Introduction to Florida Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
There are eight pari-mutuel casinos in Florida. In early 2005 voters in Broward County (home county of Fort Lauderdale) passed a referendum to allow slot machines at four pari-mutuel facilities within that county and all are now in operation. Ultimately, Florida has undoubtedly become a destination for more than just beaches and retirement facilities. Florida first legalized slot machines and jai alai back in 1935. They quickly repealed the machines (but not the jai alai) two years later. Limited slots gaming was introduced in 1988 on tribal lands due to the Indian Gaming Regulatory.
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.
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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.
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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.
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. Most famous gamblers in history.
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
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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%.
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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%.
Payouts and Returns in Florida
Is It Legal To Own A Slot Machine 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%.
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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
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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By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
