Casino Miami

Swim, Party, and Gamble in the Magic City of Miami

With its exotic beaches, hard rock nightlife, and hottest casinos, the South Florida state is booming into the South’s new Las Vegas. Throw in jai-alai and “Sport of Kings” into the mixture, it is massive entertainment for locals and visitors alike. 

From Aventura to Homestead, Florida, people can play high-stakes poker and dine on delicious food at several restaurants in Miami’s casinos. For the best horse racing experience, try Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach and for action-packed jai-alai, check out Calder Casino on NW 27th Ave. And, for Pelotas lovers, Magic City Casino on 450, NW 37th Ave is a good choice. The minutes spent at every magic city casino are an experience in itself. 

Does Miami Florida have casinos?

Yes, it does. The city houses around 19 casinos that offer nearly 4,719 slots and gaming machines with a total of 87 table games. The minimum bet offered at Miami casinos is $0 and the maximum is $400. The South Florida city also boasts 75 live poker tables. Some of the city’s casinos also provide meeting spaces and convention centers. Here is a guide to some of, not limited to, Miami’s tempting games:

  • Limit Holdem
  • Low Ball
  • Five Card Draw
  • NL Texas Hold’em
  • 7 Card Stud
  • Omaha 8 or Better
  • Mixed Games
  • Omaha
  • Omaha Hi-Lo
  • No Limit Holdem
  • Pot-Limit Omaha
  • Omaha Hi
  • Baccarat

History of Gambling in Florida

Just a brief walk down memory lane to understand how casinos shaped up in the state. 

Gambling History of Florida
YearGames Legalized
1931Horse and dog racing
1935 Slots and jai-alai
1970Bingo
1979Bingo jackpots
1986Lottery
1994Poker
1996Card rooms at pari-mutuel facilities
2007Vegas-style slots, blackjack, domino, and baccarat

Can you gamble in Miami?

Yes, land-based casinos are legal but with restrictions. Gambling is a lucrative state-regulated industry. The annual income from gaming machines alone totals around $70 million. Sports betting is still illegal with the exception of horse racing. The legal age of gambling is 21 for all casino games in the state; however, those 18 and above can try their hands at poker, lottery, horse racing, and bingo. 

Gambling Norms in Florida
Gambling FormLegality
Casino GamesLegal with restrictions
Sports and Race BettingPari-mutuel betting legal
Card RoomsPari-mutuel only
Social GamblingLegal with restrictions
BingoState-regulated
Lottery Legal (profits and nonprofits)

Casino Types in Miami FL

The city has two types of casinos: Indian and Pari-mutuel. 

Gambling operations of Indian Reservations

1. Four casinos with rights reserved for three for Seminole Tribe and rights reserved for one for Miccosukee Tribe. The former has signed a compact with Florida, while the latter is yet to.

2. The Seminoles offer live table games such as mini baccarat, pai gow poker, blackjack, 3-card poker, and let it ride, and e-gaming machines 

3. The Miccosukees offer class 2 gaming machines, bingo, and poker 

Pari-mutuel betting system

1. Four in Miami and four in Broward County 

2. Offer only e-gaming machines and no table games except for poker; ETGs are allowed

3. Are opened 18 hours a day and 24 hours during weekends and certain holidays

Where can I gamble in Miami?

Searching for the best casinos in the magic city? Whether it is slots, poker, or betting, the following casinos have something for everyone. 

