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When you think of Florida, you probably don’t think of gambling meccas like Las Vegas or Atlantic City. But just because it’s not one of the biggest gambling destinations in the country doesn’t mean there aren’t some great casinos within driving distance of the beach.
There are actually a surprising number of casinos within an hour’s drive of . And if you’re willing to drive a bit further, there are even more options.
The only form of gambling legally offered in the state of is the . There are semi-professional teams in all five major sports as well as minor league affiliates of many MLB teams.
You can also place bets at racetracks throughout the state. Aside from that, your other options are to play the lottery or head to one of the tribal casinos or parimutuel wagering venues.
Miami Beach, unfortunately, does not have any casinos of its own. However, there are plenty within easy driving distance on the mainland side of town. Here’s a look at the best casinos near Miami Beach, FL.
We’ll start with casinos within a 10-mile radius of the beach and work our way outward. All distances will be straightline (as the crow flies) measurements. Real-world drive times may be different.
Hard Rock Casino
- Address: 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314
- Distance: 14 miles
- Gambling Options: This casino is run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It offers up thousands of slot machines and games including blackjack, , pai gow, Texas hold’em, baccarat, three-card poker, and more.
- Notable Features : If you’ve ever been to the Hard Rock Cafe, you know this chain is known for its collection of rock memorabilia. The casino takes that to a whole new level.
You can see musical instruments and clothing once owned by the likes of Elvis, Madonna, Cher, and Robert Plant. There are handwritten lyrics from John Lennon and letters penned by Marilyn Monroe and Jimi Hendrix.
In addition to all the gaming options listed above, this casino has a full poker room complete with cash tables, tournaments, and special high stakes areas. They offer live poker events and have hosted stops on both the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker.
No Deposit Bonus Casinos in the US (2023) - Elite, Free Real MoneyIf you plan to do any regular poker playing, consider joining their Players Club for access to exclusive perks and rewards. This casino also boasts numerous restaurants, bars, and entertainment options. You could spend hours here and never get bored.
This casino covers all the gambling bases, offering slots, video poker, traditional table games, a non-smoking area, and a high stakes lounge. They also have a poker room with 50 tables and ranging from hole monitor to no-limit.
There are lots of dining options too numerous to mention here, but I will point out that they have everything from fast food to gourmet. There are also several bars and lounges where you can grab a drink and catch some live music or comedy.
They host lots of big name entertainers in their concert venue as well. It’s called The Event Center, but you can think of it as the Hard Rock Arena.
As you might have guessed, the Hard Rock Casino is covered in rock memorabilia. Some of my favorites are a concert poster signed by The Who, Janis Joplin’s stage costumes, and a bass guitar once played by Paul McCartney.
Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
- Address: 500 S.W. 178th Ave., Miami, FL 33194
- Distance: 7 miles
- Gambling Options: Classic slot machines, high denomination machines, and electronic table games.
- Notable Features : This casino is operated by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and is the only casino in the world featuring Bingo, Poker, and Blackjack. It has over 1,600 games spread out over 40,000 square feet.
If you get hungry while playing, go to the Cypress Seafood Grill & Bar or the Sabal Palm Entertainment Court Food court. There’s also a Starbucks if you need your caffeine fix.
What really sets this casino apart is its proximity to the Everglades. If you’ve never taken a airboat ride through the glades, you haven’t truly lived.
It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Alligators, anyone? Be sure to bring bug spray as mosquitoes love the ‘Glades almost as much as you do.
The Miccosukee Resort and Gaming also boasts a couple of notable features of the non-gambling variety. The resort has a 12 story, 300 room hotel with stunning views of the everglades. They also have a spa that uses native miccosukee healing methods to soothe your stressed out bones.
pokerstars online casinos njIsle Casino Racing Pompano Park
- Address: 700 N. Federal Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004
- Distance: 14 miles
- Gambling Options: This casino has almost 1,000 slot machines, popular flat screen TVs, wide arm rests, and two plays per spin on their “superwinners.” They have live harness racing and a poker room with cash games, tournaments, and promotions daily.
- Notable Features : One cool thing about this casino is that it shares property with Pompano Park, one of the few remaining .
They run races every Wednesday through Sunday starting at 12:30 PM. Admission is free and parking is free too.
If you’ve got kids, they can enjoy the petting zoo, pony rides, mini golf course, go karts, batting cages, and arcade. Adults can check out the live music and comedy acts.
Of course, there’s also the casino proper with all its gambling goodness. They offer up to $500 in free slots play or $25 in free table game play, plus a souvenir visor to help you block out the glare of all that Vegas-style gambling excitement.
