Tampa Casinos: How to Gamble Online & In-Person in Tampa, Florida
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Scott Kacsmar
- July 6, 2024
If you are coming to Tampa, Florida in search of Las Vegas-style casinos, you will not find the same glamour and glitz as the Vegas Strip in this busy city. Fortunately, you have many offshore casino alternatives to choose from.
If you are looking for the best ones to play, then you have come to the right place. We have prepared a guide that will go over the best online betting sites for Florida residents. We also cover the land-based casino options in Tampa and the history of gambling in the Sunshine State.
Best Sportsbooks in Tampa for 2024
| SPORTSBOOK | TRUST SCORE | ONLINE SINCE | Expert Review | BONUS | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2011
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$750 Cash Bonus
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2001
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100% Free Play
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1996
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$500 Cash Bonus
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2002
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55% Cash Bonus
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1996
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$1,000 Cash Bonus
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2001
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$250 Free Bet
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2014
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50% Free Play
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Land-Based Tampa Casinos
In addition to one great casino in Tampa, you can find quality poker rooms and racetracks for gambling purposes. We have collected a list for you of the best places to visit. You can view our complete list of land-based casinos in Tampa below.
Carnival Paradise Casino
The Carnival Paradise Casino is a popular gaming destination located in Tampa, Florida. The casino is part of the Carnival Paradise cruise ship, which sails to various destinations around the Caribbean. The casino floor spans over 2,000 square feet and features a wide range of games, including slot machines, video poker, blackjack, craps and roulette.
Players can try their luck at over 130 slot machines, which range from classic 3-reel games to modern video slots with multiple paylines and bonus features. There are also several electronic table games, including video poker, blackjack and roulette, for those who prefer a more traditional casino experience. The casino is open 24/7, allowing for ample gambling opportunities for gamblers on the cruise.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Opened in 2004, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is one of the six tribal casinos owned by the Seminoles in Florida. This Seminole casino is considered one of the largest and most successful casinos in the world (and it is the largest casino in Florida), offering award-winning gaming, hospitality and entertainment making it a top casino choice for residents in Tampa looking for an in-person casino.
Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa offers nearly 5,000 slot and electronic gaming machines, 179 game tables, a state-of-the-art Poker Room with 46 tables and a smoke-free mezzanine-level casino. The casino is inside the luxurious hotel, making Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa the best spot to stay for visitors and the best local casino spot for Tampa Bay’s bettors.
Tampa Bay Downs
The only thoroughbred racetrack on the West Coast in Florida, Tampa Bay Downs is among the oldest, most well-known and well-maintained racetracks in America
While this is not a casino, you can enjoy live horse racing while wagering on it and there is a poker room with cash games and tournaments.
TGT Poker (Tampa)
If the crowds at a tribal casino and storied racetrack are not your thing, then right in the heart of Tampa is a cozy little poker room called TGT Poker.
You can play at 10 poker tables for cash games and tournaments. There are four tables that play six other types of poker, including Fortune Pai gow, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 3-Card Poker, Crazy Four Poker, DJ Wild, Chinese Poker and even Face Up Pai Gow. There is also a racebook available to bet on horses and your favorite tracks if that’s your thing too.
The Best Online Casinos in Tampa
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the number of online casinos these days, do not panic. We have studied the competitors and developed a top 10 list based on the criteria we value the most in providing a casino with the best user experience. This is our list:
- Bovada – No shortage of poker players
- BetOnline – Generous casino bonuses
- Heritage Sports – Good for all levels of player
- BookMaker – Great for crypto users in Tampa
- BetAnySports – Play the Florida lottery online
- JustBet – Cash games and tournaments
- BetUS – Optimal for blackjack players
- WagerWeb – Wide range of casino games for Tampa players
- Everygame – Fast mobile site
- SportsBetting.ag – Welcomes high limits in Tampa
Best Online Casino in Tampa List Reviewed
For those seeking more information on why we made our top 10 list in the order we did, we have provided detailed sportsbook reviews of the top five online casinos in Tampa.
1. Tampa’s Busiest Online Poker Room: Bovada
Key Features
- One of the best prop builders in the market
- Great bonuses for crypto users
Home to more than 130 of your favorite slot machines, Bovada has a robust online casino with many variants of blackjack, roulette and live dealer games. The sportsbook is very popular in the industry with users new or old and it has more props and sports markets than most competitors. Bovada also has many great payment methods and improved customer service and no online poker room in America has more active users. They also have a special lottery game and a good racebook.
Bovada is really the all-around best option in Tampa for an offshore casino. Everything it does is quality. Crypto lovers will be pleased to learn that a promo code at Bovada will unlock a welcome bonus that is a 125% Crypto match bonus up to $1,250 that can triple to $3,750 in bonus money by making two more deposits. These are casino bonus funds, so do keep in mind that they carry higher rollover requirements (25x for the first and 50x for the second and third).
2. 100 Free Spins for New Players: BetOnline
Key Features
- Highest credit card acceptance in the industry
- 25+ years of experience
BetOnline is an A+ rated sportsbook based in Costa Rica, widely known for its opinionated lines on sports like football, baseball, and basketball. The full casino experience includes over 500 slots, table games, video poker, live dealers and tournaments. There are hefty limits of up to $10,000 on live tables.