The Top Five Best Casinos in Miami
Casino Features
1. Gulfstream Park

1. Thoroughbred horse racing track

2. More than 20 restaurants, nightspots, and bars

3. 30 poker tables featuring popular cash games 

4. Texas Holdem tournaments with a large buffet and stocked bar

5. Hosts a wide array of holiday shows like musical tree-lighting during X-mas

6. 800 slots and blackjack

2. Miccosukee Resort and Gaming

1. The largest gambling venue in Miami FL

2. 2,000 Vegas-inspired slot machines

3. Bingo hall for high-stakes betting

4. 32 poker tables

5. PGA-style 27-hole golf

6. Martini bar and five restaurants including the Italian Bravo BravissimoA

7. 302-room 3-star resort

3. Calder Casino

1. This magic city casino boasts 1,100 slots and sophisticated race track

2. A 100,000-square-foot gaming floor with video poker, blackjack, and e-roulette

3. Weekly live entertainment and a ladies night

4. Its Backyard Casino hosts 75 games and is a smoking-friendly open-air casino  

4. Hialeah Park Racing and Casino

1. A multi-storied magic city casino offering e-roulette and blackjack, and 850 slot machines

2. A classy poker room with 33 tables  

3. Year-round horse racesAdmission and parking free

5. Magic City Casino

1. 800 slot machines

2. Poker room with 25 tables

3. Outdoor concert amphitheater

4. Good rewards system with over $1,000 in free play

5. Multiple dining and beverage outlets

6. Offers favorite games such as Quick Hits, Fortune Wheel, and Wizard of Oz

Who owns Casino Miami?

The no-frills 200,000-square-feet Casino Miami belongs to Las Vegas billionaire Phil Ruffin who bought the slot-machine-only casino from Fronton Holdings LLC in December 2018. Casino Miami is the second-largest Miami casino and is located 2 miles from the city’s international airport, just a 20-minute drive from downtown Miami. 

The former Jai Alai Fronton establishment is located at 3500 NW 37th Avenue. The glitzy facility includes 1,012 Las Vegas-style slot machines, ETGs (e-table games) with digital roulette and blackjack, 15 poker tables, a restaurant, a club called Rio, a bar, simulcast betting, and live jai alai games.

In the past, its 6,500-capacity indoor arena hosted concerts and 89 boxing events. It is the only place in the US that allows people to play dominoes with a bet. 

casino-miami-gambling-venue

Ruffin purchased the gambling venue for an undisclosed amount

Broward County is Worth a Trip

One of the three South Florida counties that constitute the greater Miami Metropolitan Area, Broward County is a 40-minute drive (approx. 27 miles)  from the magic city. Out of the 82 Florida casinos, the county houses an impressive lot. One of the best is The Casino at Dania Beach. 

Why Should One Try The Casino?

  • Over 750 gaming machines
  • Around 20 live poker tables and loose slots
  • Stage 954 hosts performances by nationally acclaimed comedians and recording artists
  • Multiple dining areas that include the Grill Restaurant and the Luxe Gourmet Buffet
  • Live-action jai-alai
  • Simulcast area in the Sports Lounge and Bar
  • Free live entertainment at the stage of Sunrise Bar during weekends
  • A non-smoking casino

Also check out Big Easy, Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, Seminole Classic Hollywood, Isle Racing Pompano Park, and Seminole Coconut Creek casinos in the county.

How to Choose a Good Casino

What purpose do casinos serve? Well, nobody enters a gambling space to get agitated. Casinos are in a way stress-busters that help people to blow off some steam. So, the experience should be at least pleasant if not overwhelming. And to achieve that satisfaction, make an informed decision when planning to gamble. Keep in the mind the below-given points to avoid a terrible casino experience.

  • Service provided
  • Commission rates
  • Portfolio of casino games
  • Reputation level
  • Tournaments
  • Bonus terms and conditions
  • Customer Reviews

Florida Online Gambling

To date, online casinos are illegal in Florida. However, the state has no state or federal law that prohibits players from taking part in regulated and licensed offshore gambling sites. It is legal to participate in Florida web gambling through sites that are based outside the US. However, there still exists the legal risk of violating a state or a US federal law for doing so, but it is small. 

The magic city’s beautiful waters, sunshine, sea, and the exciting after-7 party life have inspired several online casinos. A good example is the Miami Club casino whose glamorous and refined lobby is influenced by the nightclubs and pubs of the seat of Miami-Dade county. It is a Curacao-licensed luxurious web casino owned by the US-based Deckmedia NV Casinos. 

The Future

It is difficult to predict the future of casinos in Miami. Keno, real roulette, faro, and craps are still illegal in Florida. Tribal casinos are permitted to offer only the digital versions of roulette and craps. Online gambling is also something that could be legalized in the future but there has not been much lobbying for it. 

However, in recent times gambling in the magic city is gaining wide acceptance. The biggest influencers are the Seminole Indian tribe that operates 7 of the 8 Indian casinos in Florida. This rich gambling US organization makes around $2 billion annually. Racing, slots, poker, and other games also see high profits and high taxes, as well. Simply put, casinos will definitely flourish in Miami for many years to come.