UNF Poll: Most Floridians Oppose Expanding Sports Betting

Last Updated on Fri May 15 2026

Key Points

Most voters oppose expanding Florida sports betting
Hard Rock Bet remains Florida’s only sportsbook
Concerns over gambling affect integrity of sports

A new University of North Florida poll shows that while sports betting has become increasingly common among Floridians, most voters do not support expanding legal wagering within the state. The survey highlighted widespread concerns about the integrity of professional sports with the expansion of sports betting.

Key findings of University of North Florida poll

Here are some key findings from the University of North Florida poll, which surveyed 823 registered Florida voters between Jan. 30 and Feb. 3.

About 24% of respondents said they have placed at least one sports bet through an online or mobile app.
Another 21% reported betting on sports at least a few times within the past year.
Only 15% of voters support expanding legal sports betting opportunities in Florida.
Nearly half of respondents (46%) said they want stricter limits or restrictions on sports betting operators.
About 37% believe current sports betting regulations should remain unchanged.
Just 10% of online sports bettors said they are confident they can consistently make money wagering on sports.
Around 57% of Floridians expressed moderate or high concern about athletes betting on games.
Roughly 63% said media reports about athletes gambling have reduced their trust in professional sports leagues.
About 28% said those reports have greatly reduced their trust in athletes.

A common theme has emerged here: most Florida respondents are against expanding legal sports betting within the state, with concerns that it’s a losing proposition and that it affects the integrity of sports.

How Florida sports betting currently works

Sports betting in Florida operates through an agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe, which holds exclusive rights to offer online and retail sports wagering statewide. The system is run primarily through the Hard Rock Bet app, operated by the Seminole Tribe’s gaming arm.

Under the compact approved in 2021, bets placed anywhere in Florida are considered to occur on tribal land because the computer servers processing the wagers are located at Seminole-owned facilities. That legal framework allowed statewide mobile sports betting to move forward after years of court challenges.

Currently, Hard Rock Bet is the only statewide online sportsbook legally operating in Florida. The Seminole Tribe also operates in-person sportsbooks at several casino properties across Florida, including locations in Hollywood and Tampa.

Major sportsbook operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel are not currently licensed to independently operate sports betting platforms in the state.

Florida does not currently allow commercial casinos or multiple competing online sportsbooks, making its sports betting market more limited than states with open licensing systems.

UNF poll shows public sentiments make expansion unlikely

The University of North Florida poll suggests there is little public appetite for expanding sports betting beyond the state’s current system, with Hard Rock Bet as the lone platform. While many Floridians participate in sports wagering, the survey found most voters either favor tighter restrictions or believe existing regulations are sufficient.

The findings could make lawmakers hesitant to pursue broader legalization efforts, especially as concerns continue to grow over gambling’s impact on professional sports and athlete conduct.

Expect the existing model to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.