When most people think of Florida, they do not immediately think of gambling. They might think of theme parks like Disney World or Universal Studios, or spring break party destinations like Panama City Beach, but gambling isn’t usually high on the list of things to do in the Sunshine State.
Casinos in the Coolest Cities of the World - From Barcelona to VegasThat doesn’t mean that there aren’t any good gambling options—Florida has 14 racinos , the Seminole operate several casino properties throughout the state, and the Hawaii Jai-Alai Garden City track just outside of Miami even offers sports betting. There are also some great casinos in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia that are within a few hours’ drive of the Florida border.
But what if you don’t want to make the long drive? What if you want to gamble without leaving the sunshine state? Fear not, as there are still plenty of ways to get your gamble on without having to travel too far.
Naples is located on the southwest coast of Florida, and it is part of the Greater Miami metropolitan area. The city had a population of almost 200,000 people at the time of the 2020 census, making it the 33rd largest city in Florida.
There are no full-service casinos located in the city of Naples, but there are some fun gaming options located just a short drive to the east in Fort Myers.
Casinos in Naples, FL
No full-service casinos are currently located within the city limits of Naples, but there are a couple of casinos worth visiting less than an hour away in Immokalee and Fort Myers.
The big draw in Immokalee is the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, while the Fort Myers area is home to the WonderWorks Fun Center & Wacky World of Magic.
With that being said, there are still plenty of places where you can enjoy some legal gambling in Naples.
Naples Poker Room
If you’re looking to play some poker in Southwest Florida, then I recommend checking out the Naples Poker Room.
The Naples Poker Room used to be known as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, but it was recently rebranded as the Naples Poker Room following the opening of the brand-new $1.5 billion Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.
The new casino left the old Hard Rock in Tampa high and dry, so to speak, which left them with two choices.
They could try to compete with the new Hard Rock, or they could carve out their own niche in the marketplace.
The new Hard Rock can offer everything under the sun (and they do), so trying to go head-to-head with them would have been a losing proposition from the get-go. By contrast, the Naples Poker Room can offer something that the new casino cannot–namely, live poker games.
The new casino is thousands of square feet larger than the old one, but it only has ten poker tables . The Naples Poker Room, by contrast, has 50 tables , giving them one of the largest card rooms in the southeastern United States.
In addition to having more tables, the Naples Poker Room is only about 160km away from Nashville, making it much more accessible for players in Tennessee.
Another feather in their cap is the fact that Florida does not take a cut of the rake up to a certain point each month, provided that at least 85% of the game’s revenue comes from rakes below the threshold.
In practice, this means that the Naples Poker Room is required to offer the best rake possible under Florida law, which makes it a very appealing destination for grinders who used to frequent the tables at the old Hard Rock.
The new casino still has bigger cash games and tournaments, as well as all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a major regional casino, but the Naples Poker Room should siphon off some of the local poker business simply because they are the only ones offering Hold’em and Omaha.
One final perk for locals is that the room used to be tied into the former casino’s Mlife / MLife R / MLife Moments loyalty program , meaning that anyone who rack up a ton of comps and bonuses over the years will see that hard work rewarded going forward.
I dig into all the details surrounding the rebranding in my post at that time, so be sure to give it a read if you want to learn more.
Naples Off-Track Betting (OTB)
Gulfstream Park Racetrack & Casino is more than 350 miles away from Naples, so flying down to watch the races in person isn’t really an option. Thankfully, there are three off-track betting parlors ( OTB ) where horse racing fans can place bets on their favorite tracks.
windsor caesars casinoHialeah Park Race Track may be closed, but that hasn’t stopped their OTB location to from operating. In fact, the Hialeah OTB boasts that they have “the best machine, handicapping software, and television monitors,” which gives locals another reason to visit this iconic racetrack.
You can place bets on races from around the world at Dania Poker Room & Jai-Alai, but that’s not the only form of gambling available at the facility. The casino portion of the property used to house a 9-table card room , though it was shuttered in early 2020.
No official reason was ever given for why the room was closed, but it’s safe to say that the poker room was a victim of circumstance. The seminal closing as the room got absorbed into the Naples Poker Room , while the securing of a poker license in nearby Alabama surely put a dent in Dania’s revenues as well.
Racing fans have nothing to worry about, however, as Gulfstream Park still operates a satellite wagering facility in Dania. You can place bets on races from around the globe or wager on the local action at Gulfstream, Calder, and other tracks owned by The Stronach Group .
Dania Poker Room & Jai-Alai also hosts live games, international leagues, and video gaming. You can also play slot machines and enjoy live music and promotions during your visit.
Naples Charitable Bingo
There are five Naples charitable bingo locations where you can support a good cause while enjoying a fun game. Naples Bible Chapel, Moose Family Centre, American Legion Post 371, and Elks Lodge all host games a few times per week, while Hope Hospice also hosts regular sessions.
