Florida Horse Racing Betting Sites

Advance deposit wagering is tolerated but not regulated in Florida. Lawmakers are reluctant to pass legislation explicitly legalizing and regulating online horse racing betting because of the impacts it would have on the state’s gaming compacts with the Seminole Tribe.

However, established ADWs licensed in other states to offer online horse racing betting are also active in Florida. Although major operators like TVG and TwinSpires don’t have licenses in Florida, they hold ADW licenses in multiple other states and have access to pari-mutuel pools nationwide.

BettingUSA advises readers to use high-profile online racebooks because they tend to provide the best handicapping features, frequent promotions, and comprehensive track coverage. More importantly, established horse racing betting sites have long-term reputations and are financially stable.

Florida Horse Race Tracks

Two thoroughbred race tracks operate in Florida and host some of the nation’s more notable events, including the Pegasus World Cup and Florida Derby.

Gulfstream Park

901 S Federal Hwy
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Gulfstream Park is a well-appointed facility featuring a thoroughbred horse racetrack, simulcast wagering center, multiple dining options, and a two-story casino with slots and electronic table games.

The year-round track hosts roughly 200 races per year. Live thoroughbred races typically run Friday through Sunday in July and August and Thursday through Sunday from September through June. Minors may attend Gulfstream Park races, but adults must accompany them.

In addition, Silks Simulcast Center at Gulfstream Park offers daily simulcast wagering year-round via self-serve betting machines and live tellers.

Tampa Bay Downs

11225 Race Track Rd
Tampa, FL 33626

Tampa Bay Downs offers live thoroughbred racing, simulcast wagering, trackside dining, a golf driving range, and poker. Tampa Bay’s annual meet consists of about 90 race days on average from late November through early May.

General admission to attend races is $3 from Friday through Sunday, free on Wednesday, and always free for children 12 or younger. The 23-table Silks Poker Room is open daily for cash games and tournaments.

What Happened to Florida’s Harness and Greyhound Tracks?

Florida’s thoroughbred racing industry is going strong today, but other forms of pari-mutuel wagering have withered and died in the face of changing laws and consumer preferences.

Most notably, the last Florida harness race occurred in 2022 after Pompano Park permanently shuttered its horse racing operations. The closure occurred one year after lawmakers passed a “decoupling” law that allowed most casino facilities to stop hosting live races without jeopardizing their gaming licenses.

Previously, state law required all non-tribal casinos to host a minimum number of live pari-mutuel wagering events to keep their gaming licenses.

Lawmakers ended that requirement via SB 8-A in 2021, and Pompano Park ended all harness racing the following year.

Florida greyhound racing suffered a similar fate after voters approved a 2018 amendment banning dog racing. The law included a decoupling provision that allowed existing tracks to continue offering gambling and simulcast wagering, but it permanently ended all greyhound racing in Florida.

Florida Off-Track Betting Locations

Florida law allows off-track betting and simulcasting at race tracks, former greyhound tracks, and jai alai frontons for bettors 18 and older.

Many Florida OTB locations offer poker, casino card games, slots, and simulcast wagering. Visitors must be 21 or older to enter slots areas and 18 or older to play poker and other card games.

