Florida Mobile Online Sports Betting Launches
Update: Florida online sports betting is on pause indefinitely. Shortly after the first Florida online sportsbooks began taking wagers, a federal judge invalidated the compact between the Seminoles and the state. It could be well into 2024 (or later) until the case is resolved or Florida passes new legislation to authorize online sports wagering.
Florida’s Seminole Tribe has launched statewide mobile online sports betting despite two unresolved lawsuits challenging the legality of the renegotiated gaming compacts that made today’s launch possible. On Monday, the Hard Rock Sportsbook website posted a full-page notice to Florida sports betting fans that they can download the app, deposit, and place bets starting today.
Anyone 21 or older and physically located within state lines can download the Hard Rock Florida Sportsbook app today for iOS or Android to get started. Florida’s Seminole Tribe partnered with five pari-mutuel operators last week, paving the way for today’s launch.
Sports Betting In Florida is Still a Controversial Issue
Florida’s foray into sports betting has been mired in controversy from the outset. Following the legislative approval of the compact agreement between the Seminole Tribe and Gov. Ron DeSantis, mobile betting became a question of if not when.
The compact’s controversial parts centered around two essential elements:
- The mobile betting component declares that servers located on tribal lands satisfy the IGRA requirement that all bets take place on tribal lands.
- The “mandate” that the Seminoles partner with pari-mutuels – a mandate that can be violated with little more than a hand slap, as the penalty is simply a 5% increase to the tribe’s tax rate.
Almost immediately after the Department of Interior allowed the compact to go into effect, lawsuits were filed, opposition efforts were formed, and questions were raised about the tribe’s enthusiasm to partner with pari-mutuels.
These developments have delayed Florida sports betting, but the train is still steadily moving down the tracks. One lawsuit has been dismissed, and a recent agreement between the Seminoles and five pari-mutuel facilities not only puts the second bullet point above to rest, but it takes the monopoly argument steam out of the other lawsuits.
Florida Sports Betting Lawsuits: One Down, Two to Go
Florida’s sports betting agreement with the Seminole Tribe has produced three lawsuits, one of which has been dismissed.
Two pari-mutuels, Magic City Casino and Bonita Springs Poker Room, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Department of Interior’s handling of the compact.
The same pari-mutuels filed a second lawsuit, naming Gov. DeSantis and Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Julie Brown as defendants. This case was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, who said the plaintiffs lacked standing.
The third lawsuit was filed by the anti-gambling group No Casinos. This suit also names the Department of Interior as the defendant. This lawsuit argues that by allowing the compact to go into effect, the DOI violated the Florida Constitution, the Wire Act, and IGRA.
An Agreement with Five Florida Pari-mutuels
Concerns the Seminoles would forego partnerships with pari-mutuels were laid to rest this week.
The Seminole tribe announced agreements with the below five pari-mutuel facilities on Thursday and indicated more agreements were forthcoming:
- Palm Beach Kennel Club
- Hialeah Park Casino
- Ocala Gainesville Poker and Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.
- Tampa Bay Downs
- TGT Poker & Racebook in Tampa
“Today’s announcement follows through on the tribe’s commitment to include pari-mutuel marketing partners in Florida sports betting,” Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and chairman of Hard Rock International, which the Seminole Tribe owns, said in a statement. “They are an important component for the coming launch of sports betting throughout the state of Florida.”
Per the compact, the Seminole Tribe will receive 60% of the revenue, with the pari-mutuels pocketing the other 40%.
Timeline for Sports Betting in Florida
Under the terms of the compact, sports betting could have begun in the Sunshine State as early as October 15. That never came to pass.
Local news outlets suggested retail sports betting could launch as soon as November, but the Seminole Tribe opted to launch mobile betting earlier than expected. Since the lingering controversies focus on Florida’s mobile betting components, retail sportsbooks should not be far behind.
However, the fate of mobile sports betting remains uncertain. That could change following a scheduled November 5 hearing on the Magic City-Bonita Springs lawsuit in Washington DC. That said, the November 5 hearing is far from the final step in this process.
Steve Ruddock is the content director for BettingUSA and the Editor-in-Chief of Gaming Law Review.
Steve has covered the legal and legislative developments in the US gambling sector for more than a decade for online and print publications.
