In Florida, residents can only place sports bets on the Hard Rock Bet app. That relaunched on December 5, 20223. Lawmakers had to go through lengthy legal battles to make that happen after the app was shut down in 2021. Along with sports betting on Hard Rock Bets, Floridians can play Daily Fantasy Sports. 

However, there have been issues with a few of the regulators in the industry. PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and Betr were offering fantasy sports that closely resembled sports prop betting. That was unacceptable to Hard Rock Casino CEO Jim Allen. Last Thursday, he told the East Coast Gaming Conference that they would not continue to allow that kind of fantasy sports. 

PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and Betr have since left the market. Two of the three (PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy) have relaunched their Daily Fantasy Sports platforms with peer-to-peer Pick’Em. Both companies made it clear they wanted to continue to be part of the market in Florida by complying with the new regulations.

PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy have switched to peer-to-peer Pick’Em in Florida

In September 2023 and January 2024, PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and Betr received two separate cease-and-desist letters. The FGG promised not to pursue legal action if they left by March 1, to which they all complied. PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy have complied with the new laws set in Florida for Daily Fantasy Sports. 

Previously, PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy were offering DFS that closely resembled prop betting. Hard Rock Casino CEO Jim Allen said that went against state policy. Florida began to take action like many other states have begun to do. As of Monday, PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy are back on the DFS market in Florida.

Jim Allen said DraftKings and FanDuel helped them with DFS in Florida

Jim Allen is following in the footsteps of other states that have banned DFS that closely resemble prop betting. Allen had this to say to Legal Sports Report. 

“The legal definition of ‘fantasy’ has been out there for awhile. And I’ve obviously spoken with Jason Robins and Amy Howe. We don’t have a fight. We’re not interested in the definition of fantasy,” – said Jim Allen, “But when people are taking prop bets like a normal sports betting operation that was obviously very problematic. And certainly when we met with the leaders of the state and the Florida regulator, we said, ‘If this is what you want to do, fine. But you’re jeopardizing $700 million a year in payments from us.’ And we made it very clear we would not continue to be in that type of environment.” 

Before PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy changed their DFS model, Jim Allen noted that it violated a 2021 gaming compact. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has exclusivity on sports betting in the state via the Hard Rok Bet app. All of that has since been handled with PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy complying with state gaming regulations.