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 2020 and are still perennial contenders, while the Florida Panthers are also looking like they could 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?
Operating a sports betting website or sportsbook is not allowed in the State of Florida.
That said, there is no law against Florida residents placing bets through offshore betting sites, such as the pair that I’ve outlined below. The 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 allowed 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 |
|---|---|---|
 |
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
Unfortunately, the State of Florida does not allow any establishments to take offline sports wagers.
That said, Florida does allow you to place horse racing wagers at the tracks and Gulfstream Park, which is one of the most prestigious racetracks in the entire world, is located only 30 minutes north of Miami.
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)