Florida Mobile Sports Betting Is Back As Hard Rock Bet Returns

The long-awaited return of online sports betting in Florida has officially arrived. Select existing customers in Florida can begin accessing online wagers on the Hard Rock Bet app. This is a limited relaunch but is the first time locals could access odds legally since 2021. Florida sports betting fans rejoice; online sports betting in Florida is here.

Florida Sports Betting Returns With Hard Rock Bet

This relaunch is only for existing customers. No official date has been announced for newcomers to begin placing wagers. Existing customers can log into their Hard Rock Bet accounts, deposit right now, and start placing wagers.

“The Seminole Tribe is offering limited access to existing Florida customers to test its Hard Rock Bet platform,” said a spokesperson for the Seminole Tribe.

This relaunch follows a long legal battle between Florida and West Flagler. Florida sports betting was shut down after Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled the compact violated the federal Indian gaming law in 2021. In 2023, this ruling was overturned by the D.C. Circuit Court.

West Flagler attempted to get a stay mandate on the Circuit Court ruling as the case was brought to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, that mandate was denied. With the denial, nothing legally could prevent the Seminoles from launching their product. Now, locals can return to betting on sports.

“The denial of the stay by the U.S. Supreme Court is very good news. The Seminole Tribe of Florida is heartened by this decision,” said a Florida Seminole Tribe spokesperson.

Retail Sportsbooks To Follow

In addition to the return of online sports betting, Florida residents will soon see the launch of retail sportsbooks in Florida. Local Seminole casinos will begin launching retail sportsbooks beginning on Dec. 7. This will be a staggered launch across the state.

The launch will begin on Thursday, Dec. 7, at several South Florida locations:

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

Beginning Dec. 8, sports betting will launch at:

• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

On Monday, Dec. 11, operations will launch at:

• Seminole Casino Immokalee near Naples
• Seminole Brighton Casino on the northwest side of Lake Okeechobee

This will be the first time retail sportsbooks will be live in the Sunshine State. Florida will be a fully functioning sports betting state following the launch of these local sportsbooks.

“With the expansion of the new scope, we are creating over 1,000 new jobs made possible by the Compact,” said Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard Rock International. “This is a historic milestone that immediately puts Florida in the same league with the world’s great gaming destinations.”

Legal Case Still Pending

While the Hard Rock Bet Florida is now live, the case is still ongoing. The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the case. Additionally, all signs point to West Flagler taking the case to the Florida Supreme Court if they lose in the U.S. Supreme Court. Hopefully, this launch is not a premature victory lap.

• Join TheLines.com’s free sports betting Discord with more than 4,000 community members and our staff sharing betting ideas every day. Go to the #roles server to get push notifications to the Discord app from TheLines.com staff when they lock in a bet.