The details and regulations for legal sports betting in Florida remain uncertain, but bettors in the Sunshine State could be placing wagers in time for the 2021-22 NFL season at the top Florida sports betting apps.
Governor Ron Desantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida entered into an agreement labeled the 2021 Florida Gaming Compact. The compact outlines a 30-year deal between the state and the Seminole Tribe, in which the tribal casino ownership group would offer mobile sports betting available anywhere within Florida borders.
The proposed compact could bring at least two different sports betting skins to Florida. One of those skins would likely offer mobile sports betting through a Seminole Hard Rock-branded platform.
The other available skin could end up bearing the name of a major sports betting player. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, or BetMGM stand as possible candidates to score a piece of the Florida sports betting market.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Legal Online Sportsbook Apps In Florida?
The US currently rides the wave of an unprecedented sports betting boom. While the COVID-19 pandemic significantly diminished land-based casino revenue across the country, mobile sportsbooks rose to staggering levels of popularity over the last 12 months.
Mobile sports betting apps allow legal wagering from anywhere within the borders of an approved state. A trip to the casino and the retail sportsbook is no longer necessary, as online sportsbook apps allow players to bet from their mobile devices.
Most legal online sportsbooks offer their services through mobile apps for both Apple iOS and Android devices. Mobile sports betting apps offer full-service sports betting, including many features designed specifically for online wagering.
While most online sportsbooks also offer their platforms as browser-based betting sites, mobile apps provide the convenience of betting from anywhere within the state. As long as you have your mobile device in hand, you can place bets at a mobile sportsbook.
How To Install Online Sports Betting Apps On An Apple iOS Device
Finding Apple iOS Sports Betting Apps
Apple iOS device owners can find legal mobile sports betting apps at the App Store. Some apps, like DraftKings and FanDuel, also offer daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps, so be sure to download “DraftKings Sportsbook” and not just “DraftKings.”
Creating An Account on Apple iOS
Most mobile sports betting apps require verification of age and identity in order to sign up. You generally need to provide first and last name, last four digits of your Social Security number, and a valid email address to register for a new account.
Making A Deposit
Once you’ve downloaded a sports betting app and your identification details are verified, you’re ready to make your first deposit and begin betting. Navigate to the “Cashier” or “Add Funds” tab to take a look at the different deposit options. PayPal, ACH/eCheck, and Play + Prepaid represent some of the best ways to deposit.
How To Install Online Sports Betting Apps On An Android Device
Finding Android Sports Betting Apps
The Google Play store recently changed its longstanding policy against listing real-money gambling apps. Some legal sports betting apps for Android are now available at Google Play. If you can’t find the app you’re looking for at the Google Play store, you can download it directly from a sportsbook’s website.
Creating An Account On Android
Signing up for an account with an Android sports betting app works the same way as the process for Apple iOS apps. The sportsbook will likely ask for your full name, last four digits of your Social Security number, and a valid email address.
Making A Deposit
Some mobile sports betting apps require additional identity verification before you can make your first deposit. These details can sometimes include proof of address or a photo upload. Once all of your details are verified, you’re free to make your first deposit and place bets at the sportsbook.
3 Best Online Sports Betting Apps That Could Launch In Florida
The 2021 Florida Gaming Compact doesn’t yet include the final details on how sports betting will operate in Florida. At least two different online skins could eventually launch in the state, including a Seminole Hard Rock branded mobile sports betting app.
The biggest brands in the US legal sports betting industry would likely bid on the opportunity to run Florida’s second sports betting skin. Some of the potential names on that list include the following:
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook stands as the number one online sportsbook in the US in terms of market share. FanDuel offers mobile sports wagering in ten states, and no US online sportsbook takes more bets than FanDuel Sportsbook.
Since expanding from DFS into sports betting, FanDuel Sportsbook has evolved into one of the highest-rated mobile sportsbooks in the US. Just about every conceivable sport is open for wagering with FanDuel’s platform, including domestic, international, and niche sports.
FanDuel Sportsbook welcomes new players with a bonus bet up to $1,000. Using this offer, your first bet at FanDuel Sportsbook is eligible for a full refund if it loses, up to $1,000.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Much like FanDuel, DraftKings evolved from its DFS roots into one of the most popular online sportsbooks in the US. DraftKings Sportsbook operates in 11 states, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Florida added to that list.
