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Sports Betting in Florida: Sports Betting is legal in Florida through the exclusive and licensed sportsbook, which is handled by the state. The agreement that governs sports betting in Florida is known as the ‘tribal-exclusive agreement’ that has been undertaken with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Hard Rock Bet: Licensed Sportsbook in Florida
Sports Betting
The Hard Rock Bet is the only licensed sportsbook that was licensed by the state in 2021, and it enables Floridians to place wagers both in-person and by mobile.
Though sports betting may have been made legal, it remains regulated in a very strict and tight manner and is limited to only one operator.
It is the single operator that holds the monopoly.
How did sports betting get legalized in Florida?
Legalizing sports betting in Florida was a long and complex journey. The state initially approved a new gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe in the year 2021, which gave it exclusive rights in the operation of sports betting.
There were challenges that still persisted; this agreement was challenged in court by the West Flagler Associates. The U.S. Supreme Court intervened, and this cleared the path for Hard Rock Bet to carry on its operations statewide.
This model meant that each sports bet in Florida has to now be processed through the servers that are located on the tribal land.
Who is allowed to bet under the Florida Sports Betting regime?
- A person who is 21 years or older and who is physically located within the state lines of Florida can bet legally in Florida.
- The Hard Rock Bet app uses a mechanism that helps it to verify the location of the user before it accepts any wagers.
- Alternatively, one can place bets in the casinos that are owned by the Seminole.
- One such casino is the ‘Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that is situated in Tampa and Hollywood.
What is the range of sports in which sports betting is allowed on the Hard Rock App?
The authorized app offers sports betting on a wide range of professional sports markets, which include NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL games.
There are also certain limitations when it comes to betting on college sports, though there is an extent to which it is allowed.
Restrictions are still present on certain player-prop wagers and bets related to entertainment.
Sports Betting (Future)
All in all, the exclusive rights that are given to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Hard Rock Bet App are what ultimately help regulate the sports betting mechanism in Florida.
As of now, no new legislation has been introduced to enable a multi-operator market. There have been no concrete steps taken to show any movement in the direction of expansion of casino gambling in Florida beyond the tribal compact that currently exists.
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