Florida sports fans are rejoicing as the Seminole Tribe relaunches its Hard Rock Bets platform for mobile sports betting. After a two-year hiatus, the tribe has brought back the platform, but with some restrictions. Only existing registrants and members of Hard Rock’s loyalty program, Unity, are currently able to place wagers, while new customers can sign up but are placed on a waiting list.
The relaunch of the mobile app comes after months of legal challenges for the Seminole Tribe and Florida sports betting. Despite the obstacles, the tribe is moving forward with plans to expand its betting offerings. In addition to the online platform, the tribe intends to launch retail sports betting at three of its casinos in South Florida on December 7, with plans to extend in-person betting to all of its casinos in the state.
However, the tribe continues to face opposition from commercial gambling interests. These opponents argue that the Seminole Tribe’s exclusive right to offer sports betting in the state violates the constitution. One such lawsuit, led by West Flagler Associates, has sought to challenge the tribe’s monopoly over betting and is currently seeking recourse from the Supreme Court.
Under local laws, tribal companies are only permitted to offer gambling on tribal lands, prompting opponents to argue that the tribe should not be allowed to offer online betting. The tribe and its supporters counter that their online operations are legal as they are operated from servers based on tribal land.
The US Supreme Court recently allowed the compact signed between the Seminole Tribe and Governor Ron DeSantis to come into effect, marking a victory for the tribe. However, opponents are expected to continue challenging the decision, indicating that the legal battle may not be over. Despite the ongoing legal challenges, the Seminole Tribe is pushing forward with its plans for sports betting, aiming to provide a range of betting options for sports fans in the Sunshine State.