From a historical overview, Florida Statutes Section 849.14 makes it unlawful to bet on the result of a trial or contest of skill. Daily fantasy sports contests and leagues for which participants pay a fee for the right to manage a team are also prohibited under this statute.
On Jan. 8, 1991, an Attorney General advisory legal opinion was issued on the topic of gambling and fantasy sports leagues. At its core, the opinion letter served as a brief analysis of Section 849.14, but the attorney general noted an important nuance in the law: contests in which the skills of the contestants are predominant do not violate Florida’s gambling statute. However, staking, betting or wagering anything of value on such contests does violate the gambling laws in Florida.
