Florida may not be a state that immediately comes to mind when you think about gambling meccas – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any casino action in the Sunshine State! In fact, there are tons of casinos spread out across the state, from the panhandle down to the Florida Keys.
Awesome No Deposit Bonus Casino Apps for iPhone & iPad in 2023If you find yourself in or around Fort Lauderdale – whether you’re there for vacation, business, or visiting one of the city’s two beautiful airports (FLL/Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International or MPB/Broward General Aviation), here’s a look at your best betting options in “Venice of America.”
As you can see from the above map, they aren’t exactly lining up to open casinos in Fort Lauderdale – quite the contrast versus, say, the 30 casinos in Philadelphia or 24 casinos in Salt Lake City. However, it’s still possible to get your gamble on in the area – let’s take a look.
New Casinos to Try in 2023 (and 4 to Avoid At All Costs)Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Nearby in Hollywood, FL
- 636,000 square feet of gaming space with 1,699 slots and 137 table games.
- Non-Smoking Floor • Connected to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel • Multiple hotel rooms on property • 50+ retail outlets, 16 dining options, full-service spa
- Starbucks, Hard Rock Café, Fresh Kitchen, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Rise Kentucky Bourbon Bar, Seminole Hard Rock Poker Lounge, Hard Rock Event Center
- Box Office • Retail Shop • Self-Park Garage • Valet
- 360 degrees of non-stop excitement featuring the coolest stars in music and pop culture
- Seminole Hard Rock has partnered with Uber and Lyft – use code HARDROCK for $20 off 2 rides
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino just might be South Florida’s ultimate destination for fun. Located in nearby Hollywood, Florida (approximately a 35-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport), this iconic music-themed resort boasts 636,000 square feet of gaming, exciting nightlife, delicious dining options, and thrilling live entertainment.
Featuring over 1,699 slots and 137 table games, the casino offers something for everyone. Plus, with a non-smoking floor, connected to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, and multiple hotel rooms on property, guests can enjoy a comfortable stay without ever leaving the action.
Best Harrah's Casino Apps and Sites - Where Is it Best?Shop till you drop with over 50 retail outlets, indulge in one of 16 dining options including Fresh Kitchen, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Rise Kentucky Bourbon Bar, and seminole café, or relax at the full-service Hard Rock Spa.
Starbies, the Hard Rock Café, and other quick service eateries help keep you fueled for endless fun. For poker fans, the Hard Rock Poker Lounge hosts some of South Florida’s hottest poker tournaments and cash games.
Catch a show at the Hard Rock Event Center, which features 360 degrees of non-stop excitement featuring the coolest stars in music and pop culture. And if you’re looking to take a piece of the Hard Rock home with you, don’t forget to visit the Retail Shop, the Box Office, or valet park your car in the Self-Park Garage.
With convenient pick-up and drop-off at the main entrance, Seminole Hard Rock has partnered with Uber and Lyft – use code HARDROCK for $20 off 2 rides. Let the good times roll at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – where the party never stops.
Awesome Blackjack Side Bets (With Payouts & Guide) - MintDiceIs there a casino in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
No.
There isn’t a classic, standalone casino in Fort Lauderdale. Your only option is the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in nearby Hollywood, Florida--around a 30 minute drive depending on traffic.
Why are there so few casinos in Fort Lauderdale?
There are very few casinos in Fort Lauderdale because of Florida gambling laws.
Things I Learned After Playing More Than a Million Hands of Online PokerFlorida is unique among the states in that it limits legal gambling mostly to the state’s semi-autonomous Indian reservations–and even then, what types of gambling are permitted is strictly limited by law. The Seminole Tribe of Florida operates most gambling establishments in south Florida, per a complicated compact with the state. Under current Florida gambling laws, only the following forms of gambling are legally permissible:
- Parimutuel wagering on the outcome of horse races and greyhound dog races. This typically takes the form of betting on the results at racetracks and jai-alai frontons or at “simulcast” facilities where patrons bet on races/events originally held elsewhere.
- Poker and cardrooms offering games like blackjack are also permitted under certain circumstances, primarily on Indian reservations. Slot machines are allowed, but payouts are strictly limited.
- Jai alai – Yes, jai alai. The baseline athletes hurl a small ball at incredible speeds into their opponent’s side of the court. It’s similar to tennis and basque pelota and popular in the southern US due to its fast pace and high level of skill.
- Bingo and other lottery games run by the state.
There is an exception for “hub cities” such as Miami and Orlando, which are allowed casino gambling within designated areas. Even so, such establishments are few and far between – and none exist within Fort Lauderdale’s city limits.
As mentioned previously, the Seminole Tribe operates most of the state’s gambling establishments per a special compact with the state of Florida. That compact is currently being challenged in court, however – which could spell big changes for Florida gambling laws in the near future. Stay tuned.
What casinos are near Fort Lauderdale Florida?
Seminole Hard Rock Casino - Hollywood FL
- Address: 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314
- Phone: (954) 357-6000
- Website: SeminoleHardRockHollywood.com
- Distance to FLL: Approx. 20 miles / 30 minutes
Your best (and really only) choice is the , located in neighboring Hollywood, Florida (just a 30-minute drive from both FLL and MPH).
