Florida Online Sports Betting Returns (For Some)

Following a slew of legal challenges over the past two years online sports betting in Florida is live once again with Hard Rock relaunching their mobile app.

Hard Rock which is owned by the Seminole Tribe, has resumed accepting online bets as of Tuesday morning (11/7), however this only applies to existing customers who are already registered on the app.

What it means for the future of Florida betting apps remains to be seen.

Florida Online Sports Betting at Hard Rock

Florida online sports betting has launched before. From November 1 to November 21, 2021 the Hard Rock app was up and running before subsequent lawsuits from two smaller casino operators brought FL online betting to a grinding halt.

As it stands now, Hard Rock is only accepting bets from customers who registered during that three week stretch in 2021 in what amounts to a soft launch.

Legal Challenges to Florida Sports Betting

Florida sports betting has endured many legal challenges due to some complex politics surrounding the Seminole tribe.

Just when it appeared there was some headway on legal online betting in the state in 2021, legal challenges from two smaller casino operators surfaced claiming the Seminole Tribe had a monopoly on betting in the state.

The lawsuit led to the immediate suspension of online betting in Florida, which has remained offline until this morning.

In October, a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court provided a significant win for Hard Rock and the Seminole Tribe allowing them to accept sports betting wagers once again.

In-person retail betting is expected to resume at Hard Rock on December 7.

What’s Next for Florida Sports Betting?

The latest legal developments are encouraging for sports betting in the Sunshine State as it appears the ground has shifted, and there is once again momentum for legal online betting in Florida.