• Bestbet Jacksonville – 201 Monument Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32225
  The Bestbet Jacksonville OTB features 120” TVs, private wagering carrels, and deli-style dining. The simulcasting area is open seven days a week starting at 11:30 AM. Bestbet Jacksonville also hosts table games and a large poker room that players can observe via live streaming.
• Bestbet Orange Park – 455 Park Ave, Orange Park, FL 32073
  Bestbet Orange Park offers daily simulcast wagering at 11:30 AM and 37 table games licensed through the Orange Park Kennel Club. The facility features a mid-sized poker room, DJ Wild, I Luv Suits, Pai Gow Poker, One Card Poker, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Holdem.
• Bestbet St. Augustine – 800 Marketplace Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32086
  Associated with the former St. Johns Greyhound Park, this new Florida OTB offers simulcast betting and 49 table games. In addition to poker, Bestbet St. Augustine offers Fortune Pai Gow Poker, One Card Poker, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Holdem.
• Big Easy Casino – 831 North Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
  This former greyhound track has simulcast betting with more than 100 TVs, a 30-table poker room, slot machines, and electronic table games. Electronic table games include blackjack, craps, and roulette. Big Easy Casino also offers multiple dining options.
• Bonita Springs Poker Room – 28010 Race Track Rd, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
  Bonita Springs Poker Room provides daily simulcasting starting at around noon. The facility also offers a poker room and various card games, including DJ Wild, High Card Flush, Jackpot Holdem, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Holdem.
• Casino Miami – 3500 Northwest 37th Ave, Miami, FL 33142
  William Hill Racebook at Casino Miami offers simulcast wagering seven days a week on thoroughbreds, harness races, greyhound races held elsewhere, and jai alai matches. Additionally, Casino Miami has a 16-table poker room, electronic table games like blackjack and roulette, and more than 1,000 slots.
• Club 52 – 1100 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935
  Club 52, formerly the Melbourne Greyhound Park, hosts an OTB with more than 200 TVs, a mid-sized poker room, and card games, including DJ Wild, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, High Card Flush, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Holdem.
• Creek Entertainment Gretna – 501 Racetrack Dr, Gretna, FL 32332
  This former quarter horse track offers pari-mutuel simulcast wagering and a spacious poker room that spreads a larger-than-average variety of games ranging from no-limit Texas Holdem to Crazy Pineapple. The poker room also hosts casino-style poker games, including Alligator Open-Face Pai Gow, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Holdem, and One Card Poker.
• Daytona Beach Racing & Card Club – 960 S Williamson Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
  Formerly called the Daytona Beach Kennel Club and Poker Room, this OTB and card club offers daily simulcast wagering starting at 11:30 AM. The simulcast wagering area has TVs in every direction and private carrels with personal screens. The 44-table card room offers poker and casino-style card games.
• Ebro Greyhound Park & Poker Room – 6558 Dog Track Rd, Ebro, FL 32437
  This former greyhound racetrack offers simulcast betting with over 100 TVs around the facility. The poker room spreads a wide range of cash games, tournaments, and table games.
• Hialeah Park – 2200 E 4th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33013
  The Hialeah Park OTB offers simulcast wagering most days of the week, with the first races usually starting around noon. In addition to simulcasting, Hialeah Park has 800 slots and a poker room that spreads Texas Holdem, 7 Card Stud, Omaha Hi-Lo, and casino-style card games.
• Harrah’s Pompano Beach – 1800 Southwest 3rd St, Pompano Beach, FL 33069
  Harrah’s Pompano Beach, formerly Pompano Park, hosted harness races for nearly 60 years until ceasing all live racing in 2022. The Pompano Beach OTB offers simulcasting on thoroughbreds, greyhounds, and jai-alai from noon to midnight every day of the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The casino features two restaurants, more than 1,500 slots and video poker games, electronic table games, card games, and a WSOP Poker room. The poker room opens daily at 9 AM and closes at 3 AM during the week and 4 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Magic City Casino – 450 NW 37th Ave, Miami, FL 33125
  Magic City Casino, formerly the home of Flagler Dog Track, offers simulcast wagering in the Sports Club seven days a week starting at 11:30 AM. This Miami OTB features 100 personal TVs, large community TVs, and walk-around tellers to take customers’ wagers. Magic City Casino is also the home of the World Jai Alai League, 800 slot machines, electronic table games, card games, and poker.
• Ocala Gainesville Poker – 4601 West Highway 318, Citra, FL 32113
  This Ocala OTB offers simulcast wagering five days a week (closed Mondays & Tuesdays) via self-serve betting kiosks, a poker room, and casino-style card games.
• One-Eyed Jacks Poker Room – 4404 Bee Ridge Rd Unit 26, Sarasota, FL 34233
  The spacious One-Eyed Jacks Poker Room offers daily simulcast wagering, more than 70 TVs, and a 32-table poker room offering cash games, tournaments, and casino-style games.
• Orange City Racing & Card Club – 822 Saxon Blvd Suite 4, Orange City, FL 32763
  Orange City OTB and Card Club offers daily simulcast wagering on thoroughbreds, harness races, and greyhounds held across the US and abroad. The facility also boasts a massive 40-table poker room, casino-style card games, and a pub fare menu.
• Palm Beach Kennel Club (PBKC) – 1111 N Congress Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33409
  This former greyhound race track offers simulcast wagering on thoroughbreds, standardbreds, greyhound races held in other states, and jai alai. An attached poker room offers nearly 70 tables, daily tournaments, cash games, and table games. Dining options include the Paddock Restaurant and the Terrace Restaurant.
• Pensacola Greyhound Track & Poker Room – 951 Dog Track Rd, Pensacola, FL 32506
  This former live greyhound racetrack hosts an OTB with simulcasting for horse races, greyhounds, and jai alai starting at around noon every day. Meanwhile, the attached 20-table poker room offers cash games, daily tournaments, and a contingent of Vegas-style card games.
• Sanford Orlando Racebook and Sportsbar – 301 Dog Track Rd, Longwood, FL 32750
  The Sanford Orlando OTB offers thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound simulcasting most days of the week from about noon to 6 or 7 PM, depending on the race schedule.
• TGT Poker & Racebook – 755 East Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
  TGT Poker & Racebook visitors can bet on horse, greyhound, and jai alai events in the sports lounge, VIP room, or simulcasting area. An attached 14-table poker room offers Texas Holdem, Omaha, and a smattering of table games.
• The Casino @ Dania Beach – 301 E Dania Beach Blvd, Dania Beach, FL 33004
  The newly renovated Sports Lounge at Dania Beach offers simulcast wagering, more than 30 TVs, private booths, and a full bar. Additionally, the casino area boasts 750 slot machines, electronic table games, and a poker room that opens at 9 AM daily.
• Win! Derby – 10490 Gandy Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
  Florida horse racing fans can visit the fourth floor seven days a week for simulcast wagering on greyhounds, thoroughbreds, harness races, and jai alai. The simulcasting area at Win! Derby opens at 11:30 AM seven days a week and features a full bar, tiered seating, and personal TVs.

