For many, the state of Florida is known as the home of Mickey Mouse.  A children’s playground full of family-friendly theme parks, beaches and sunshine. But, for casino players, Florida offers that and so much more.  

With 79 casinos, Florida has a wide selection of different casino options. From big themed mega-resorts to racinos and even casino cruises, you can’t fault the Sunshine State for variety. 

So which casinos offer the best in terms of size, game selection and service? Here’s a look at some of the top casinos in Florida.

More commonly known as the ‘Guitar Hotel’, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s flagship resort. Well, it will be until they complete turning Las Vegas icon Mirage into a Hard Rock, at least. 

Its distinguishing feature is a huge 450-foot guitar-shaped hotel tower which can be seen from over a mile away. 

The resort itself covers 100 acres in total with a casino floor of 140,000 square feet. Both slots and table game players are more than looked after with 2,700 slots and over 200 table games in total. There’s also a sportsbook, large high-limit lounge, bar-top gaming and a designated 45-table poker room too. 

The casino has a fresh, contemporary feel with bright colourful features and furnishings. The Hard Rock signature of rock memorabilia, quotes and artifacts can be found everywhere, both in the casino and throughout the hotel, adding even more pizzazz.  

As well as the Guitar Tower, there are two other hotel towers on site, giving a total of 1275 rooms. The original Hard Rock Hotel is still there, plus the more exclusive Oasis Tower which offers fabulous views of the guitar and lagoon pool.

Speaking of which, guests at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood can marvel at 4.5 acres of stunning pool surroundings.

There are several different areas including a sandy beach, a tropical lagoon, and a huge lake area where you can enjoy canoeing and paddle-boarding too. And don’t forget the impressive 42,000 square foot Rock Spa and Salon with luxury treatments and dipping pools. 

In terms of the rooms, the Hard Rock Hotel rooms are the smallest at around 410 square feet and the most dated, but they have all had a recent renovation.

The Guitar Tower Rooms and Oasis Tower rooms are the biggest between 520 – 680 square feet and the most modern, with a beach-hut style design.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood has around ten bars in total, ranging from up-scale cocktail lounges such as L Bar to more casual options such a Hard Rock Sports Bar. For the younger crowd, there’s also DAER Nightclub and Dayclub.

It also has an incredible range of eateries including fine dine options like Council Oak Steaks and Seafood, Cipresso, and Marky’s Cavier Lounge. Meanwhile casual food options can be found such as Hard Rock Café and Rise Kitchen & Deli.

In terms of entertainment, the Guitar Tower itself puts on a nightly choreographed show with lights and music. There’s also an indoor feature called the Oculus with a 35-foot indoor waterfall, lights, sounds and projections.

The main entertainment, though, comes from Hard Rock Live. The 7000-capacity concert venue attracts A-list celebrities and hosts regular big-name gigs.

For more information, read our full Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hollywood review.

This is the sister property of our first casino, but this one is based in Tampa.

Casino wise, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa is far superior. In fact, it offers one of the biggest casino floors in the world at 245,000 square-feet. 

However, I have put it second on the list, purely for the overall resort amenities and wow factor.

With such a big casino floor, you’d expect a lot of games, and you’d be right to do so. There’s a jaw-dropping 5,000 slots, plus 180 table games, bar-top gaming and several high-limit gaming areas. You can also place sports bets on site.

If poker is your game, then there’s an impressive 46-table poker room with its own sports bar that holds daily tournaments. 

The casino floor is split over two floors with a smoking casino on the ground floor and a non-smoking mezzanine floor too. The casino is modern, lively, colourful, and packed full of music and movie memorabilia like all Hard Rock resorts. 

Offering 800 hotel rooms over two hotel towers, the accommodation is spacious, clean and well-presented. For me personally, it is missing that wow factor that you get with the Hollywood resort, but that’s just me being picky really.

There are three pools in pretty surroundings, the Rock Spa and Salon for some pampering and a fun Pool Bar & Grill where you can play bar-top games in the fresh air.

Food-wise there’s a decent variety on site, but again, not as many as its sister hotel. Fine dining options include Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Cipresso and The Rez, while casual eats can be found at Jubao Palace Noodle Bar, Sugar Factory, Rock ‘N Raw, and Rise Café to name a few.

Hard Rock Café is a good place for food and drink, plus there’s often live music acts on stage. If you enjoy live shows, then the Hard Rock Event Center is a 1,500 seated venue upstairs with regular performances by well-known names.

