It’s all systems go for the sports betting industry in Florida.
Hard Rock Bet is controlled by Seminole Hard Rock and no other betting platform is allowed. The tribally owned enterprise launched sports betting without warning on November 7 soon after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted an administrative stay on the activity.
Last week, Hard Rock cleared another hurdle when the Florida Supreme Court refused to implement a request to issue another stay.
In 2021, the Seminole Tribe and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reached an agreement on a new compact that would allow the tribe to offer sports betting, along with adding several table games—craps and roulette—to their casinos.
At that time, West Flagler and Associates (WFA) filed a challenge against the state and the Department of the Interior, which determined sports betting could be implemented by the Seminoles, in both state and federal courts.
WFA was granted a stay in the U.S. Supreme Court that was reversed earlier this month by Chief Justice John Roberts. The compact approval was crucial because it deemed all sports bets made remotely in Florida were legal because the bet was accepted on tribal land.
It’s a concept already in use in New Jersey where casino gambling is illegal outside of Atlantic City but because bets are accepted in Atlantic City, the bets are considered legal.
WFA said it will again file with the U.S. Supreme Court in the coming days, and Hard Rock and the state of Florida will have until December 1 to respond.
Since the stays have been rejected, experts believe that sports betting and the compact implementation can continue until a final decision is reached by the court. Hard Rock has already opened the approved table games in its Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.
On December 8, the games will be introduced at Hard Rock Tampa and on December 11 at the Immokalee (Naples) and Brighton (Lake Okeechobee) locations.