US players can wager on all major US sports leagues at DraftKings Sportsbook. The betting options on the platform run the gamut, including moneyline, point spread, totals, futures, props, and live betting.
Registering for a DraftKings Sportsbook account unlocks a 20% deposit match up to $1,000 as a welcome bonus. A potential DraftKings Sportsbook FL platform would also likely offer pre-launch bonuses for signing up before the sportsbook goes live in the Sunshine State.
BetRivers
Beginning with a launch in New Jersey in August 2018 under the SugarHouse Sportsbook name, BetRivers has since expanded into one of the most prominent brands on the mobile sports betting landscape in the US.
BetRivers now offers mobile sports betting in eight states and could stand as a solid contender to land a Florida sports betting license. BetRivers gives players a comprehensive array of sports and ways to bet, including US sports and a wide selection of international leagues.
The BetRivers Sportsbook welcome bonus offers one of the most player-friendly promotions in US sports betting. New players can enjoy a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250, with just a 1x playthrough requirement.
| Florida’s Potential Upcoming Mobile Sportsbooks At A Glance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Sportsbook | iOS App | Android App | Average Review |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Yes | Yes | 4.8 out of 5 (iOS) |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Yes | Yes | 4.7 out of 5 (iOS) |
| BetRivers | Yes | Yes | 4.0 out of 5 (iOS) |
The top online sportsbooks in the US all offer comprehensive menus of sports, including US-based and international leagues. While you can’t go wrong with any of the mobile sportsbooks discussed in this article, each brand does offer different features.
How Different Is One Sportsbook App From The Next?
The differences among legal online sportsbooks could include the following:
Welcome Bonuses
Virtually all online sportsbooks offer some kind of welcome bonus, but these promotions can vary significantly across different brands.
BetRivers, for instance, extends one of the most player-friendly sign-up bonuses in the industry. New players can register for a BetRivers account and unlock a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250 with just a 1x playthrough requirement.
DraftKings Sportsbook offers its own deposit match, but on very different terms versus the BetRivers promotion. DraftKings welcomes new players with a 20% deposit match up to $1,000 with a 25x playthrough requirement.
At BetRivers, you could deposit $250, wager $250, and unlock another $250 in bonus betting credits. At DraftKings Sportsbook, by comparison, you would have to deposit $5,000, then make a total of $25,000 in wagers, to unlock the full $1,000 bonus.
Odds
All major online sportsbooks present extensive betting menus of domestic and international sports. Sharp bettors maintain accounts as several different sportsbooks, always looking for the best odds on a particular bet.
While DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers offer many of the same betting markets, the lines on any given bet could favor the player at one sportsbook versus another. For instance, take a look at the futures odds on the 2021 NBA Championship as of May 4:
| 2021 NBA Championship Futures Odds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | Los Angeles Lakers | Los Angeles Clippers | Utah Jazz | |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | +200 | +460 | +600 | +650 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | +240 | +350 | +500 | +700 |
| BetRivers | +240 | +350 | +500 | +700 |
What Makes For A Good Mobile Sports Betting App?
DraftKings Sportsbook and BetRivers offer the same odds on each of the four NBA Championship favorites. FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines on all four contenders offer different odds, however.
Speed
Mobile sports betting apps allow for almost instantaneous wagering, as any chosen bet is just a couple of clicks away at all times. The speed of a mobile sportsbook is key to the user experience, especially when making live wagers. Live betting allows you to be on a game as it’s happening, with lines that change every few seconds.
Navigation
The top-rated mobile sports betting apps make it easy to find the sports and bets you wish to make. The DraftKings Sportsbook mobile app, for instance, offers all of the features from the desktop version of the sportsbook but with a presentation optimized for mobile devices.
Seamless Deposits
Online sportsbooks allow players to make deposits from the comfort of a mobile device. The convenience of mobile sports betting opens up wagering opportunities to anyone within the state of Florida. The best mobile sports betting apps offer a smooth depositing process, with transactions that take only a few seconds.
Access To Promotions
Welcome bonuses, pre-launch promotions, and rewards programs mark the signs of a top-tier online sportsbook. Florida’s upcoming mobile sports betting apps will likely offer players plenty to like in terms of promotions, including deposit matches, bonus bets, and no-deposit bonuses.
How Can Players Deposit Money Online Using An Online Sportsbook App?
