Everyone in Florida Can Now Bet on Online Sports Betting
On Tuesday, the Seminole Tribe’s mobile sportsbook began accepting bets from anyone in Florida. Later this week, its casino will launch live sports betting and additional games.
The move is a sign of optimism for the tribes that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will finally defend the gambling treaty he negotiated with the tribes in 2021 that authorized gambling expansion.
As the legal battle continued, the tribe and its allies won important court victories over the summer and fall. That prompted the tribe to open its Hard Rock Bet sportsbook to a limited customer base last month after a two-year hiatus.
I think we always respect the legal process. "So until the courts decide differently, we're going to move forward," Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Starting Tuesday afternoon, the Hard Rock Bet is open to anyone in Florida over the age of 21.
Court battle continues
West Flagler Associates, a pari-mutuel operator, has led the legal battle against the tribe's sports betting monopoly over the past two years. But his options were dwindling. He now pins his hopes on the U.S. Supreme Court or the Florida Supreme Court, both of which have declined to intervene.
Hard Rock Bet's opening comes a day after DeSantis and state lawmakers defended 2021 gambling contracts and asked the Florida Supreme Court to throw out the West Flagler case.
Flagler has said he expects the state's case to be decided within the next two months and has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to file an appeal in a separate proceeding by February.
Both cases are based on Westflagler's assertion that the tribe's operation of a mobile sportsbook constitutes off-reservation gambling and violates federal gaming regulatory laws and the Florida Constitution. The tribe and its defenders say the practice is legal because Hard Rock Bet's computer servers that process bets are located on tribal land.
Sales increased
The gambling agreement was negotiated between DeSantis and tribal leaders in 2021 and approved by the Florida Legislature.
The state expects to raise $2.5 billion in the first five years.
In addition to authorizing mobile sports betting, the gaming agreement also allows the tribe to offer roulette and craps games at six land-based casinos in Florida. The games will be available starting Thursday.
Sports betting is open to everyone 21 and older.
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Source: www.casino.org
