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Choosing Where to Bet Online in Florida

The online sports betting industry is already full of options and increasing all the time. We want to give you more information on what to look for when choosing a sportsbook to bet with. There are a few things to consider when finding the right sportsbook for you.

What to consider when choosing a sportsbook

So what should you be looking for from an online sportsbook?

Currently, Florida online sports betting is not available. This means that you can’t find Florida online sportsbooks (or online casinos) legally operating in this state. However, things could change in the future, as there has been recent developments as sports betting talks have begun with the Seminoles. Sports betting is illegal in the state of Florida There’s much more to bet on than who wins or what the spread might be. Some of the most interesting betting options have nothing at all to do. A daily sports betting news and information show (6-7 p.m. ET, ESPN2) that aims to better serve the millions of sports fans who participate in sports wagering and help educate general sports fans.

One of the main points to check is the sports markets available from the bookmaker. You want to make sure that they offer bets for your preferred sports. Once you have ascertained this, you should also check out the bet types on offer. Again, you want to know that a sportsbook is offering the wagers you would choose.

With the online sportsbook industry being so competitive, you can find many bonus offers available at bookmakers. These will often be sign-up offers, and sometimes recurring bonuses such as free bets. Once you’ve found a sportsbook, check out the bonuses that they offer. Make sure that you’re benefiting from placing bets with that bookmaker.

One last thing to take note of is the operator’s terms and conditions. This includes things like wagering requirements, deposit and withdrawal fees, and any limits for certain payment methods. Don’t sign up for a sportsbook that isn’t offering you transparent and fair options.

Registering to an online sportsbook

Registering to most online sportsbooks is a straightforward process.

1. Once you’ve found one that suits your preferences, you will need to fill in some basic details to create your account. This will usually involve your name, age, and address.
2. Often, you will also need to provide some proof of identification, in the form of a photo of your ID, passport or driving license. You may also be asked for proof of billing address in the form of a recent bank statement or utility bill.
3. Once your account is set up and verified, you’ll be able to start placing your bets!

Understanding Sports Betting Odds

Sportsbook odds are the way that bookmakers tell you how much money you will make from winning a bet. It’s always important to check what odds are available and make sure you’re getting the best offer. Odds can be displayed in a few different ways, as we’ve explained below.

Decimal Odds

Decimal odds are also known as European odds. They are most commonly seen at sportsbooks based in Europe, Australia, and Canada. They are straightforward to understand and compare and are therefore a preferred representation for many sportsbooks around the world.

The odds shown for decimal odds represent the profit you would make from a bet of $1. So the formula for calculating the winnings is as follows:

Stake x Odds = Payout.

For example, if you place a successful $100 bet at odds of 2.75, then the calculation would be:

100 x 2.75 = $275.

Therefore, you would make a profit of $175 on a successful bet.

Fractional Odds

Fractional odds are the original form of odds used in horse racing bets. They are most commonly used in UK or Ireland based casinos.

Fractional odds represent the profit yielded, without the inclusion of the original stake. The denominator represents the amount wagered, and the numerator represents the potential profit, so they would be written as follows:

profit/stake

As an example, let’s say you’re betting on a football game with 10 to 15 fractional odds. This means you would win $10 for a successful bet of $15. Below is an example with a wager of $150:

Odds 10/15: $150 bet + $100 profit = $250 winnings.

American Odds

American odds are the ones you will see the most on sites that offer betting in Florida. These are also known as moneyline odds. American odds are the easiest to understand and compare. The odds shown represent the amount of money required to make a profit of $100.

In the odds for each match, one team will be the favorites and one team the underdogs. The odds for the favorites will be prefixed with a minus (-) and the odds for the underdogs will be prefixed with a plus (+). The higher the number for the favorite, the more likely their chances of winning. The higher the number for the underdogs, the less likely their chances of winning.

If the favorite odds are -$150, then you need to bet $150 to win $100. If the underdog odds are set at +300, then you would win $300 on a successful wager of $100. So remember, for favorite odds you are risking that amount to win $100, and for underdog odds you are risking $100 to win that amount.

