Florida’s gaming regulator has told bettors to use authorised wagering channels and avoid unauthorised sportsbooks as the football season begins. The advisory, issued on 3 September, also urged players to use responsible-gambling tools such as deposit limits, wagering limits, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion.
As covered on 1 September, the Florida Lottery and the commission had already used Responsible Gaming Education Month to encourage Floridians to set limits, understand the risks and seek help if gambling stops being fun. The new advisory sharpened that message for football bettors, who face a heavier calendar of games and more chances to keep wagering.
According to BettingNews, the commission said Floridians should make informed choices and understand Florida’s legal market before placing a bet. Under the state’s 2021 gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe, legal online sports betting runs through the tribe’s framework, with Hard Rock Bet as the authorised online operator; sportsbooks licensed elsewhere do not automatically have permission to operate in Florida.
The commission also warned that bettors should not chase losses, increase stakes to win back earlier bets or let gambling interfere with everyday responsibilities or finances. It pointed to deposit and wagering limits, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion as ways to keep play under control.
College football was singled out as an added concern because younger audiences are often heavily engaged and may encounter betting talk through social media, group chats and sports communities, which can make frequent wagering feel routine. The American Gaming Association estimates Americans will legally wager $29.5 billion on the 2026 NFL season through regulated commercial sportsbooks, nearly unchanged from $29.4 billion last year and a sign of how central football has become to the betting calendar.
Bettors in Florida can seek confidential help through PlayWise at 1-833-PLAYWISE. The commission said the helpline can connect people with support, information and referrals.