If you enjoy some fizz in your fun, then cocktails can be had at Center Bar and L Bar, plus the pool complex is occasionally transformed into Tempo Daylife Pool Party with live DJ’s sets. 

For more information, read our full Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa review.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is the third casino on our list operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The tribe runs six Florida casinos in total.

Affectionately known as ‘Coco’, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is a beautifully presented casino and entertainment venue set in a lakeside location.

It has a casino floor of 100,000 square feet, with 2,300 slots and 80 table games. The majority of slots and table games are downstairs in the main casino or in the main high limit area.

However, there’s also a Smoke-Free Pavilion which houses 300 slots and another high limit room with 50 premium slots, as well as eight live table games with its own entrance and exit.

If you enjoy poker, then Coco Poker is a dedicated 30-table poker room open 24/7 with its own bar. You can also book a premium poker experience at the Glass Room if you want to take your game to the next level.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek does not offer accommodation on site. Although it does have a good range of bars and restaurants if you really want to make a night of it.

NYY Steak is the most upscale restaurant at Coco, and their signature dish is the Long Bone Ribeye which is meant to be spectacular. Other eateries include Sunset Grill, Sorrisi, The BŌL and 1^st Street Deli.

The lively Legends Lounge gives a great combination of both food and drink. They serve some select dishes from NYY Steak in a more relaxed setting and have live music on every Thursday through Saturday in the evening. 

If live music is your thing, then you have plenty of options at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. Nectar Cocktail Bar has live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Thursday being Latin Music night. Sound Bar has live music every weekend too as well.

The big performance venue at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek though is ‘The Stage at Coco’. This is an outdoor entertainment space for up to 3000 people, check out the events calendar for details. 

Although you can’t stay overnight at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, it has lots of hotel partners situated close-by which are just a few miles away. 

Seminole Casino Immokalee is situated in in the heart of Southwest Florida, only 40 miles from Naples, and is the last of the Seminole Tribe’s casinos on our list.

The casino floor is 51,000 square feet and has around 1,400 slots plus 41 live table games. There’s also a high limit lounge, live poker and lots of bar-top video poker too.

Due to the modest size, the casino has a charm about it. It’s bright and colourful with plenty of neon, but there does tend to be a focus on the more traditional and classic slots over modern ones. 

Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee offers 19 suites and 80 deluxe rooms which range from 450 to 600 square feet. The rooms are decorated in neutral tones with accent colours of blues and greens and have some great amenities.

Pool lovers can go for a dip or soak up the rays by the outdoor pool complex. And, for those who like to keep fit even when on vacation, there’s a 24-hour fitness studio too.

If dancing is your preferred exercise, then you’re sure to enjoy the resorts Zig Zag Lounge. With nightly entertainment and a regular line-up of top music acts, it really is the nightlife focus of the resort. However, through the day, you can also catch some sports in the bar too.

Another two performance spaces are available at Seminole Casino Immokalee. The Seminole Center is an 800-seated venue and hosts frequent music, comedy and review shows. There’s also an outside concert area too.

The EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill is the most popular eatery at Seminole Casino Immokalee. Open all day till late, it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a smart but relaxed setting.

Other casual food options include Lucky Mi Noodle House, 1^st Street Deli and Cappuccino's Coffee and Pastry Bar. 

If you want to take a break from the casino for a while and grab a drink, then the Lucky Mi Bar and Corner Bar and perfect for a cocktail and some socialising. The 24/7 Zig Zag Bar is where you’ll find the non-stop action day or night, though.

Located right on the edge of the Everglades, Miccosukee Resort & Gaming is operated by The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

Surrounded by a stunning landscape, Miccosukee Resort & Gaming offers hotel accommodation and a good-sized gaming environment and is just 20 miles from downtown Miami.

The 70,000 square foot casino has 1,800 slots, electronic table games, a bingo hall, 24/7 poker room and high limit area.

Although the casino is non-smoking, a dedicated smoking casino has recently been added for those who want it.

The casino has tall ceilings and low lighting, which can make the room feel dark. And the slots are packed into long rows, with a focus on more classic three-reel games. 

There are various designated slot sections such as the AGS Hog Heaven Slot Zone where you can get exclusive access to new AGS titles before they hit the market.

Meanwhile, Bingo is a very popular here with daily sessions Wednesday through Sunday. Plus, daily poker tournaments too.