Types of Bets

While some sportsbooks will offer special bets for certain events, there are several common bet types that you will find available for most events. We have listed these for you to have an idea of what’s on offer:

Win Bets

These are by far the most common and most wagered bet available. This is the traditional bet where you simply select which player or team you are expecting to win the match.

Point Spreads or Straight Bets

These are a popular bet in the US, and you will find many on offer at Florida sportsbooks. With these bets, the bookmaker will decide on a point spread for both the favorite and the underdog.

The favorite needs to win by a greater margin than the spread for a successful bet. The underdog needs to either win or lose by less than the margin for a successful bet.

Handicap Betting

This form of betting is intended to either increase your chances of winning, but at lower odds, or lower your chances of winning, but at higher odds.

The bookmaker will offer some different options for handicap bets. This will usually involve awarding ‘extra goals’, or removing goals from the final score to change the outcome of the match. Each handicap option will have its own, adjusted odds.

Mobile Betting Apps

Many sportsbooks nowadays will also offer a downloadable app. This will allow you to view the available odds and place your bets from your iPhone or Android device. Most apps will also be available for android devices.

Using a mobile app is a great way to take your online sportsbook on-the-go. It can be especially useful when placing live bets, as you can place your wagers from wherever you are. Some sportsbooks will also offer live streaming of matches through their mobile apps.

Types of Sports to Bet on in Florida

There are many types of sports available to bet on at online sportsbooks. The following sports are those most popular with online bettors in Florida.

Bet on Football

Many sportsbooks will offer a huge range of betting markets for American football. This is the most popular sport for bettors in Florida and the US. You can find betting lines both for Professional level teams and for college football tournaments within the state. There will be a huge range of bet types offered for the majority of football games.

Bet on Basketball

Again, you can find betting lines available for both professional and college basketball tournaments. Basketball is another huge market for US online sportsbooks. You can also find plenty of bet types available for basketball. You will be able to bet on the top Florida teams, including Gainesville Galaxy and the Jacksonville Giants.

Bet on Baseball

Florida Sports Betting Apps

Florida has a plethora of teams for Baseball, and all bettors will want the opportunity to back their favorite. Luckily, this is another popular sport at US bookmakers. You will be able to find various bets available on games with the Jacksonville Suns, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and the Bradenton Marauders, among others.

Sports Betting Bonuses

All online sportsbooks will offer some kind of bonus to entice or hold onto their customers. These will range from matched deposits to free bets, to bonus cash. It’s always worth checking the current bonuses on offer from a sportsbook, especially when you’re signing up for a new account.

What are welcome bonuses?

Welcome bonuses will be available at the majority of online sportsbooks. These will usually be the most competitive offers available. Sportsbooks want to offer new customers a reason to join them over a competitor.

The most common form of welcome bonus is a matched deposit offer. The bookmaker will offer to give you a percentage of your initial deposit for free. This will then either be available for free bets or can be withdrawn as cash. Bonus money will be subject to wagering requirements, so read the terms and conditions when claiming a bonus offer.

What are Free bets?

Free bets will be offered either as part of a welcome bonus or to continuing customers as a loyalty reward. The sportsbook will offer you a certain amount of money, usually dependent on a deposit, to place on bets.

These allow the customer to have the opportunity to make a profit without losing their stake on an unsuccessful bet. You won’t receive the stake with your winnings on a free bet. The only money you make is profit.

Often, there will be limits on free bets, such as minimum odds or particular types of bets. This is to encourage bettors to try something new or take a bigger risk with their free bet.

What are Risk-free bets?

This is again usually offered to new sportsbook users. If a player places an unsuccessful bet, then the sportsbook will credit them bonus money of the same amount of the wager. This means that if you have a successful bet, you can keep the stake and the profit. However, if you’re unsuccessful, the bookmaker will return your money so you can try again.

Top Florida Sports Betting Events

There are certain events in the sporting season that bettors do not want to miss. We have listed the most popular events for sports bettors in Florida. Make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to back your favorite.

Super Bowl

Most people won’t need to be reminded of the biggest annual event of the National Football League (NFL). The super bowl is enjoyed by spectators around the world and is hugely popular with sports bettors. This is the championship game of the NFL and is played every year between mid-January and early February.