They’ve also got some nice restaurants, bars, and a seafood buffet. The poker room has 20 tables with daily and weekend tournaments.
Gulfstream Park
- Address: 901 Silks Run, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
- Distance: 17 miles
- Gambling Options: Thoroughbred horseracing, 850 Gulfstream Park International slots, more than 80 table games, and a 400 seat poker room. The poker room has No Limit Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Low, and Seven Card Stud. They also offer daily and weekly promotions.
- Notable Features : For most of us, the biggest claim to fame for Gulfstream Park is that it was featured prominently in the 1979 Robert Redford/Eshton Powers movie .
However, race fans know that Gulfstream Park has been hosting races since 1939. It currently runs from December to April and offers everything from maiden special weights to graded stakes races.
It’s also home to the Pegasus World Cup, which started in 2017. It boasts the richest purse in thoroughbred racing history-$16 million for each of the sprint and classic races.
In addition to the racing and casino gambling, Gulfstream Park offers simulcast betting on races from around the country. They have tons of dining options, including a sushi bar, deli, and steakhouse. Of course, they serve typical casino fare like burgers, pizza, and fried foods as well.
Speaking of casino fare, let’s talk about the gambling. Slots are arranged in pits with cocktail service. That’s classy. Table games include blackjack, , Spanish 21, and others.
High rollers should ask about the Ultimate Gaming Experience, which includes VIP seating, personal concierge, and special access to events.
Casinos 30-60 Miles from Miami Beach, FL
The casinos below are within an hour’s drive of Miami Beach, assuming clear sailing and no traffic problems. Your actual drive time may vary.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
- Address: 5223 Orient Rd, Tampa, FL 33610
- Distance: 304 miles
- Gambling Options: More than 2,100 of the latest slot machines, electromechanical biscgin table games, live Texas Hold ’em poker and a 500-seat poker room. The hardest rock hotel & casino tampa bay is the 2nd hard rock hotel and casino built by the seminole hard rock tribe of florida.
- Notable Features : In May 2007, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa undertook a $700 million expansion doubling the size of the casino and adding a 46-story hotel tower with 900 rooms.
That expansion was completed in 2010 and the result is one of the nicest casinos in the country. The new hotel tower means there are now 2,653 luxurious guest rooms and suites.
The casino boasts over 2,100 slot machines and 90 poker tables. There are also high stakes baccarat and poker areas, along with traditional table games like blackjack, craps, and roulette.
One unique feature of this casino is that they allow smoking in some areas, but have installed a cutting edge filtration system that removes 99.9% of tobacco smoke particles. So, if you’re sensitive to secondhand smoke but don’t want to miss out on the action, you’re in luck.
This casino has dozens of restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges. It would take days to experience them all.
Live entertainment is provided nightly in the Joint, a 1,700 capacity concert venue modeled after their larger venue in Hollywood, FL. Popular bands often play Tampa before graduating to larger venues in Florida and across the country.
When you need a break from gambling and music, check out the plethora of attractions in Tampa Bay, including Busch Gardens Theme Park, Adventure Island Water Park, Lowry Park Zoo, and the Florida Aquarium. There are also tons of great restaurants, museums, and historical sites.
Legal Online Casinos in PA You Need to Try NextCasino Miami Jai-Alai
- Address: 2500 NW 42nd Ave, Miami, FL 33142
- Distance: 12 miles
- Gambling Options: Over 800 of the loosest slot machines in South Florida, electronic bingo, and high stake table game pit location.
- Notable Features : This casino is one of only 2 in the US still hosting jai-alai matches. If you’ve never witnessed this Basque version of tennis, you’re in for a treat.
Cesta puntes hurl a heavy ball at speeds exceeding 188 mph in order to keep it aloft before smacking it into their opponent’s wall. It looks easy in those paragraphs above, but I promise you it’s very difficult.
Watching a jai-alai match is a thrilling experience. Just be sure to wear eye protection. I speak from painful personal experience when I say the bouncy, hard ball can really hurt.
After placing a wager, feel free to sit back and enjoy a jai-alai match. Or two. They run constantly from morning until late at night. In addition to traditional table games like blackjack and poker, this casino boasts a huge selection of video poker machines.
safe slots onlineIt also has a sports bar and grill with 30 giant screen TVs showing all your favorite sporting events. They offer daily lunch and dinner specials, happy hour specials, player’s club discounts, and more.
