Sports betting is, at least temporarily, legal in the state of Florida. That’s because the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned a previous ruling between the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe.

Sports betting was made legal in the state back in November 2021, but within a month, it was put on hold due to a legal challenge relating to the Seminole Tribe, which then put the status in an extended period of limbo.

The compact that was in place gave exclusive rights to the Seminoles just so long as they pay $500 million per year for the privilege, but clearly, the state may well feel they deserve more. 

The deal that was in place before it was overturned meant that significant players like BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings were cut out of the loop. Though the ruling has been overturned, it’s still not actually possible to place a relevant bet, as the relevant sportsbooks have not begun accepting bets. Still, Hard Rock Sportsbook in Florida is apparently ready to step into the breach as and when it’s viable to do so.

Regulation around sports betting and casino operations in the United States is complicated, to say the least, and things get even more problematic when you factor in that commercial gambling is illegal in Florida, but gambling on tribal land is not. 

Indeed, Marc Dunbar, a gaming law expert at Florida State University, rightly points out that the Sunshine State is;

“the most complicated gaming jurisdiction in the country,”

The Seminole Tribe is now free to launch their Hard Rock Sportsbook app but would do so knowing that further legal complications may be just around the corner, hence the need for further considerations before doing so. Watch this space.