Nearly a quarter of Florida residents are placing sports bets, according to a new University of North Florida and Sport Impact Jax survey, with the overwhelming majority of those wagers landing on NFL games.

The research polled over 800 state residents between January and February, and it paints a clear picture of the Sunshine State’s sports betting habits. Football dominates, with 80% of active bettors wagering on the NFL in the past year alone. College football trails significantly; 55% of online bettors have placed at least one wager on college games over the same period.

Simple Bets Win the Day

What’s striking about Florida’s betting culture is how conservative punters tend to be with their bet selection. Moneyline wagers, the most straightforward form of sports betting, account for 60% of all bets placed. These simple head-to-head outcome bets require no complex calculations or in-depth analysis. Just pick a winner.

Stake sizes tell a similar story. Nearly three-quarters of Florida sports bettors keep their wagers modest, typically staking $20 or less per game. Only one in ten regularly bets over $50 on a single matchup.

The NFL Sees Bigger Opportunities

While traditional moneyline betting might be king among everyday bettors, the NFL itself is placing its chips elsewhere. The league invested heavily in in-game betting specialist Genius Sports earlier this year, taking at least a 6% stake in the firm. The strategic move suggests the NFL believes live, in-play betting represents the real growth opportunity. And the numbers back that up. In-play wagers now account for roughly 30% of all NFL bets placed nationally, a figure that jumps to nearly 50% in Florida alone.

This creates a fascinating tension in sports betting markets. Casual punters want simplicity and controlled stakes. Meanwhile, operators and leagues are pushing hard to drive engagement and volume through more complex, rapid-fire betting opportunities.

Florida’s Unique Betting Landscape

Sports betting arrived late to Florida despite the 2021 legalization through the Seminole Tribe gaming compact. Legal obstacles delayed actual wagering until late 2023. That’s created a concentrated market. Hard Rock Bet, the Seminole Tribe’s platform, commands over two-thirds of the state’s sports betting market.

The monopoly has generated considerable debate. On one hand, it’s delivered a regulated betting environment. On the other, critics argue the lack of competition has driven some players toward illegal operators, leading to increased law enforcement crackdowns on underground betting dens throughout the state.