U.S. Supreme Court Issues Ruling on Possible Sports Betting Review for Florida

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a ruling on an attempted sports betting review for Florida, and it looks like residents will be limited to using only Hard Rock Bet for the time being. While it is one of our best sports betting sites, there are many more on the list that some residents would surely like to access.

While Justice Brett Kavanaugh was in favor of the review and Justice Ketanji Brown did not participate, enough of the remainder felt there was no need to look further into West Flagler Associates' appeal. The decision not to look further into the case more or less ends a multi-year saga. The Justices did not provide a reason for their decision.

The situation in Florida

In 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 30-year compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. While the deal was passed through the Legislature, it has been criticized in the Florida sports betting scene from the start.

While the deal is set to bring in billions of dollars for the Tribe and the state over the course of its terms, it hasn't come without some speed bumps. Critics say that the compact gives the Tribes a monopoly over the state, suggesting that it should not have have been approved due to it violating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. 

After an on-again, off-again saga since the deal was signed in 2001, Hard Rock Bet was surprisingly soft-launched in November. Residents of the state can check out its offerings with our Hard Rock Bet promo code. 

Shortly after the launch of the sportsbook came the launch of Hard Rock real money online casinos.

A conclusion?

The Supreme Court refusing to take up the appeal means that the Tribe and Hard Rock Bet are on firm legal ground for the time being. If sites like the big two - DraftKings and FanDuel - want to enter the country's third-most populous state, they'll have to do so by signing a deal with the Tribe.

Opponents must now find another path to contest the compact or accept the outcome of the multi-year battle ending in defeat. West Flagler, which has three jai alai licenses, and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp., which operates Bonita Springs Poker Room, have said in the past that the compact will hurt their revenue. Representatives did not provide comments Monday on the ruling, so how or if they proceed is a bit of an unknown. 

Gary Bitner, whose firm provides public relations for the Seminole Tribe, commented, “It means members of the Seminole Tribe and all Floridians can count on a bright future made possible by the compact."