Ongoing Legal Fights Won’t Deter Seminoles From Launching In-Person Sports Betting

The intricate legal saga of sports betting in Florida is set to take a new turn. The Seminole Tribe revealed on Wednesday that they will be launching in-person sports betting at their casinos starting next month, sidelining the state’s top sportsbooks.

According to Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and chairman of Hard Rock International, this is a significant moment that elevates Florida to the ranks of the world’s top gaming destinations.

Legal sports betting in Florida has been a tumultuous situation following Governor Ron DeSantis’ renegotiation of the tribal compact in 2021. The new agreement granted the Seminole Tribe the authority to oversee both in-person and mobile sports betting, creating a more comprehensive and profitable platform.

Legal obstacles have hindered them from doing so since then.

It is uncertain whether online sports betting and the Seminoles’ Hard Rock Bet brand will be introduced after the retail launch. The matter is currently being disputed in court and it appears that the legal proceedings will drag on for the foreseeable future.

More details

Retail sports betting will officially launch at three Seminole casinos in South Florida on Dec. 7, with other Seminole gambling venues set to join in from Dec. 7-11.

The three retail casinos affected on December 7 are:

• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
• Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood
• Seminole Casino Coconut Creek 

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa will debut its first retail sports wager on Dec. 8, followed by the official launch of legal sports betting in Florida on Dec. 11.

• Seminole Casino Immokalee (near Naples) 
• Seminole Brighton Casino (near Lake Okeechobee) 

The Seminole casinos will be expanding their offerings to include craps and roulette as part of their sports wagering plans, in addition to accepting legal sports bets.

Marcellus Osceola Jr., chairman of the Seminole tribe, expressed gratitude on Wednesday, Nov. 1, to the State of Florida, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Department of Justice for their efforts in defending the tribe’s Compact. He highlighted that through collaborative efforts, a significant legal triumph was achieved by the Tribe, the State, and the federal government.

The fate of mobile sports betting in Florida

Currently, the Seminole Tribe has successfully navigated through various legal obstacles since revising its compact in 2021. This includes overcoming the recent challenge posed by pari-mutuel companies West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp., who own Magic City Casino and Bonita Springs Card Room.

They have been debating the benefits of the $2.5 billion compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe, which has a virtual monopoly on the gambling industry in Florida.

The most recent court case ended in a temporary halt to a decision that supported a gambling agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe. The Supreme Court ruling paused the Seminoles’ ability to introduce sports betting apps in Florida, at least for the time being.

The Seminole umbrella has been embroiled in a lengthy two-year struggle for mobile sports betting, and the recent announcement of the launch of retail sports betting in the Sunshine State does not seem to have resolved the issue.

Will retail pave the way for mobile?

The news of a retail sports betting launch in Florida is a positive development for the state’s 21.5 million residents, as well as the various professional sports teams and college teams based in Florida. However, it is uncertain whether the Seminole Tribe will capitalize on this momentum and introduce a mobile betting option.

The Hard Rock mobile app was launched in November 2021 and operated for 34 days in the Florida market before being compelled to cease operations due to legal intervention.

You can be sure that the Seminoles will ensure that their efforts in launching mobile sports betting will not go to waste next time.