Hard Rock Bet Mobile Launches In Florida

The Hard Rock Bet app has resumed operations in the Sunshine State as of Tuesday this week, the development comes after a series of legal battles and court rulings that kept online gaming in limbo for years.

After a brief live period in 2021, the Hard Rock Bet app is once again open for select Florida players to deposit, withdraw, and place bets. However, only users who participated in the previous live period are eligible to bet during the early access period. To join the waiting list, potential Hard Rock Bet users must sign up in person for a loyalty account. This limited access is part of the Seminole Tribe’s strategy to test its Hard Rock Bet platform with existing Florida customers.

The relaunch of online Florida sports betting comes as a surprise, following a recent decision by the US Supreme Court. In a lawsuit challenging the Seminole Tribe’s compact with the state, the Supreme Court denied a request for a stay, allowing the tribe to maintain its exclusivity over online sports betting in Florida. The court’s decision paved the way for the resumption of online wagering in the state.

The Hard Rock Bet app is not new to the Florida sports betting scene. In late 2021, the previous iteration of the app, known as Hard Rock Sportsbook, operated for a period of thirty-four days before being forced to shut down due to a series of court rulings. However, with the legal battles now settled, Hard Rock Bet has reentered the market, making Florida the largest state with legal online sports betting.

In addition to online sports betting, the Seminole Tribe has announced plans to expand in-person betting, including popular casino games like roulette and craps. Starting from December 7th, bettors in Florida will have the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of placing bets in a physical casino environment.

Despite the relaunch of online sports betting, challengers to the Seminole Tribe’s compact are not giving up. West Flagler Associates, the primary group challenging the 2021 compact between the Seminoles and Governor Ron DeSantis, have until December 11th to file a cert petition with the Supreme Court. They argue that any off-reservation gaming expansion should only occur after an approved referendum. While this could potentially impact the availability of the app, legal experts believe that the recent Supreme Court decision makes it a difficult road ahead for West Flagler.

Hard Rock Bet has been making significant strides in the sports betting market, expanding its presence to multiple states. Earlier this year, the app underwent a rebranding and integrated a new sports betting tech stack. As a result, it is now available in seven states, including Arizona, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia.

While Hard Rock Bet expands its presence in Florida, the company has notified its Iowa customers that online betting will cease on November 28th. This change is due to a shift in property ownership and does not affect gaming operations at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City. Iowa bettors have until December 27th to withdraw their funds from the Iowa Hard Rock Sportsbook.