Major Florida Horse Races

Florida has lost multiple race tracks recently but still has an elite thoroughbred racing industry. Tampa Bay Downs hosts the Hillsborough Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby, while Gulfstream Park holds every other race on the following list:

• Davona Dale Stakes (G2): $200,000 purse, open to 3yo fillies, held in late February or early March
• Florida Derby (G1): $1,000,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held five weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby
• Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2): $400,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held in late February
• Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2): $200,000 purse, open to 3yo+ thoroughbreds, held in December
• Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2): $300,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in March
• Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2): $250,000 purse, open to 3yo fillies, held in March
• Hillsborough Stakes (G2): $225,000, open to 4yo+ fillies and mares, held in March
• Holy Bull Stakes (G2): $250,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held in January
• Inside Information Stakes (G2): $200,000 purse, open to 4yo+ fillies and mares, held in late January
• Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2): $200,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in February
• Pan American Stakes (G2): $200,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in late March
• Pegasus World Cup (G1): $3,000,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in January
• Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1): $1,000,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in late January or early February
• Princess Rooney Stakes (G2): $300,000 purse, open to 3yo+ fillies and mares, held in early July
• Tampa Bay Derby (G2): $400,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held in March

Florida Greyhound Racing Betting

Florida voters approved Amendment 13 during the 2018 election to end greyhound racing. The amendment made greyhound racing and betting on live greyhound races held in Florida illegal as of January 1st, 2021.

Fortunately for existing tracks, the law included a provision decoupling pari-mutuel wagering from casino games. As a result, they no longer have to host races to remain eligible for gaming licenses.

The Florida amendment did not affect online greyhound racing betting, which remains legal because the amendment only prohibits wagers on races held in-state. Even so, the amendment’s effects reverberated throughout the nation because Florida accounted for more than half the country’s remaining greyhound race tracks when it took effect.

Floridians have just a handful of out-of-state greyhound tracks to bet upon moving forward, and that number seems likely to dwindle as well. The national greyhound industry has seen better days amid falling revenue and growing concerns over the treatment of greyhounds.

Florida Horse Racing Betting Law

The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering under the Florida Gaming Control Commission regulates horse racing betting. The following laws and regulations outline the rules under which parimutuel horse racing betting is conducted in Florida:

• FL Stat § 550
• FL Administrative Code Chapters 61D-2 through 61D-10

Chapter 550 of the Florida Statutes deals with parimutuel wagering in general, including betting on horses. The law also outlines the rules governing jai alai, greyhounds, and poker.

In the past, Florida law required non-tribal casinos to host horse races, greyhound races, or jai alai competitions to be eligible for gaming licenses. This aspect of Florida’s racing law has led to numerous venues investing just enough time and money to meet the minimum racing requirements to operate more lucrative card rooms.

However, legislation enacted in 2018 and 2021 decoupled greyhounds and horse racing (except for thoroughbred races held at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs) from casino gambling.

Now, facilities can offer poker, designated player games that resemble Vegas-style card games, and simulcast wagering without hosting live races or jai alai matches. Many race tracks and jai alai frontons have closed as a result.

Florida Horse Racing Betting FAQ