Different fluoro-phosphate glasses doped with 0.5 mol% Er3+ doped are prepared by melt quenching method. Both structural and spectroscopic properties have been characterized in order to evaluate their potential as both laser source and amplifier materials. Optical absorption measurements are carried out and analyzed through Judd-Ofelt and Mc-Cumber theories where spectroscopic parameters such as intensity parameters Omega(i) (lambda = 2,4,6), transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes, stimulated absorption cross-sections and emission cross-sections at 1.5 mu m have been evaluated for Er3+ doped different fluorophosphate glasses. The various luminescence and gain properties are explained from photoluminescence studies. The decay curve analysis have been done for obtaining the decay time constants of Er3+ excited level I-4(13/2) in all the fluoro-phosphate glasses. The obtained results of each glass matrix are compared with the equivalent parameters for several other host glasses. These fluoro-phosphate glasses are found to be suitable candidates for laser and amplifier applications. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.