No matter how local ordinances differ, if you take a rake or a time charge or accept money for running the game in any way, then you are operating outside of the law. A 2012 ruling by a Federal judge ruled poker a game of skill rather than a game of chance and this might someday lead to an easing of this restriction. Florida Poker: Poker hotbed has very restrictive anti-gambling laws. Very few ways to play poker or gamble and be within the letter of Florida law. State has seen a handful of failed attempts to regulate online poker. Georgia Poker: Poker players have almost no regulated - and therefore no legal - options for real money poker. I am considering using my poker skills to make some extra money gambling online, but do not want to violate any laws. I am new to the state of Florida, so I am unsure of the state laws that pertain to online gambling for real money. Could someone please give me the scoop? Layman's terms please. I do not not need replicated statutes that make it hard to understand.

This is a guide for online poker players in the America who want to know where they can play online poker and when they might be able to play in their home states. For states where online poker is legal, this is a guide for US online poker room reviews, poker sites available in your area, deposit bonuses, and online poker announcements.

US online poker laws seem to be changing monthly since government attorneys announced that the Wire Act cannot be used to prohibit states from allowing online poker. Online poker rooms and online gambling sites are clamoring for state licenses, and the US online gambling landscape is going through a major change.

For a select few Americans, online poker is here already. Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware are leading the United States into the billion-dollar-a-year industry, and many more states are looking to get into the game in the very near future.

By the end of 2015, as many as a dozen states could allow their residents to play on legal online poker sites. That number may be higher if a federal bill, the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013, is approved in 2014. But since the odds of that happening are less than hitting a one-outer on the river, all the online poker news concerning legislation is coming from individual states.

American online poker laws are about to go through drastic revision, and US online poker sites will pop up as the laws change. Laws are changing fast, and this guide promises to remain up to date on all possible movements concerning online poker legislation.

A brief overview of each state’s stance on online poker is below, but click through for a full update on the state’s online poker laws, and gambling laws in the state in general.

Alabama

Alabama doesn’t even have a state lottery. It’s home to some of the most morally strict policymakers in the country, so poker is not coming anytime soon. Read more ...

Alaska

Online poker legislation remains frigid in the great white north, but the game has a few fans who are elected officials, and although lawmakers resisted expanding almost any type of gambling in here, online poker has a chance. Read more ...

Arizona

Despite a thriving Indian casino industry — or more like because of it — lawmakers are being cautious with online poker. Also, the governor is a tough opponent of any type of gambling expansion, poker included. Read more ...

Arkansas

Online poker legislation may be far off, but unlike some of its neighboring states, online poker may come to Arkansas with a federal push. Read more ...

California

Online poker will come to California maybe as soon as 2014. A crowded industry split into three factions may delay action on online poker bills already submitted. Read more ...

Colorado

With a steady and strong push from its significant casino industry, online poker legislation is most likely forthcoming in Colorado sometime in 2015. The state is already studying the effects online poker would have. Read more ...

Connecticut

As its neighboring states start to allow their residents access to online poker sites, look for Connecticut to follow suit. As such a small state, it’s a prime candidate to contract with other states for shared player pools. Read more ...

Delaware

As of October 2013, online poker is completely legal, regulated, and live in Delaware. Read more ...

Florida

Two powerful casino forces — the racinos and Indian tribes — face off against a conservative state government intent on preventing gambling expansion. The governor has won the first round. Read more ...

Georgia

The official view toward poker here is as rigid as a Georgia pine. Poker is gambling, and gambling is bad in Georgia. Read more ...

Hawaii

Although one of the few states without any form of legalized gambling, Hawaii is rumored to be looking to get into the online-poker game. Read more ...

Idaho

Completely in the middle ground, there is no pending online poker legislation in Idaho. A grassroots effort would help here. Read more ...

Illinois

Online poker is being talked about by state officials. look for an online poker bill sometime in 2015. Read more ...

Indiana

With a conservative governor and minor casino industry, it’s going to take a political campaign by its online poker players to move online poker forward. Read more ...

Iowa

Since 2011, certain lawmakers have pushed for online poker legalization. Now with states going live, watch for Iowa to join the game in 2014 or 2015. Read more ...

Kansas

A significant political shift is necessary for online poker to even be considered in the Sunflower State. Read more ...

Kentucky

Now that the powerful horseracing industry has wedged itself into the multi-state casino industry, watch for online poker legislation to move fast once more states go live. Read more ...

