After a lengthy delay and legal battles, sports bets in Florida are now live all across the state. The Hard Rock mobile betting app will be available for download and use, and wagers on sporting events will also be taken at three land based casinos. The launch comes with just a few weeks left in the American football season.
However, state residents do have some great match-ups with NFL teams from Florida in action through the month of December. Time is of the essence though, as further legal challenges are possible and may impact future betting. The Seminole Tribe has been given the exclusive right to sports bets in Florida.
One of those challenges has come from West Flagler and Associates, a parimutuel operator. Their lawsuit against the Governor and state legislature challenged the Seminole monopoly. Additionally, they plan to pursue action against the U.S. Department of the Interior for approving the compact.
For the time being, residents can make sports bets in Florida on football, baseball, and other sports. The state is also allowing craps and roulette games in their casinos for the first time. Bon Jovi and Mike Tyson are scheduled to appear at the Hollywood Casino this week to celebrate the opening.
The Hollywood Casino is a hotel and resort on 100 acres of the Hollywood Reservation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The property currently has three hotel towers, a 140,000 sq ft casino, and large poker room. The site also features a 4-acre lagoon-style pool facility with a center bar and many private restaurants, shops, spa, cabanas, bars and nightclubs, and the Hard Rock Event Center.