Casinos 60+ Miles from Miami Beach, FL
These last two casinos are technically in the Miami Beach area, but they’re a bit farther away than I’d care to drive on a regular basis. Still, they’re worth mentioning if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
- Address: 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314
- Distance: 23 miles
- Gambling Options: 2,000 slot machines, more than 100 table games, 40 poker tables, and a 450-seat poker room. It also hosts major events like the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour.
- Notable Features : We’ve saved what might be the best casino for last. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood recently completed a $1.5 billion renovation that took it to another galaxy…literally.
Every surface is covered in musical artifacts, from guitars signed by every rock star alive to hand written lyrics by everyone from Springsteen to Queen to Lady Gaga. My personal favorite is the bat that Jerry Garcia played during his final performance with the Grateful Dead.
This casino has everything you’d expect, including tons of slot machines, table games, and a huge poker room. They also have live music, comedy shows, and other entertainment.
I mentioned the unbelievable collection of musical artifacts, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are animatronic dinosaurs in the Unvived restaurant, a 40 foot tall Gibson Les Paul guitar, and tons of interactive displays for kids and adults alike.
Don’t miss the massive guitar water fountain out front. It dances to music every half hour or so.
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood serves up certified Angus beef and fresh seafood in an atmosphere filled with rare taxidermy, including an albino alligator, white buffalo, and even a two headed cow. The steaks are awesome and the view of the floor below isn’t bad either.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood offers numerous bars and lounges serving everything from craft beer to frozen drinks. They have a plethora of eateries to fit any taste bud or budget.
Onsite hotels offer every amenity you could imagine, plus some you’ve likely never imagined. And when you’re ready to relax, visit one of the many spas and salons for a little pampering.
Casino @ Dania Beach
- Address: 3000 SW 3rd St, Dania Beach, FL 33004
- Distance: 14 miles
- Gambling Options: Enjoy the latest slot machines, electronic games, live poker, and table games. There’s also an off track betting parlor that runs over 70 races a day from around the country and world.
- Notable Features : If you like harness racing, you’ll be thrilled to learn that the Casino @ Dania Beach is one of only nine racinos in the US with harness racing.
It runs from Wednesday to Sunday and is quite a sight. If you’ve never watched Standardbred horses pull a sulky, you don’t know beans about left turns. Ha! Just kidding, folks. Lighten up.
In all seriousness, though, watching a trotting or pacing horse do the light plant with those blinkers on is quite the spectacle.
The casino itself boasts a variety of slot machines and table games. They also have a high limit VIP lounge and a poker room with 15 tables and daily and weekly promotions.
Play often enough and you can join their players club, which offers points towards complimentary play, discounted valet and self-parking, birthday offers, and more.
There are several places to eat inside the casino, including a deli, diner, and Italian bistro. They also have a sports bar and lounge with happy hour specials.
Which Casino Near Miami Beach, FL Should You Visit First?
Well, that depends. Are you a card counters? Do you prefer spinning the wheels of fortune? Maybe you’re a horse racing fan. Whatever draws you to the casino, you shouldn’t have to drive hundreds of miles to get your gamble on.
Here in the Miami Beach area, we’re fortunate to have plenty of casinos within a short drive. Personally, I’m partial to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. With its stellar music theme, it’s pretty much the rockin’est casino in the land.
The Council Oak Steaks & Seafood alone is worth the drive. Okay, maybe the close proximity helps too. Unfortunately, my bankroll doesn’t currently reflect the rock star theme.
If yours is in better shape than mine, I highly recommend a visit to the Hard Rock Casino. Even if you don’t gamble, it’s worth a trip just to see all the awesome rock memorabilia.
Still, there are plenty of other casinos in the Miami Beach area that are worthy of your consideration. Heck, you can even gamble on horses without leaving your family in the gift shop.
No matter which casino you choose, remember to gamble responsibly and have fun.
After reading about casinos near Miami Beach, FL, perhaps you’re interested in other destinations. Check out our list of casinos near Nashville, TN next.
Sources:
UK Best Casino Reviews To Build Trust And Credibility - AskGamblersAll casinos in this post (except the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, which opened in 2004) were operating in 1995, according to .
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood’s recent expansion and renovation details are courtesy of
Information about Gulfstream Park’s races and history was pulled from their .
Jerry Garcia’s grave site photo is courtesy of .
The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s website has more information about .
Nona Lewis’ WWII uniform and hat are on display at the in Hollywood, FL. I saw them there in 2004. They still give veterans free meals on certain days of the week.
Kevin Roberts, former drummer for Boston, is buried in Hollywood Memorial Gardens West, just a stone’s throw from Jerry Garcia. I wonder if his casket was empty.