This magnificent property features 1,699 slot machines and 137 table games – including blackjack, baccarat, craps, Spanish 21, and more. They also offer traditional card rooms for Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha Hi-Lo.
High rollers will appreciate the plush High Limit Room – featuring table games with higher minimum bets and over 125 of the latest and greatest slot machines, many with denominations as high as $100.
The Poker Lounge features over 40 tables, and the Hard Rock Casino – Hollywood remains one of the largest and highest-rated card rooms in the state of Florida.
Can you gamble in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
While you won’t find any casino resorts in Fort Lauderdale itself – you can absolutely gamble in the area. As mentioned earlier, Florida gambling laws are pretty restrictive, allowing parimutuel wagering on the outcome of horse races and greyhound dog races at various tracks and frontons.
There’s also poker and cardroom-style gambling – including blackjack, although slot machines are limited as to what they can payout. Bingo and lottery play are also permitted.
under 1 hour withdrawal casinoYou’ll want to make the short trip to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in nearby Hollywood, Florida – just a 30-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). If you’re visiting Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (MPB), it’s roughly the same distance – a bit farther if you’re stuck in rush hour traffic.
Either way, it’s worth the short jaunt to experience one of Florida’s premier gambling establishments. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino – Hollywood offers hundreds of slot machines and dozens of table games – along with a massive poker room.
Even if you’re not a huge gambler, it’s definitely worth stopping by to see the place – especially if you’re a music fan. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino – Hollywood is famous for its impressive collection of rock ‘n roll memorabilia – featuring items from Elvis, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Cher, Eric Clapton, and many more.
best online casinos usDoes Fort Lauderdale have riverboats?
Nope – no riverboat casinos in or near Fort Lauderdale. Again, that’s due to Florida gambling laws limiting gambling to Indian reservations – and most reservations in southeast Florida are too close to the ocean to qualify as “Indian country”.
Even if a reservation qualifies, gambling is limited under the terms of the state’s compact with the Seminole Tribe – and riverboat gambling doesn’t appear to fall within those restrictions. Therefore, you won’t find any riverboat casinos in Florida – or Fort Lauderdale, specifically.
Does Fort Lauderdale have cruise ship casinos?
Not exactly – but they do have ships with casinos that leave from nearby ports. In fact, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is Florida’s third-largest port – serving more than 3.5 million cruese passengers annually on more than 10 different cruise lines.
Many of those cruise ships feature full casinos outfitted with your favorite slots and table games. Whether you’re spinning the reels or hitting the tables in the comfort of the open sea or before you even set sail is up to you – head down to Port Everglades and find your favorite game at the onboard casino.
Are there stakes games in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes! Stakes is considered a lottery game under Florida law and is legal at numerous venues throughout the state. There’s even a in Miami-Dade County that offers high-stakes electronic versions of roulette, craps, and sic-bo.
It’s unclear whether playing at an internet café, like the Design District Games location in Miami, would be deemed legal under the terms of the Seminole Compact – but for now, the games are still running. We shall see…
Spectacular Casino Resorts You Can Visit in CanadaIn Fort Lauderdale, there are several locations offering Stakes and other lottery-type games. Among them are:
- Lucky Ballroom
- ENumCASINO eSports Lounge & Pub
- Winners 2
- Gaming on the Go
- GameSpot Esport Lounge & Bar
- Royal Games
Does Fort Lauderdale have jai alai?
Yes! There’s one operating facility within Fort Lauderdale proper – the historic Baptist Health Hard Rock Stadium. The stadium is home to the , who have claimed 26 championships since the team was established in 1984.
States Where Online Poker Is Legal in the US (2023) - AskGamblersUnfortunately, COVID put the kibosh on the 2020-21 season – but the Tigers should be back in action later this year. When the team is in residence, you can catch them at the stadium – located at 2261 Panther Pkwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324.
If you can’t wait for the Tigers to return – or you’re just itching to catch a jai alai match, head over the Broward County Line to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in nearby Hollywood, Florida. The Hard Rock Casino – Hollywood features a world-class jai alai fronton and some of the fastest athletes on the planet.
Does Fort Lauderdale have poker rooms?
Again, your best – and really only – choice is the Seminole Hard Rock Casino – Hollywood, which is just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale. Their legendary poker room consistently ranks as one of Florida’s best – and hosts some of the hottest tournaments and cash games in the sunshine state.
They offer No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em in all limit intervals, Omaha-Hi/Lo, and Seven Card Stud in both high and low-limit rooms – as well as daily and weekend tournaments with buy-ins starting at just $65.
The Poker Lounge features over 40 tables and top-of-the line equipment – plus plenty of opportunities to earn points towards free play and other rewards. Drop in anytime – the Hard Rock Poker Lounge remains open 365 days per year.
Does Fort Lauderdale have slot machines?
Yep – again, the Seminole Hard Rock Casino – Hollywood is your best (and only realistic) option. Per the terms of the Seminole Compact, slot machines are limited to $2-$5 maximum payouts – essentially, “coin buck machines”.
That might sound disappointing, but fear not: the Hard Rock has hundreds of the newest and hottest slot machines from top manufacturers like IGT and Bally. From penny slots to $5 machines, you’re sure to find plenty of hot titles and potential jackpots – including lots of progressive slots with huge prizes waiting to be hit.
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