The question this article can answer
This article cannot tell you whether bingo gambling is illegal in Florida. That is a legal question, and this series does not assert the legal status of any activity or venue. What this article can do is describe the fixed geography of the venues that a published list documents for Florida, and give you straight-line distances between the cities where those venues sit.
The published list documents 33 venues in Florida, with 3 documented as closed. The list is a snapshot, not a regulator licence count. For the authoritative current position on bingo and any other game, contact the Florida Gaming Control Commission directly.
Where the documented venues sit
The list documents venues across 26 distinct Florida cities. Miami has the most documented venues at 4, followed by Tampa with 3. Hallandale Beach and Hollywood each have 2 documented venues.
The documented venue types are mostly racinos, with 26 listed under that type and 6 listed as Native American. One venue is not classified by type in the list. Example venues documented in the list include Big Easy Casino, Calder Casino & Race Course, Casino Miami Jai-Alai, Creek Entertainment Gretna, Dania Jai-Alai, and Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club.
Straight-line distances between documented cities
The table below shows great-circle distances between the cities for which the list supplies coordinates. Every figure is a straight-line measurement, not a road distance.
| Reference point | Straight-line miles | Measurement type |
|---|---|---|
| Miami to Tampa | 204 | great-circle |
| Miami to Daytona Beach | 243 | great-circle |
| Miami to Okeechobee | 93 | great-circle |
| Tampa to Daytona Beach | 121 | great-circle |
| Tampa to Okeechobee | 101 | great-circle |
| Daytona Beach to Okeechobee | 110 | great-circle |
These are the only city pairs this article can measure. If the pair you are interested in is not in the table, this article cannot state that distance.
Why road distance is always longer
A straight-line figure is the shortest possible path between two points on a sphere. A road journey cannot follow that line. Florida's geography makes the gap between straight-line and road distance especially large in places.
Water is the biggest factor. Florida has extensive coastline, bays, and inland lakes. A straight line from Miami to Tampa crosses the Everglades and part of the Gulf coast approach, but a road must route around protected wetlands and across bridges. The straight-line distance ignores every bridge, every causeway, and every detour around a body of water.
Road networks also follow historical settlement patterns and county boundaries, not geometric ideals. A straight line between two cities may cross an unpopulated area with no through road at all. The road system connects populated places, so it bends toward towns, interchanges, and existing corridors.
Crossing a state boundary adds another layer. A route may leave Florida briefly or follow a corridor that serves multiple states, and that changes the road distance without changing the straight-line figure at all. None of that is reflected in a great-circle measurement.
This article does not publish road mileage, driving time, or any travel time. Those figures depend on your exact starting point, the route you choose, traffic, construction, and the day you travel. They are not knowable from the coordinates alone.
The venue position is fixed; your position is not
If your question includes "from me" or "from my location," this article cannot resolve that starting point. Your position is a variable. The venue's position is a constant.
The documented cities have fixed coordinates. Miami sits at 25.77416667 north latitude and -80.19361111 west longitude. Tampa sits at 27.9475 north and -82.45861111 west. Daytona Beach sits at 29.21083333 north and -81.08944444 west. Okeechobee sits at 27.24666667 north and -80.83027778 west.
From those fixed points, you can measure your own distance. Take your current coordinates from a phone or map tool, then compare them against the coordinates above. Any mapping service will give you a road distance and a driving time specific to your position and your departure time. That is the measurement this article cannot and does not make for you.
Relative position of the documented cities
Miami is the southernmost documented city in this set. Tampa sits northwest of Miami, across the peninsula on the Gulf side. Daytona Beach sits northeast of Tampa and north of Miami, on the Atlantic side. Okeechobee sits inland, northwest of Miami and southeast of Tampa, near the lake that shares its name.
These relative positions are derived only from the coordinates supplied. They describe compass direction, not road access, not travel corridors, and not the route a driver would take.
What to confirm before you go
If you are planning to visit any documented venue, several changeable items are outside the scope of this article. Confirm each one through the channel that holds the current answer.
- Operating hours and whether the venue is open on the day you plan to visit — check the venue's own published hours page or call its guest services line.
- Whether bingo is offered at that specific venue and under what conditions — confirm with the venue directly, because the list documents venue types but not game schedules.
- Any entry requirement, age restriction, or identification rule — these are set by the venue and by the Florida Gaming Control Commission, and they change.
- Road distance and driving time from your actual starting point — use a mapping service with your current location, not the straight-line figures in this article.
FAQ
Does this article say whether bingo gambling is illegal in Florida?
No. This article does not assert the legal status of bingo or any other game in Florida. The published list documents venues, but a list is not a legal ruling. Contact the Florida Gaming Control Commission for the authoritative current position.
How many bingo venues are documented in Florida?
The published list documents 33 venues in Florida, with 3 documented as closed. The list is a snapshot and not a regulator licence count. For an authoritative current list, check the Florida Gaming Control Commission.
Can this article tell me the road distance to a Florida bingo venue?
No. This article publishes only straight-line distances between documented city coordinates. Road distance is always longer and depends on your starting point, route, and travel day. Use a mapping service with your current location for road mileage.
Play responsibly
Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, never as a way to earn income or recover losses. 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
18+ or 21+ depending on where you are; follow the minimum age that applies to you.
This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.