Beyond the deep sportsbook and casino, BetOnline offers a racebook, live betting, esports betting, poker, and a variety of contests with cash prizes. Several of the banking methods offered by BetOnline include credit cards, bank transfers, crypto, P2P and more.
New users looking to play casino games can use BetOnline promo codes and bonuses, like the welcome bonus which provides 100 free spins after casino players make their first deposit.
3. Good for All Levels of Player: Heritage Sports
Key Features
- Reduced juice-cash back program stands out over rivals
- Casino cashback offers 8% rebates
Costa Rica is home to another A+ rated online site in Heritage Sports. Operating since 2001, members used to have to send invites to new users, but those days are over. Anyone can make an account now. After you join, you will be treated to reduced juice sports betting lines (-108 odds), live dealer games and the usual selection of slots and table games in a quality casino, plus one of the better racebooks in the market.
While a lot of books offer the choice between reduced juice or cash back, Heritage is unique in that it will do both. You get reduced juice lines and a set percentage of cash back, no matter if you win or lose.
4. Great for All Bettors: BookMaker
Key Features
- Earliest betting lines for sports
- Exclusive fast blackjack mini-game
In business since 1996, Bookmaker.eu is an A+ top-rated sportsbook from Costa Rica with some of the earliest betting lines in the market. Live bets are also easy to make on popular sports markets. At BookMaker, you do not have to worry about being a winning player and having your account limited or locked. They will take all business from all bettors.
For those interested in more than just a sportsbook, you get a quality racebook that offers good rebate promotions and the casino section includes video slots, 3D slots, live dealer games and tournaments.
The current BookMaker welcome bonuses offer up to $500 in cash bonuses. BookMaker also has a lucrative refer-a-friend program where you can get up to $500 per friend.
5. Play the Lotto from Home: BetAnySports
Key Features
- 24/7 customer service with live chat option
- Choose from seven different casinos
BetAnySports is another Costa Rica-based site with an A rating from Bookmakers Review. The sportsbook is famous for offering reduced juice (-105 lines) and it has an impressive prop builder.
But casino lovers will be glad to see the choice of seven casinos with a variety of games to choose from at each. There are also 24/7 live dealer games. You also get access to a racebook with cash-back rebates of up to 6% daily. There is a variety of promos to choose from at BetAnySports.
One of BetAnySports’ most unique features is the ability to play the Florida state lottery on your favorite device with 80% greater payouts. You can play the Pick 2/3/4/5 in the Florida drawing or choose from other state lottery markets such as Pennsylvania, Texas and Georgia.
Gambling Laws in Tampa – Is gambling legal in Tampa?
Gambling in Tampa is regulated by the Florida Gaming Control Commission. So, if your question is if gambling is legal in Florida, the best answer is yes, but it’s very complicated.
You cannot legally place a bet on the Super Bowl or how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will fare this season, but you can bet on horse races. You cannot legally play video poker for money in an online casino, but you can buy tickets for the Florida lottery daily.
You cannot legally play a slot machine in an adult arcade, but you can play one at a tribal casino in the state. Most forms of gambling in the state of Florida are deemed illegal, but some are 100% legal.
Is online gambling in Tampa legal?
Some types of online gambling are legal in Tampa. You can legally engage in Daily Fantasy Sports (DraftKings, FanDuel), but you cannot wager on the sportsbooks on those sites.
You can play free poker games, but it is not legal to play poker games for real money. You can always bet online on horse races. Finally, you can gamble online with the use of offshore casinos because they do not operate under Florida’s regulations. There is no specific law against gambling online using offshore sites.
The Future of Online Casinos in Tampa
For all the reckless behavior that Florida residents are notorious for, it seems absurd that the third-most populated state has not figured out how to legalize and regulate online gambling yet. It would be a huge revenue stream for the state if it ever can get it done. There is hope that it will happen this decade, but some experts forecast that it could take until 2026 at the earliest to have online gambling fully operational in the Sunshine State.
Until this is sorted out, residents will just have to continue turning to online casinos for their gambling needs. There is no law against using these offshore sites, so you might as well use the sites we have recommended such as Bovada, BetOnline, BetAnySports, Heritage Sports and BookMaker.
How do I stay safe playing casino games online in Tampa?
Here are some tips for staying safe while you play online casino games online in Tampa:
- Make sure the site you are using is a legit casino with reviews online.
- Check to see if the casino is operating with a license or not.
- Choose a strong password for your account.
- Never bet more than you can afford to lose.
- If you are concerned about using your debit card with an offshore site, invest in a prepaid card to use instead.
FAQs – Online Casino Gambling in Tampa
Does Tampa Bay have any casinos?
Yes, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is one of the tribe’s six premier casinos in the Sunshine State. You will be able to play casino slots, hit the poker tables and access the area’s incredible dining options.
What is the largest casino in Tampa?
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers an impressive 190,000 square feet of gaming space with hundreds of gaming tables and thousands of slot machines.
Are there any legal online casinos in Florida?
There are no locally operated online casinos in Florida; however, offshore online casinos offer a broad range of online slots, an array of poker games, daily tournaments in the casino and more.
Can you play Hard Rock Casino online in Florida?
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino does offer an app that simulates the experience of its gaming machines; however, players can not play for real money prizes.
Can you play DraftKings Casino in Florida?
No, you can not play online slots or card games for real money unless you visit an offshore operator in Florida.
