About nine months ago, the Seminole Tribe in Florida quietly launched Hard Rock Sportsbook, but it was ultimately shut down as a D.C.-based ruled that the 30-year agreement violated federal law. However, the push to bring back the market may gain some traction.
The Biden Administration Aids Florida’s Sports Betting Push
Florida is one of the most populated states in the nation that doesn’t have a legal sports betting market. The other two jurisdictions include California and Texas. Even though the summer slowdown has affected New York’s market, the state has funneled in large amounts of tax dollars since the operation began on January 8th.
Florida may be one of the next states to have a sports betting market, but this isn’t good news for the sportsbook giants like FanDuel and DraftKings, who have spent millions trying to build a case. The Biden Administration is urging an appeals to reinstate a deal that allowed the Seminole Tribe to control Florida’s sports betting market.
There is no set time frame for when the legal dispute will be resolved as these talks are still in the preliminary stages. Some users of the Hard Rock Sportsbook app still have funds in their accounts, as it looked like in the beginning, the app would be back in operation.
In a brief filed last week, the Interior Department sought to reinstate the state-Seminole gaming compact. Just like in California, both sides have not given up on their stance. The owners of Magic City Casino and Bonita Springs Poker Room believe that their businesses would suffer or go out of business if the Tribe legalizes the entire gaming market in the Sunshine State.
California and Texas’ Approaches to Sports Betting
The California Tribes and the mobile sportsbook operators are continuing their battle in the Golden State. Proposition 26 would allow sports wagering in-person at the tribal casinos and the four race tracks owned by them. Meanwhile, Proposition 27 would allow mobile sports betting on numerous platforms as companies like DraftKings and FanDuel look to enter the state.
The bookmakers have pushed to combat homelessness which has been widespread in California, while promoting responsible gaming. They have also pushed to help solve the mental health crisis in the state.
On the other hand, the bigger tribes that are looking to control the gaming markets have argued that most of the revenue generated by these operators wouldn’t even stay in California as some of these companies are headquartered in Boston and New York.
Voters will have the power to decide on both of these measures in California on November 8th. Both sides have continued on their respective campaigns in order to gain as much support as possible.
Texas bettors will have to wait until next year for the next legislative session. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes that sports betting is inevitable in Lone Star State as the state has a lot of professional sports franchises.
Bettors in Texas have been crossing state lines to Louisiana to place wagers throughout the year. One of the most famous bettors from Houston goes by “Mattress Mack” has wagered on the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Astros at retail locations in Louisiana.
Many bettors in Texas also use offshore sportsbooks if they cannot travel. The state doesn’t generate any tax revenue from offshore bookmakers.
Adding More States Would be Huge for the Sports Betting Industry
Adding California, Texas, and Florida take the massive sports betting industry to new heights. Each of the three states listed above has more people than the Empire State.
California, Texas, and Florida account for more than 90 million of the total population, which accounts for nearly 28 percent of the total population. As of right now, California is the only one that will be decided in the next 2.5 months.
