Florida May Stand Alone in Online Casino Legalization in Coming Years
A recent report from a gambling analysis group predicts slow progress in the expansion of online casinos in the United States. Florida may be the only state that will successfully implement iGaming soon.
Florida stands alone in possible legalization of online casinos.
Key Facts:
- Pace of jurisdictions legalizing online casinos has slowed in recent years as states grapple with consequences of gambling
- Industry expert thinks Florida will be the next state to launch legal iGaming apps
- Florida is still struggling to figure out sports betting, as commercial sportsbooks are not yet available in the Sunshine State
While sports betting has rapidly expanded across the US in recent years, legalized online casino applications have not been as quick to propagate. There are several reasons, including public pressure against more gambling.
The typical view of online casinos in state houses remains negative. In light of that dynamic, it is much easier politically to raise taxes on an existing sin industry (OSB) than legalize an entirely new one.– Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, US Online Casino Monitor, February 2025
However, one populous state could add iGaming soon, according to experts at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. Florida could be the next state to embrace online gambling, pulling that state into a modern era of online gaming. Currently, Florida has legal online sports betting, but it’s a hybrid format that faces legal challenges.
There’s a strong possibility that Florida may soon move to expand its gambling industry by introducing iGaming, according to research from EKG. The firm projects that over the next three years—by 2027—Florida could be the next state to legalize online gambling.
“Our house forecast anticipates one new state [Florida] joining the online casino market within the next three years”, EKG stated in its February 2025 industry analysis.
Currently, proposed legislation is making its way through Florida’s legislative chambers. House Bill 953 (HB953) and Senate Bill 1404 (S1404) seek to extend the exclusivity rights of the Seminole Tribe and Hard Rock Bet, allowing them to expand beyond sports betting into full-scale online casino gaming.
The Seminole Tribe also holds exclusive sports betting rights in Florida due to a deal made with the state through Governor Ron DeDantis. That arrangement is under scrutiny by opponents, including commercial sportsbooks like BetMGM and DraftKings, which want to set up shop in the state.
With more than 23 million citizens, Florida is the third most populous state. Unlike the two most populated (California and Texas), it does not have commercial sports betting or online casinos.
Challenges to iGaming Expansion
Despite the momentum for casino apps in Florida, resistance from the land-based casino sector remains a major hurdle. Many operators argue that legalizing online gambling could negatively impact brick-and-mortar casino revenues, leading to financial losses for their businesses.
Some studies in other parts of the nation refute the notion that online casinos cannibalize revenue from brick-and-mortar casinos. In Michigan, online casino apps have been legal since 2021, and retail casinos continue to do well without any devastating decline in revenue.
Another pressing concern comes from gambling addiction support organizations. Experts warn that easy access to online casinos via smartphones in Florida or elsewhere could significantly increase problem gambling cases.
These fears are backed by data from states where mobile sports betting is already legal—Ohio and Kentucky, for example, have seen a rise in calls to problem gambling helplines. Some legislators in Florida also claim that gambling addiction has increased in their state since the Seminole Tribe launched online sportsbooks.
For now, the expansion of iGaming remains limited to just seven states, including major markets New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Each of those states ranks in the top eleven in population in the United States.
Whether Florida joins the states with legal iGaming will depend on how lawmakers address industry pushback and responsible gambling measures.
