Betting on the NFL: What’s the Deal in Florida?

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We’re less than a week away from the kickoff of the 2022 NFL season. The Buccaneers are looked at as favorites to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. Their quest starts September 11th in primetime.

The Bucs at the Dallas Cowboys – it’s the day’s final game and Tom Brady’s return. After his 40-day retirement from the NFL, the GOAT is coming back for one more season. 

But the 2022/23 season will be special for another reason. As more states have been legalizing online gambling, fans will be able to place bets on their favorite teams and the outcome of games.

Floridians Will Have to Wait until 2023

Unfortunately, there is some bad news for Bucs’ fans and Floridians in general. In late 2021, the Sunshine State legalized online betting, but it only lasted for three weeks.

Shortly after the major announcement, the Seminole Tribe vetoed the decision citing a violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Legal proceedings are currently being held, but a final decision is not expected until early to mid-2023.

For Bucs fans living in Florida, it’s a major blow as there are no other legal betting options available to them. However, if you reside outside of Florida, things look different.

Where Can You Bet on Bucs Games Legally

At the time of writing, 21 of 50 states have introduced laws to make online sports betting legal. New York, Colorado, Arizona, and Michigan are among them – all allowing you to wager and win real money through online betting websites and apps. 

But even if you live further north, in Canada, logging into casinos or bookmakers online is easier than in Florida. In Ontario, gambling has been fully legalized as of April this year, and American brands like MGM and Caesars are already offering their services.

Outside of Ontario, things are a little more tricky. Many online casinos and sports betting websites are available to Canadians, but none of them have a Canadian license. These operators use a loophole in Canada’s law, which prohibits non-governmental gambling operators but doesn’t specify what happens if it’s online.

It’s a complicated topic, and we won’t get too much into it as we’re no lawyers, but these gambling websites have been operating across Canada for nearly 20 years.

Online Gambling for Non-residents

Unfortunately, none of this will benefit you if you’re not a resident in any of the 21 states or a Canadian citizen.

As per current law, it’s prohibited to cross a state border and gamble online as a non-resident. When registering with a site, you must provide your current address and zip code. In some cases, especially if you plan to bet big, the bookmaker might ask you for proof of address and bank statement.

If falsifying said documents springs to mind, we urge you to think twice. First, it’s illegal, but secondly, gambling operators have the right to withhold or cancel payouts entirely if you provide false information.

Hitting a massive win yet not receiving your money? You really want to avoid that.

Bucs fans and Floridians: as hard as it may seem, you will have to wait another season to place your bets on your favorite team!

For more on this and everything Buccaneers check back here hourly at BucsReport.com.

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