Florida Gambling Law

[PaperPlanes]

I live in Florida and a local bar does a gimmic where if you flip a coin and it comes up heads your shot is free. Tails, and the shot is normal price.

Is this legal? And if so, why?

 

[xylene]

I live in Florida and a local bar does a gimmic where if you flip a coin and it comes up heads your shot is free. Tails, and the shot is normal price.

Is this legal? And if so, why?

"Flip Night" is a traditional bar promotion.

It is quasi legal, and may be subject alcohol beverage regulations.

It depends on if nothing is risked by the patron, it isn't really gambling, just a gimmic.

Here is an example (the heads tails, call it doesn't matter...)

If the Bar is playing it like

Heads= Free drink
Tails= Pay for your drink and get your shot

That isn't gambling, since there was no risk.

IF this is the bars game:

Heads = Free drink
Tails = No Drink and You Pay

That is gambling...

Let's put it this way, if the agency that regulates licensed premises for the sale of alcohol has a problem with it, they will put an end to it.

If you believe they don't know about it, go ahead and complain.

If it is legal or regulated, I would strongly suspect it would be because of rules about giving away alcohol or discounting fixed prices, which is expressly forbidden is some states. I don't know in Florida, but I am sure the rulebook is readily available online.