It’s always nice to support a good cause when you’re gambling, especially since the house edge is so high in most games. Bingo is technically considered a lottery, but you can think of it as a type of casino game because the house edge is so high. Here are that figures:
- Willie Wonka Gold Bingo – 10.3%
- Special Bingo – 10%
- Progressive Bingo – 8.33% to 9.52%
Even slots players are often able to find games with a lower house edge than that, which sort of puts things into perspective. Of course, part of the allure of bingo is not necessarily to win money but rather to not lose money while having a good time, socializing with friends, and supporting a good cause.
If you view bingo in those terms, then you’ll probably come out ahead even though the house edge is astronomical. Just be sure to set a loss limit beforehand so you don’t end up giving more than you intended to the charity.
Naples Cruise Ship Gambling
There are no cruise ships servicing Naples, Florida, as the city does not have a port. The closest port to Naples is the Port of Ft. Myers, which is approximately one hour to the east, but that port mainly serves container ships and other commercial vessels.
ritz carlton casinoThe nearest cruise ship ports are the Port of Tampa, which is approx. 200 miles to the east, and the Port of Miami, which is roughly 250 miles to the south. Both of those ports serve numerous cruise lines, including Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney, Cunard, Holland America, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, and Silversea.
So, while you can’t gamble on a casino cruise ship in Naples, Florida, you can certainly find one closer than you might think.
Naples Poker Apps
You can use the top online in Florida, though you should be aware that it’s technically illegal to do so. Online poker is not specifically outlawed in the Sunshine State, but the industry has never been regulated either.
Best Casino Games For Android (2023)This gray area in the law makes it difficult for sites to process payments, making it tough for companies to enter or remain in the market. Several high-profile sites – such as UltimatePoker – exited the US market after being acquired by companies that didn’t see value in continuing to offer services to Floridians and other Americans.
None of that matters if you’re just playing for non-redeemable sweepstakes credits, of course, and some players are content to build up their SC and not convert it to USD. That said, most players ultimately want to transfer their winnings to their bank account, and that is the tricky part.
A site must have enough volume to justify paying processing fees to move your funds around. If most of the player traffic comes from Delaware or New Jersey, for example, then they’ll prioritize payment methods that service those states above Florida. Luckily for Floridians, the entire site is accessible to players in the state – for now.
All Florda Poker Laws are enacted at the state level therefore, technically speaking, online poker is Illegal-but-not-illegal. The state does not offer licenses for online poker sites, but they do not explicitly outlaw playing online.
This means that sites can process payments and operate with servers based outside of the state. Some day Florida may decide to create its own online poker industry but until that happens players from the state are forced to play at offshore sites.
Best Casino Bonuses in Indiana with No Deposit Required (2023)Naples Sports Betting
Sports betting is currently illegal in the state of Florida, but that could change in the coming years. A constitutional amendment was proposed in November 2018 that would have seen state residents given the chance to vote on whether or not they wanted to legalize sports wagering at Florida’s existing casino properties. Unfortunately, the proposal failed to receive the necessary number of signatures to appear on the ballot.
Undeterred, the Seminole worked with Governor Ron DeSantis to include sports betting in their expanded gaming compact, but that deal was struck down by the Florida Supreme Court in April 2021. The court ruled that the agreement gave too much power to the tribe and did not benefit the state enough in return.
State lawmakers tried to pass a retail-only sports betting bill during the 2022 regular session, but the measure died on the final day without receiving the necessary votes. A mobile sports betting bill fared no better, which means that lawmakers will have to pick up where they left off when they reconvene for the 2022 special session.
Until then, Floridians will be unable to place legal sports wagers inside the state’s borders, though they can always hop in the car and drive to a neighboring jurisdiction. Sports betting is currently legal in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, so a road trip could be in order if you can’t wait to drop a bet.
Naples Casino
Naples is home to more than 100 golf courses, which means there are plenty of opportunities to gamble with your driver and wedges. No traditional casinos currently operate within the city limits, but there are a couple of small card rooms and dozens of off-track betting facilities where horse racing fans can enjoy their favorite sport.
The biggest casino is located 45 minutes to the east in Fort Myers, where you’ll find table games, poker, slots, restaurants, entertainment, and more at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Sports betting is currently illegal in Florida, but casinos are legally protected lotteries that are guaranteed Constitutional protection.
It’s only a matter of time before lawmakers reach a compromise with the Seminole Tribe, at which point the state will see a huge expansion of the gaming industry. Until then, why not check out some of the great casinos in Birmingham, AL, Grenada, MS, or Meridian, MS? You could also try your luck at one of the many cruise ships departing from nearby Tampa and Miami.
Footnote:
- Population data is from