Deposit Methods At Mobile Sportsbooks
Florida’s legal mobile sports betting apps will offer several different ways to fund your account. Some of the best deposit methods include the following:
- PayPal – PayPal deposits go through almost 100% of the time and don’t experience the rejection rate that comes with using some other deposit methods. PayPal can also be used for withdrawals, making it one of the fastest, reliable, and versatile deposit methods.
- Play+ Prepaid Card – The Play+ Prepaid card links directly to your mobile sportsbook account. You can load Play+ using several different methods, then use the card to make instant deposits into your sports betting account. Play+ can also be used to cash out, and bettors at any online sportsbook should consider opening up a Play+ account.
- ACH/eCheck And Online Banking – Online Banking and ACH/eCheck draft an electronic check from your valid bank account. If approved, this method puts the funds in your player account instantly. ACH/eCheck deposits can occasionally get rejected by the issuing bank, however, as some banks don’t allow real-money gambling transactions.
- Credit And Debit Cards – Credit/debit cards offer instant deposits, but like ACH/eCheck, this method is sometimes declined by the bank. Bettors will find it useful to have several different deposit options at the disposal, just in case of a declined transaction.
- Apple iOS Users – The Apple iOS version of a mobile sportsbook generally allows all of the same deposit methods available to players on the desktop version of an online sportsbook. You can’t use Apple Pay or iTunes gift cards to make deposits, however.
Android Users
Android mobile sports betting apps offer the same menu of deposit options found at the desktop version of an online sportsbook. Google Play store gift cards won’t work for deposits though, so you’ll need to stick with the standard methods of deposits and withdrawals.
Is Using A Legal Online Sports Betting App In Florida Safe?
Florida’s upcoming mobile sports betting launch will include at least two different apps that you can install on your mobile device. If you’re wondering if these apps are safe to install on your phone, the answer is yes. Let’s take a look at what makes that true.
Are Legal Sportsbooks Ok To Install On My Phone?
Companies like DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and BetRivers offer mobile sports betting in several US states. In order to get to that point, these top-rated sports betting brands developed their respective mobile apps to operate safely on both Apple iOS and Android devices.
The mobile sports betting brands that get approved for operations in Florida won’t get the green light to launch if they can’t provide a safe mobile app.
How Do Legal Sportsbooks Protect My Personal Information?
Legal online sportsbooks operate with a keen interest in protecting customer information, as well as player funds. Any kind of security breach that leads to compromised player information would play out as a disaster for brands like DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetRivers.
With that in mind, the top online sportsbooks use the highest available level of encryption and security protocols to keep customer information safe. Legal mobile sportsbooks employ cybersecurity experts that are tasked with protecting customer information, much like a major retail outlet or bank.
You can provide your identification details to a legal online sportsbook knowing that your information is safe.
How Can I Secure My Mobile Sports Betting Account?
Online sportsbooks allow players to opt-in for two-step authentication if they wish. With this feature turned on, you’ll need to go through a couple of extra security steps each time you log into your sportsbook account.
When you log in with your email/username and password, the two-step authentication feature generates a random, unique code and sends it to you via text message or email. You then have to input that code to log in to the sportsbook.
As long as you have possession of your mobile device, two-step authentication ensures that only you can log in to your mobile sports betting account.
Legal Mobile Sportsbook Apps In Florida FAQs
21 or older. As with all forms of legal gambling in Florida, the minimum required age for online sports betting will be set at 21. You’ll need to provide proof of age and identification in order to register for an online sportsbook account.
Florida’s mobile sports betting apps will include a comprehensive menu of domestic, international, and niche sports. Major US leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, PGA, and many others will offer numerous wagering opportunities for Florida bettors.
International leagues in soccer, basketball, rugby, and many other sports will offer even more betting opportunities. Some sportsbooks also put niche sports on the menu, such as table tennis, darts, and several others.
Yes. Apple iOS device owners will find all of Florida’s upcoming mobile apps in the App Store. As long as an online sportsbook offers an iOS app, you’ll be able to find it at the App Store.
Yes, but only a limited selection. Google only recently reversed a longstanding policy against real-money gambling apps in the Google Play store. Some mobile sports betting apps for Android devices can be found there, but others must be downloaded directly from a sportsbook’s website.
The 2021 Florida Gaming Compact should allow at least two online sports betting skins to operate in Florida. DraftKings Sportsbook could end up as one of the two, but those details have yet to be determined.
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