Miami is the most populated city in Florida and without a doubt the hotbed for sports within the State. A professional sports team from each of the five major North American sports resides in Miami or the surrounding area and Gulfstream Park, one of the most important horse racing tracks in the world, is also located only 30 minutes north of the city.
With all of these major sports teams and one of the most prestigious racetracks in the world all within a few minutes of the city it’s no wonder that sports betting has become a huge part of the culture in Miami. The Miami Heat lost in the NBA Finals in 2023 and are still perennial contenders, while the Florida Panthers also lost in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2023 and look like they will compete for the Stanley Cup over the next several years. Then of course you have the Miami Dolphins who are beloved within the city. Add to that Gulfstream Park which holds the Pegasus World Cup and Florida Derby annually, and you can see there are plenty of sports to bet on as a Miami resident.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Miami?
Yes, the tribal gambling compact signed in 2021 between the state and the Seminole Tribe was reinstated in December of 2023, allowing the Seminole Tribe to launch Hard Rock Bet in Florida. The Seminole Tribe has exclusive rights to the sports and casino gambling markets in Florida, so Hard Rock Bet is the only regulated betting app available to Florida residents.
Florida residents also have the option to place bets through offshore betting sites, such as the pair that I’ve outlined below. These sportsbooks are licensed and authorized outside of the United States, which means they are operating outside of the jurisdiction of the United States and thus are able to accept American bettors.
As it happens, Bovada.lv, our top rated sportsbook, actually only accepts American residents, which allows them to fully customize their site to fit the needs of American sports bettors.
Best Betting Sites for Miami Residents
| Sportsbook | Bonus | Visit |
|---|---|---|
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100% up to $250 | Visit |
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50% up to $1000 | Visit |
There are our two top rated betting sites for Miami residents. Each site is very popular across the entire United States and both offer safe and secure platforms for you to place your sports wagers.
Offline Sports Betting in Miami
As I mentioned above the Seminole Tribe holds exclusive rights to casino and sports gambling in the state. Luckily for Miami residents, the Seminole Tribe has two casinos just 30 minutes drive from downtown Miami. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and the Seminole Classic Casino are located together in Hollywood.
Parimutuel betting does not fall under the Seminole Tribes exclusive rights, which means you can place horse racing wagers at tracks in Florida, and Gulfstream Park, one of the most prestigious racetracks in the entire world, is located only 30 minutes north of Miami.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located just 30 minutes north of downtown Miami. The casino added a sportsbook in December of 2023. The sportsbook has 8 betting windows and 40 self-service betting kiosks. The betting windows are open from 9am to 1am daily and the Sportsbook is connected to the Hard Rock Sports Bar allowing you to make a night out of going to the sportsbook.
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park is a short 30 minute drive north of downtown Miami. This is most important racetrack in the State of Florida and one of the most prestigious tracks for horse racing in the entire world.
Gulfstream Park has hosted the Pegasus World Cup every year since it’s inaugural race back in 2017. The Pegasus World Cup was the richest horse race in the world for a couple years. It no longer holds this distinction, but it’s still one of the most anticipated races of the horse racing season. The Florida Derby, which is considered one of the premier tune-up events for the Kentucky Derby, is also held at Gulfstream Park each year.
You will be able to wager on live races at Gulfstream Park on almost a daily basis, and you are also able to bet on horse races from across the country on the premises.
If you are can’t make it to the track you are also able to wager on every Gulfstream Park race online through either of the offshore sportsbooks I outlined above.
***You are not able to wager on sports games at the track. You can only wager on horse races.
Major Sports Teams in Miami
- Florida Panthers (NHL – Hockey)
- Miami Dolphins (NFL – Football)
- Miami Heat (NBA – Basketball)
- Miami Marlins (MLB – Baseball)
- Inter Miami CF (MLS – Soccer)