenty of casino games.
For starters, the poker room at Coconut Creek has 15 Poler tables. This means reduced wait times when looking for a table. Still, it also means the Seminole Coconut Creek can host some of the state’s largest poker tournaments.
Also, Coconut Creek offers an impressive 70 table games. Including a dozen electronic roulette tables.
Rounding it all out are the 1500 slot machines for players to spin the hours away on.
So, by the numbers, the Coconut Creek has nearly 1600 available games to be played at any given time. This amount of action makes Seminole Coconut Creek one of the most action-packed casinos in Florida.
7 – The Big Easy
The Big Easy took the place of the Mardi Gras Casino after storms damaged it, this is Florida.
You won’t find any table games at the Big Easy, but the casino does offer over 30 poker tables.
Slot machines are a popular attraction at the Big Easy, and players have hundreds to choose from, 1300 to be exact. You can even enjoy slots on the casino’s designated outdoor smoking patio.
The Big Easy’s claim to fame is the video poker machines. The casino claims to have more of these games than any casino in Florida.
If playing video poker is your favorite casino activity, load up the family and take a trip to The Big Easy, Florida.
Conclusion
You don’t have to battle the traffic or cold weather in Atlantic City for your casino getaway on the east coast. Nor do you need to make a Clark Griswold-Esque pilgrimage through middle America to Las Vegas.
You can find all the casino fun you’re looking for and perhaps even learn a thing about jai-alai in the sunshine state. The seven best casinos in Florida may not have all of the bells and whistles of the Strip, but you’re sure to have a great story to tell.
Introduction to Florida Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Florida slot machine casino gambling consists of eight pari-mutuel racetracks in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, seven tribal casinos, senior center amusement arcades, multi-day cruise ships with onboard casinos, and day-long gambling boats.
I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Florida*
The minimum legal gambling age in Florida depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 18
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
State gaming regulations have authorized slot machines at pari-mutuel wagering racetracks in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. These counties contain the cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale in southern Florida.
Coin-operated amusement machines at senior center arcades are not slot machines and fall into the same category as pinball machines, shooting galleries, music machines, and video games.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Florida
In Florida, it is legal to own a slot machine privately if it is at least 20 years old.
Gaming Control Board in Florida
The gaming control commission is the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering within Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR).
Overall, the DBPR authorizes, regulates or provides oversight for Florida’s gaming industries of:
- Pari-mutuel wagering at racetracks
- Cardroom games
There are over three dozen pari-mutuel wagering facilities in Florida for which the DBPR is responsible, including the eight sites with slot machines. The DBPR does not regulate bingo, the Florida Lottery, coin-operated amusement machines, or day-long casino boats.
Historically, Florida has a long history of gambling, starting 100 years before gaming became legal. For example, at his first hotel, the Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine in 1888, Henry Flagler created the exclusive and famous Bacchus Club Casino.
Tribal gaming originally arrived in Florida with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988. With it, Florida’s two federally recognized American Indian tribes opened casinos offering Class II bingo-style gaming.
Eventually, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has negotiated a tribal-state compact allowing them to offer Class III Vegas-style gaming at their seven casinos.
However, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida has not completed their gaming compact negotiations, limiting them to Class II bingo-style gaming machines at their single casino.
Casinos in Florida
There are eight pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, seven American Indian tribal casinos, and two daily casino cruise ships based in Florida.
The largest casino in Florida is Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa with 5,000 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood with 3,100 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Florida
Eight pari-mutuel racetrack and wagering sites in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties hosting Miami and Fort Lauderdale offer slot machines, including:
- The Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach.
- Calder Casino in Miami Gardens.
- Casino Miami in Miami.
- The Casino @ Dania Beach in Dania Beach.
- Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale Beach.
- Hialeah Park Racing & Casino in Hialeah.
- Isle Casino Pompano in Pompano Beach.
- Magic City Casino in Miami.
Tribal Casinos in Florida
The seven tribal casinos are in southern Florida are:
- Miccosukee Resort & Gaming in Miami, 24 miles west of downtown Miami.
- Seminole Casino Brighton, 135 miles south of Orlando.
- Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 25 miles north of Fort Lauderdale.
- Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee, 35 miles northeast of Naples.
- Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood, 1 mile south of Fort Lauderdale.
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, 1 mile south of Fort Lauderdale.
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, 80 miles southwest of Orlando.
List Of Casinos In Florida
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Florida slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Florida is:
- North: Georgia Slots
- North and West: Alabama Slots
- Southeast: Puerto Rico Slots and U.S. Virgin Islands Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state or territory to Florida.
Besides multi-day cruise ships with onboard casinos sailing to international destinations, there are two day-long casino cruise boats with onboard Vegas-style gaming available in Florida:
- Tropical Breeze Casino in Port Richey, 37 miles northwest of Tampa.
- Victory Casino Cruises in Port Canaveral, 60 miles southeast of Orlando.
Our Florida Slots Facebook Community
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Florida? If so, join our Florida slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.
There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in Florida. Join us!
Payouts and Returns in Florida
Florida’s pari-mutuel wagering sites with slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties have a minimum theoretical payout of 85%. Return statistics by month and commercial casino are publicly available by dividing Credits Out by Credits In and multiplying by 100%.
For October 2020, the monthly player win percentages were:
- The Big Easy: 91.9%
- Calder Casino: 91.1%
- Casino Miami: 92.7%
- The Casino @ Dania Beach: 92.2%
- Gulfstream Park: 91.6%
- Hialeah Park: 94.0%
- Isle Casino Pompano: 90.3%
- Magic City: 93.4%
- All: 92.4%
For October 2020, the highest return, again, went to Hialeah Park, with 94.0%, again closely followed by Magic City at 93.4%. The lowest return, also again, went to Isle Casino It’s return was 90.3%.
Florida’s tribal compacts do not require theoretical payout limits on their slot machines, nor do they required to make return statistics publicly available.
Summary of Florida Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Best Poker Casinos In Florida
Florida slot machine casino gambling consists of eight pari-mutuel racetracks in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties hosting Miami and Fort Lauderdale, seven tribal casinos in southern Florida, senior center arcades with amusement machines, multi-day cruise ships with onboard casinos to international destinations, and several day-long gambling boats which sail to international waters before gambling can commence.
Annual Progress in Florida Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, Seminole Casino Immokalee has slipped from second largest casino in Florida all the way to sixth place. Why? Because it did not increase in slot machines as had four other once smaller casinos.
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Other States from Professor Slots
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Best Casinos In Orlando Florida
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC