In-person Florida sports betting will begin on Dec. 7, the Seminole Tribe of Florida announced Wednesday, part of a wider expansion including roulette and craps.
It is unclear when online Florida sports betting will resume via the Hard Rock Bet app, although an industry source indicated to LSR that it could happen later this month.
“This news is about in-person sports betting. No additional information is available today,” a Seminole spokesperson told LSR.
A week ago, the US Supreme Court denied West Flagler Associates request for a stay of mandate in the ongoing Florida sports wagering case, paving the way for this move via the Seminole compact with the state.
Major players happy with gambling news
The chairman of the Seminole Tribe was appreciative of the court’s decision.
“The Seminole Tribe thanks the State of Florida, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Justice for defending our Compact. By working together, the Tribe, the State and the federal government achieved a historic legal victory,” said Marcellus Osceola Jr., chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who negotiated the 2021 compact that gives the tribe exclusivity in offering sports betting, was pleased with the outcome.
“The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s new initiative will create jobs, increase tourism, and provide billions in added revenue for our state,” said DeSantis. “I was proud to work with the Tribe on our historic Gaming Compact and I look forward to its full implementation.”
Florida sports betting casino openings
All six Seminole casinos will debut in-person sports betting in December.
Dec. 7
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
- Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood
- Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Dec. 8
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Dec. 11
- Seminole Casino Immokalee (near Naples)
- Seminole Brighton Casino (northwest side of Lake Okeechobee)
Florida sports betting jobs increase
Said Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and chairman of Hard Rock International:
“With the expansion of the new scope, we are creating over 1,000 new jobs made possible by the Compact. This is a historic milestone that immediately puts Florida in the same league with the world’s great gaming destinations.”