The hotel at Miccosukee Resort & Gaming has 302 rooms, with a wide range of rooms on offer. From standard King and Queen rooms to one-bedroom suites, jacuzzi suites, and even presidential suites. 

All rooms are decorated in tribal earthy tones and are well-presented and clean. Guests can also enjoy amenities such as a pool, spa and fitness centre, or a round of golf at the nearby Miccosukee Golf & Country Club.

Dining options at Miccosukee Resort & Gaming are mostly casual, with B1 Grill open from 7am till late every day. The great thing about B1 Grill is that you can order food by mobile, without having to leave your slot.

Other eateries include La Brisa, which offers Latin fusion cuisine in an indoor and outdoor setting plus Max’s Grab & Go for quick bites.

The Tempt Lounge is an upscale cocktail lounge with chic décor and plush seating. You can try out some signature cocktails while enjoying live entertainment every weekend from musicians and DJ’s.

Miccosukee Resort & Gaming also hosts regular events on site including sports, themed events and tribal celebration days as well as lots of casino promotion days.

Situated just two miles from Miami International Airport, Magic City Casino has a long history dating back to 1935. Originally a dog-racing track, it is now a casino and entertainment venue hosting major events.

The casino has a distinct red neon exterior that immediately grabs your attention and, inside, the casino floor is 40,000 square feet separated into a few different rooms.

There are 800 slots, electronic table games and a large poker room which has its own separate front entrance. The slots are good mix of traditional slots and more modern video slots, but they are packed quite closely together.

The poker room is extremely popular, so much so that it runs a live waiting list service on its website. There are daily tournaments, cash games and Sit ‘N Go’s with big jackpots to be won.

Although no accommodation is provided on site, it is surrounded by Miami Airport hotels so you can find plenty of places to rest your head nearby. 

1952 Café is the place to be for food, which is open for lunch until late every day. On Sunday they offer an all-you can-eat brunch which is reasonably priced at $29.95.

And, if you just want to sit back with a drink and soak up the casino atmosphere, then the Casino Centre Bar is where it’s at.

Entertainment wise, Magic City Casino has both an indoor and outdoor venue for live concerts which can attract some well-known names. Check out the events calendar for more details.

Finally, Magic City Casino is known to be the home of Jai-Alai, which is a fast-paced sport similar to racquetball. The casino hosts regular league games and tournaments in its Stage 305 venue.

Gulfstream Park Casino is part of the Gulfstream Village, which is full of restaurants, bars, boutiques, and is also South Florida's home of Thoroughbred horse racing. 

With a renowned horse racing track which hosts prestigious events such as the Florida Derby, the casino is definitely a secondary attraction. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not a great casino. 

Located in Hallandale Beach, Gulfstream Park is nestled amongst lush green landscapes and crystal-clear waters, you can’t help but be impressed by its surroundings. 

The casino is in the main Clubhouse and is split into two different levels with a combined gaming space of 19,500 square feet. Level 2 of the casino is open every 10am until 4am but Level 1 is only open Thursday to Sunday from noon to midnight, which is usually on race days. 

The casino has 800 slots, electronic table games, bingo, some high-limit slots and offers live poker games too. The slots are a mix of classic and modern games, while the 20-table poker room hosts regular cash games and tournaments.

You can’t stay on site at Gulfstream Park casino as they don’t offer accommodation. However, there are plenty of local hotels within a couple of miles including the impressive W Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, which offers two championship golf courses and its own waterpark.

In terms of food, you are spoilt for choice at Gulfstream Park Casino. As well as the up-scale Ten Palms restaurant in the Clubhouse, there’s a range of other incredible restaurants just outside of the casino within the complex.

These include Texas de Brazil, Alma Chef Steakhouse and Grill, Christine Lee, Belly Fish and Yardhouse. Plus, the Carousel Club has pop-up food offerings in its open-air track-side location.

Carousel Club is also the focus for many of Gulfstream Park’s entertainment. With events such as watch parties, live music, themed nights and Fuego Fridays with live Latin music and fire performances. And don’t forget to check out the stunning Carousel Bar for signature cocktails.

Of course, the primary entertainment at Gulfstream Park Casino is the horse-racing. With live races Thursday to Sunday each week and big events, it really is a spectacle. But that’s not all, there’s also live music in the casino on weekends, an on-site bowling alley and sports lounge, private karaoke rooms and endless boutique shops to browse too.

For more information, read our full Gulfstream Park Casino review.