The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) provided responsible gaming tips ahead of the 2026 football season, encouraging players to set spending limits and avoid chasing. This comes ahead of the NFL and college football season, which is the busiest time on the sports betting calendar.
One of the FGCC’s main messages is to decide how much money is available for gambling before placing a bet.
That means keeping wagering money separate from funds needed for rent, food, tuition, and other everyday expenses. The commission also advises against borrowing money to gamble or increasing bet sizes simply to make up for an earlier loss.
Regulated sportsbooks offer responsible gaming tools to help with this. Deposit and wagering limits can control how much money goes into an account, while cooling-off periods and self-exclusion give users the option to step away if they need a break.
Those tools can be particularly useful during the football calendar. With college games throughout the week and a full NFL slate every weekend, there are many more opportunities to place bets compared to other times on the sports calendar.
The FGCC also singled out college students as a group that is more vulnerable to the risks of sports betting.
Students managing their own money for the first time are especially at risk, as betting can potentially interfere with school expenses and academics.
Student-athletes have an additional set of rules to consider, where violations can lead to disciplinary action or eligibility issues.
The FGCC is also reminding residents to pay attention to where they are placing their bets.
Under Florida’s 2021 Gaming Compact with the Seminole Tribe, legal sports wagering is offered through sportsbooks operated by or in partnership with the Tribe. Currently, the only legal option for Florida bettors is Hard Rock Bet.
Any other sportsbook is unregulated, which puts users at risk. These offshore betting sites do not provide the same consumer safeguards when it comes to data security, financial security, and responsible gaming.
The FGCC’s warning comes as federal authorities are raising similar concerns. The IRS Criminal Investigation division (IRS-CI) recently warned football bettors about illegal sportsbooks, referencing potential connections to money laundering, tax evasion, and wire fraud.
IRS-CI reported 54 illegal gambling investigations over the previous year involving $11.5 million, along with an estimated $126 million in laundered funds.
With the FGCC issuing a similar warning, it’s clear that there is a nationwide push to ensure users don’t put themselves at risk with offshore sportsbooks.
The state’s emphasis on responsible gaming also comes at a time when many residents are reluctant to expand the existing sports betting market.
A recent University of North Florida poll found that only 15% of registered voters supported expanding legal sports betting. Another 46% favored additional restrictions, while 37% wanted the current rules to remain in place.
To that end, Florida bettors are encouraged to place wagers only at the lone regulated sportsbook, which is Hard Rock Bet. Judging by the recent poll results, it’s unlikely for more platforms to become available in the near future.
