On November 7, 2023, the Hard Rock Bet app relaunched in Florida. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has a monopoly on Florida Sports Betting. Governor Ron DeSantis negotiated the 2021 gaming compact. While Seminole Tribes have a monopoly on the industry, lawmakers are still fighting to change that. 

At the East Coast Gaming Commission last week, Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen mentioned that other industry operators could enter the sports betting market in Florida. Allen had this to say to Legal Sports Report on the expansion in Sunshine State.

“I don’t think we’ve ever stated that we wouldn’t work with some of the other companies, whether it be Caesars, BetMGM, DraftKings or FanDuel. We’ve always stated that we’d be receptive to that conversation,” – Jim Allen

Jim Allen also noted that their industry competitors were spending significant amounts of money in the past to block Hard Rock from making a move to Florida. He hopes those days are behind them and thinks they can have better ongoing communication with other operators. 

When sports betting relaunched in November 2023, Jim Allen told the Naples News that Hard Rock was working with 16 of the state’s 32 pari-mutuel operators. Under the 2021 Seminole Compact, partners will receive 60% of the profits brought into the Hard Rock Bet app in Florida. The Tribes would keep the other 40%. 

Florida is using New Jersey’s  casino language to detail their model for online sports betting

Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen says the pushback for sports betting in Florida is beneficial. It lets all parties speak their mind on the matter. Allen is confident that the state will be able to expand their sports betting market and allow more industry operators. Jim Allen noted that Hard Rock has been having an informative conversation with the American Gaming Association. He wants to know about the potential industry ramifications of their ongoing case. 

Reportedly, the tribe offers a legal online sports betting model where bets are placed through cellphones and computers via servers on Tribal land. Allen had these comments to say about the approach Florida has been taking to ensure they’re using the right model for online sports betting.

“Frankly, this case, if we lose — and we may, right? We’re not arrogant to think this is a slam dunk. But the language is virtually identical to the state of New Jersey. And the servers have to be in an Atlantic City casino. They have to be geographically placed. We took the exact same language,” – said Allen. “So if it’s illegal … then I think the industry has got a big problem. … But I’m sure every one of the companies would love to be in Florida, and we respect that.”

Additionally, Jim Allen mentioned how Hard Rock is taking one step at a time in trying to help expand the sports betting market in Florida. After relaunching in November 2023, Hard Rock Bet was able to offer the Super Bowl and March Madness. Jim Allen noted that they were seeing “good” returns in profit. However, he did say that they will continue to take a cautious approach with two pending Supreme Court cases. Hard Rock has been allowed to operate with these pending cases and he wants to be “respectful” of the judicial process.