Louisiana

An online poker debate should come to Louisiana in 2014, with significant movement in 2015. Online poker does face some opposition here. Read more ...

Maine

Brand new to the casino game, and with such a pretty face, Maine would make a lovely interstate online poker partner. However, it remains a wallflower. Read more ...

Maryland

With a healthy paranoia that it is missing out on the online poker industry, lawmakers began to push for it in 2013. Look for another push in 2014 and beyond. Read more ...

Massachusetts

Cautiously optimistic is how online poker players in Beantown should feel. Online poker won’t come there as quickly as it should, but it’s likely coming at some point. Read more ...

Michigan

A large casino industry will fuel the push toward online poker. State lawmakers seem to be wary, though. Read more ...

Minnesota

With a strong casino industry, it would seem Minnesota would be further along with online poker legalization than it is. It may catch up soon. Read more ...

Mississippi

An online-gambling bill failed to make it out of committee in 2013, but a multi-billion dollar casino industry will have a say. Read more ...

Missouri

Another state with a significant casino industry, but with no real movement toward online poker or gambling legalization. It will join the game sooner rather than later. Read more ...

Montana

Poker is considered gambling here, and online gambling was outlawed in the state in 2005. With no pending legislation, it may be awhile. Read more ...

Nebraska

Poker-playing multi-billionaire hedge-fund manager Warren Buffett lives here and he hates the thought of online gambling. Poker is sadly included in his categorization. Read more ...

Nevada

Online poker is legal in Nevada, and several rooms are live for real-money play. Read more ...

New Hampshire

For such a small state, New Hampshire has more online poker players per capita than anyone else. Still, there’s no pending legislation. Read more ...

New Jersey

Online poker and gambling is legal in New Jersey. Online poker will be available in November 2013. Read more ...

New Mexico

New Mexico's 20 Indian casinos will have a say in the legislation of online poker here. Tribes have threatened to stop payments to the state if it legalizes online gambling. Read more ...

New York

New York may very well be the fourth state to legalize online poker in 2014. It has the support of the governor, as well as many lawmakers. Read more ...

North Carolina

No real online poker push is coming from North Carolina. Check back once other states start to go live. Read more ...

North Dakota

This was once the first state to try to legalize online poker in 2005; the feds put an end to that. Online poker legalization is on the backburner. Read more ...

Ohio

A state late to the casino game, online poker legalization has a real chance in 2015 or 2016, particularly if Pennsylvania beats Ohio to the market. Read more ...

Oklahoma

This state allows tribes to operate online poker rooms, with one major caveat: They can only do business with people living in other countries. What a rub. Oklahomans will have online poker sooner rather than later. Read more ...

Oregon

Once California begins to offer online poker, watch for Oregon’s Indian casinos to begin applying pressure to lawmakers. They have shown to be a savvy lobbying group. Read more ...

Pennsylvania

With one scrapped bill that would have legalized online poker and gambling, be sure another will come in 2014. Although facing resistance in committee, online poker should be here by 2016. Read more ...

Rhode Island

A prime candidate to partner with Delaware. Industry insiders say a contract is in the works. Read more ...

South Carolina

The online-poker industry faces major resistance here. Any talks of gambling expansion are immediately quashed. Read more ...

South Dakota

Online poker isn’t on the lips of any lawmakers here. But with a strong Indian casino industry, look for that to change in 2014. Read more ...

Tennessee

A strong religious base makes it difficult to move online poker legislation anywhere. Like, harder than shoving a mule through keyhole. Read more ...

Texas

Home of the congressman behind the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013, several bills that affect poker, online and otherwise, currently reside in committees. Texas looks like it wants to finally acknowledge the game. Read more ...

Utah

Online poker players in Utah at least have Nevada just over the border. Other than that, Utah is a desert for online poker players. Read more ...

Vermont

The tiny state may be game to contract with Delaware, New Jersey, and/or Nevada and allow its residents access to online poker sites. Once more states allow online poker, watch for Vermont to follow. Read more ...

Virginia

Online poker players must hope for political change statewide in order to eventually access online poker sites. It has a law on the books that outlaws Internet gambling. Read more ...

Washington, D.C.

Online poker was set to come to its citizens in 2013, but politics played its part and it was delayed. Online poker will definitely come to D.C. eventually. Read more ...

Washington

The only state that criminalizes the online poker player, a grassroots movement stemming from that law is growing. Plus, Indian casinos are now in favor of legalization. Read more ...

West Virginia

State officials are most likely looking to contract with other states, probably Delaware. It may happen as soon as 2014. Read more ...