Florida Sports Betting Bill

Many online sportsbooks, particularly those that have customers in the US and Florida, will offer special markets for the super bowl. This gives an even wider range of options than usual. Bettors can be very specific in their choices and have the option to try out new betting types for this significant event in the sporting calendar.

NBA Final

Again, this is a huge event for sports bettors. Anyone who regularly bets on basketball will not miss the opportunity to have their say on the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The teams will play the best-of-seven game series, which will decide the league champion.

This is the biggest basketball event of the year. Similarly to football, many sportsbooks will offer special bet types for this event. The odds for these prestigious events are often very competitive, so make sure you’re getting the best offer for your wager.

World Series

The World Series is the annual championship for Major League Baseball (MLB). It is a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champions and the National League (NL) champions.

This series is played by the best basketball teams from two different leagues. These are extremely competitive matches and so offer huge excitement for baseball bettors. Again, you will often find special markets available for World Series bets.

Florida Top Sports Teams

Florida has teams playing in all major league sports. If you’re interested in betting in Florida, it’s natural to want to show support for your local teams. Here, we’ve given you some more information about the top sports teams in Florida, so you can be sure you’re placing the right bets.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the most notable names in American Football. The Jaguars compete in the NFL, playing their home games at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars originally joined the league as an expansion team in 1995. They were winners of the division championships in 1998, 1999, and 2017. They have also qualified for the playoffs on seven separate occasions.

Orlando City S.C.

Soccer in America has been rising in popularity in recent years. The Orlando City Soccer Club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Orlando City SC began playing in 2015, becoming the first Florida MLS team since Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny.

Miami Heat

Miami Heat is Florida’s top NBA basketball team. They began playing as an expansion team in the 1988-89 NBA season. The team gained notoriety throughout the 1990s under head coach Pat Riley, whose trades brought the team four division titles in the following years. From 2010 until 2016, Miami Heat attended the NBA Finals every year and has won the championship three times.

Payment Methods for Sports Betting in Florida

Individual online sportsbooks will offer various payment methods for placing betting deposits. However, there are a few payment methods found at most casinos. The most popular payment methods are listed below.

Credit or Debit Cards

The most straightforward and most used form of payment for betting sites. Online sportsbooks will usually support fully secure transactions for both VISA and MasterCard.

Bank Transfer

This is again widely available at online sportsbooks. The downside of bank transfers is that they generally take longer than other methods for withdrawal and deposit.

E-wallets

This is an extremely popular form of payment for online sportsbooks. It includes online payment methods, such as Skrill and Neteller. While a lot of sportsbooks support these methods, they are sometimes excluded from deposit offers.

Prepaid cards

The most common of these is Paysafecard, which you can buy in many local stores. It’s worth knowing that this is only available as a deposit method, and can’t be used for withdrawal.

PayPal

Unfortunately, PayPal isn’t available at all online sportsbooks. However, for those that do support it, it’s an extremely reliable and secure method of payment.

Sports Betting in Florida - the Legal Situation

Face-to-face sports betting is illegal in Florida, due to agreements between the state and the Seminole Tribe. However, placing online bets with bookmakers based outside the state is a grey area in the law. You are not breaking any legal statutes by placing online bets on a variety of sports from the state of Florida.

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Sports wagering is back on the board for state lawmakers.

Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, filed a proposal (SB 392) on Monday aimed at legalizing sports betting in Florida.

Under the proposal, the state lottery department would oversee wagering licenses, which would mean revenue from the games would bolster education.

The proposal outlines an array of options for sports wagering, while also listing people who would be prohibited from wagering, including athletes, coaches, referees and people working with sports governing bodies.

Brandes’ bill is filed for the 2021 legislative session, which will start in March. A similar proposal failed to advance during the 2020 session.

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In 2019, Trilby Republican Wilton Simpson, now the Senate president, and representatives of the Seminole Tribe of Florida negotiated a deal that included the possibility of sports betting at the Seminoles’ casinos and at pari-mutuel facilities, with the tribe acting as a “hub.”

But the proposed deal was not approved.

Numerous states have moved to approve sports betting since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court opinion struck down a law that had largely prevented states from offering such wagering.

(©2020 CBS Local Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)