• The fact that online poker rooms are located offshore makes them legal for Florida residents. The Florida poker sites that we list are all licensed and regulated, but just not by the U.S. They are licensed in the country where their servers are located, which is usually Canada or Costa Rica.
• This is a discussion on What 'Rooms' are legal on Florida-USA within the online poker forums, in the Live Poker section; Sorry I know this or similar was probably already asked in the forum.

Gambling takes many forms, ranging from playing the ponies at Gulfstream Park to playing some poker with friends at home. Whether visiting the Seminole Hard Rock Casino or putting $100 on the Seminole football team, such activities are considered gambling under Florida law.

Florida is home to some of the best America has to offer, and the good news for us is that there are no online poker laws forbidding Florida residents to play poker online. Beautiful beaches, beautiful women, hot nightclubs, great football and of course, legal online poker.

Residents of Florida will be pleased to find that playing poker online is not illegal and we will discuss why in the following article. By the end of reading this; you will know why you can and should play online poker, as well where you can play online.

How to play legal online poker in Florida?

Playing online poker in Florida is quite simple. You simply need to find a place to play and create an account. There is no need to jump through hoops or even hide your identity. Florida does not block online poker sites and accessing one is just a click away.

Do all online poker sites accept Florida residents?

A large portion of the online poker community does not accept players from Florida and the U.S.A. as a whole, but you can still find plenty of operators ready and willing to accept your business. There are about 4-5 options right now, but none of them are going to have 100k players online like they used to at PokerStars.

Helpful Pages: List Of Online Poker Sites For USA Players

Is online poker legal in Florida?

The reasons for some sites not accepting your business have to do with the lack of viable payment methods, but many sites have made it easy and safe for you to play and enjoy the game we all love. The fact that online poker rooms are located offshore makes them legal for Florida residents. The Florida poker sites that we list are all licensed and regulated, but just not by the U.S. government. They are licensed in the country where their servers are located, which is usually Canada or Costa Rica.

Helpful Article: Is online poker legal for USA players?

Online Poker Laws In Florida

Florida is a peculiar place when it comes to poker. Up until a few years ago, poker games in Florida had a cap on how much a person could bring to the table. The maximum buy in for any cash game in Florida could not exceed $100. This did not stop casinos from spreading higher stakes games up to $5-$10 blinds, but you could still only bring $100 to the table.

Going a bit further back in time to 1989, it was illegal to play any poker game with a pot of more than $10. These silly laws made Florida somewhat of a laughing stock in the gaming industry. However, recent updates to the law allow a maximum of 50 big blinds at the table which means almost no restrictions on the game from this point forward.

When it comes to online poker, Florida does have a law on the books that forbid residents to engage in games of chance using any method, making it a misdemeanor. However the law (849.08) does not specifically say online poker and actually states any game of chance. If you look this law up, at first glance you see that card games are restricted, but then it goes on to say that any game of chance is not allowed. With the Department of Justice releasing a statement considering poker to be a game of skill, it’s obvious that online poker does not fall into this category.

Regulation Of Legal Online Poker In Florida

When it comes to online poker, Florida does have a law on the books that forbid residents to engage in games of chance using any method, making it a misdemeanor. However the law does not specifically say online poker and actually states any game of chance. This is the actual law:

Betonline Poker Log In

While at first glance you see that card games are restricted, but then it goes on to say that any game of chance is not allowed. With the Department of Justice releasing a statement considering poker to be a game of skill, it’s obvious that online poker does not fall into this category.

Legal online poker sites that accept Florida residents

Is Online Sports Gambling Legal In Florida

Many sites still welcome players from the United States and Florida in particular. The choices may be smaller than what they once were, but you still have a number of safe and viable places to play online poker. Once smaller networks and rooms that would have been overlooked when Poker Stars and Full Tilt were the main poker rooms, these smaller entities have stepped up to the plate and have shown that they are worth playing at.

Of the choices you have to play legal online poker in Florida, Bovada stands head and shoulders above them all. They have designed their site specifically for American players and it shows. They make depositing and withdrawing a breeze with safe and easy to use options. The easiest way is to use your Visa credit card or the Wire and Rapid Transfer services for a quick and easy way to fund your account. Once you sign up at Bovada, you will be rewarded with a 100% sign up bonus worth up to $1,000. The site also offers plenty of promotions and easy to use software to make playing online poker a pleasurable experience once again.

Best Poker Sites Florida

Closing Thoughts About The Online Poker Laws In Florida

Is Online Blackjack Legal In Florida

If you live in Florida and want to play online poker, you should have no problem getting started. Now that you know it is 100% safe and legal to play online poker for real money in Florida, the decision to do so is easier than ever. You will never have problems regarding the legality of playing online and should never fear legal prosecution from doing so.