Wisconsin

The Indian casinos have yet to show their hand as to where they stand on online poker. There is no legislative chatter concerning online poker rooms. Read more ...

Wyoming

Lawmakers here are resistant to any form or gambling expansion, including online poker. If recent history is correct, online poker has a tough fight here. Read more ...

Recent Action

Recent Reviews

Online Poker For Money Legal In Florida

Are we missing something?

The law in Florida as it relates to gambling is pretty clear, and they have in fact gone out of their way to include all forms of gambling, whether that be at a live event or gambling on devices of any kind, including electronic devices. Here’s how the law reads:

“Gambling: Whoever plays or engages in any game at cards, keno, roulette, faro or other game of chance, at any place, by any device whatever, for money or other thing of value, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.”

So by including “by any device whatsoever,” this would involve gambling on electronic devices, so the fact that it the gambling occurs by electronic means would not make it exempt from this law, in spite of what some people may erroneously think.

However, does poker qualify as a game of chance here? The Florida courts have defined this as a game which relies significantly on the element of chance, and this is of course rather vague. It is of note that among the prohibited games mentioned in this section, “cards” is listed first, and poker is indeed a card game.

However, it does mention cards and other games of chance, but what if poker is seen as not a game of chance but a game of skill primarily? Well even if this is the case it wouldn‘t matter, as section 849.14 prohibits wagering based upon contests of skill as well (2), so that won’t even help.

The only saving grace here is that there has never been anyone prosecuted in the United States for playing poker online, even in the states with the harshest laws against it, like Washington State which has laws making playing online poker explicitly illegal. So if it isn’t being prosecuted there wouldn’t seem to be any real reason to be concerned, even if it is illegal.

Live Poker In Florida

Florida has a total of 8 Indian Casinos, in addition 25 non-Native casinos known as “racinos,” since they are all racetracks which have been given casino licenses as well, and 2 “Casino Ships.” (3).

Almost all of these gambling facilities offer poker rooms, although they mostly tend to be on the small side However there is a total of 31 poker rooms spread widely across the state, so while they may not be big in size they certainly are pretty numerous and fairly easily accessible no matter what region of the state you are from.

The poker at the Indian casinos is probably the best you will find, as opposed to the racinos which may only have a few tables. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa is noteworthy, and features 50 tables, and boasts one of the state’s largest card rooms. Florida does now have a dedicated card room open which is neither a racino or an Indian Casino, the “Best Bet” in Jacksonville, and is the largest poker room in the state with 70 tables (5).

The state had historically only granted licenses to racetracks and the opening of this new poker room, which found a loophole in the law, may be a trend where legislators are prepared to cash in on live poker more without worrying so much about promoting racetracks while doing so.

Online Poker Regulation In Florida

Florida is one of several states that have introduced a new gaming bill, SBP7082, but the bill notably did not mention online poker. This bill instead looks to make changes in the way gaming is regulated in the state, for instance relaxing standards to operate live poker rooms in the state, but does not address the issue of regulating online gambling (6).

However, discussions about regulating online poker in Florida have been going on for a few years now, and these discussions are continuing, and it may be that an online poker bill may be introduced there in the near future, but nothing is imminent.

As is often the case, there may be opposition from land based operators who may fear that online poker or online gambling may compete with their business, but this has been shown through studies done in other states that it really isn’t an issue.

Florida is the country’s 4th most populous state, with 20 million people, and the people of Florida also are pretty fond of poker, and online poker in particular, so the market here may be huge if and when a deal gets done.

Our Recommended Online Poker Sites For Florida Residents

In the meantime, Florida poker players are flocking to Ignition Poker and Casino, which is one of the most trusted iGaming brands we recommend for players in this region. If you’re looking to play legitimate online poker games – under anonymous names on top of that – then check out our Ignition Review today to learn more and sign up for your account.

It is NOT a crime to play online poker at a trusted offshore site like Ignition, so don’t be hesitant if you’re looking to find a solid game online. They have the best cash games running right now, give out MILLIONS a month in MTT prizes, as well as boast the smoothest software out there today.

References

(1) 2014 Florida Statutes, Title XLVI, 849.08

(2) 2014 Florida Statutes, Title XLIV, 849.14

3) List Of Casinos In Florida

(4) Florida Poker Rooms

Online Poker Real Money Legal In Florida Keys

(5) Largest Poker Room In Florida Opens To Huge Crowds

(6) Florida Senate Bill 7082

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