As online gambling grows in Florida, so do the scams
Over the years, Trey Killian has seen family members struggle with gambling addiction. That’s why he refuses to place a bet. “One of them would get that Friday paycheck, go have a couple drinks and be like, ‘I’m going to put it all on red,’” he said. “I’ve just seen too many heartaches over it.” But in today’s world, the question isn’t just if you can gamble responsibly. There’s also the question of what you’re playing – and where. “Online gaming and sports betting is blowing up,” Bryan Oglesby told Gulf Coast News. “There are different rules in different states, so people are confused. And scammers are taking advantage of that confusion.” Oglesby is with the Better Business Bureau, which put together a new study on unlicensed and unverified online casinos and sportsbooks. Not only is online gambling exploding in popularity – it’s now worth more than $100 billion, according to one estimate – but complaints about it are surging as well. From 2022 to the middle of 2025, the BBB received more than 10,000 complaints and nearly 200 scam reports related to online gambling across the United States. With licensed, legitimate brick-and-mortar casinos, people can generally count on being paid what they’re owed. With online gambling, Oglesby said, that isn’t always the case. “They’re going to create websites that look real. They’re going to entice you with big payouts. With all these offers. Give minimal money. And their goal is to string you along,” he said. “All this activity is not regulated. Not taxed. One-hundred percent illegal,” Jim Allen told Gulf Coast News earlier this year. Allen is the CEO of Seminole Gaming, which offers Hard Rock Bet, the only legal online sportsbook in Florida. Others are doing business in the state, even though they’re not allowed. “We know factually they are going to operate as long as they can until someone comes in and arrests them,” Allen said. “Many times, they’re obviously offshore, so they know there’s going to be no penalty to them.” While online sports betting is legal in Florida, online casino games are not. That doesn’t mean you can’t find them or place bets with them, though.The Miccosukee Tribe recently warned about fake, fraudulent ads offering online gaming under their name. Oglesby said that because the casinos are online, enforcement is difficult. Because they’re not regulated, people have little recourse if things go wrong. “People who are falling victim to this think they’re making money,” he said. “They’re putting more money in the pot because they thought they won. And when it’s time to cash out, the money’s not there.” Oglesby warns of red flags to watch out for, including overseas business locations, websites relying on cryptocurrency or alternative payments, and if you’re asked to make a deposit first in order to collect winnings. Again, online casinos are illegal in Florida. “As Florida consumers, we need to be aware of who it is we’re actually doing business with,” Oglesby said. “It’s hard. Especially if you’re the older generation, which isn’t up to date on a lot of the technology. It’s very hard,” Kilian said. “Just be very wary, and don’t take everything on face value.” DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
Over the years, Trey Killian has seen family members struggle with gambling addiction. That’s why he refuses to place a bet.
“One of them would get that Friday paycheck, go have a couple drinks and be like, ‘I’m going to put it all on red,’” he said. “I’ve just seen too many heartaches over it.”
But in today’s world, the question isn’t just if you can gamble responsibly.
There’s also the question of what you’re playing – and where.
“Online gaming and sports betting is blowing up,” Bryan Oglesby told Gulf Coast News. “There are different rules in different states, so people are confused. And scammers are taking advantage of that confusion.”
Oglesby is with the Better Business Bureau, which put together a new study on unlicensed and unverified online casinos and sportsbooks.
Not only is online gambling exploding in popularity – it’s now worth more than $100 billion, according to one estimate – but complaints about it are surging as well.
From 2022 to the middle of 2025, the BBB received more than 10,000 complaints and nearly 200 scam reports related to online gambling across the United States.
With licensed, legitimate brick-and-mortar casinos, people can generally count on being paid what they’re owed. With online gambling, Oglesby said, that isn’t always the case.
“They’re going to create websites that look real. They’re going to entice you with big payouts. With all these offers. Give minimal money. And their goal is to string you along,” he said.
“All this activity is not regulated. Not taxed. One-hundred percent illegal,” Jim Allen told Gulf Coast News earlier this year.
Allen is the CEO of Seminole Gaming, which offers Hard Rock Bet, the only legal online sportsbook in Florida.
Others are doing business in the state, even though they’re not allowed.
“We know factually they are going to operate as long as they can until someone comes in and arrests them,” Allen said. “Many times, they’re obviously offshore, so they know there’s going to be no penalty to them.”
While online sports betting is legal in Florida, online casino games are not.
That doesn’t mean you can’t find them or place bets with them, though.
The Miccosukee Tribe recently warned about fake, fraudulent ads offering online gaming under their name.
Oglesby said that because the casinos are online, enforcement is difficult.
Because they’re not regulated, people have little recourse if things go wrong.
“People who are falling victim to this think they’re making money,” he said. “They’re putting more money in the pot because they thought they won. And when it’s time to cash out, the money’s not there.”
Oglesby warns of red flags to watch out for, including overseas business locations, websites relying on cryptocurrency or alternative payments, and if you’re asked to make a deposit first in order to collect winnings.
Again, online casinos are illegal in Florida.
“As Florida consumers, we need to be aware of who it is we’re actually doing business with,” Oglesby said.
“It’s hard. Especially if you’re the older generation, which isn’t up to date on a lot of the technology. It’s very hard,” Kilian said. “Just be very wary, and don’t take everything on face value.”
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.