Is Sports Betting ever going to be legal in the sunshine state? Well, it was and now it’s gone again. So what’s the story of Florida Sports Betting how do bettors wager on sports in the state of Florida and will bettors have any pain relief they can rely on?
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What is Sports Betting?
Let’s kick off this article by explaining what sports betting is, after all the legality of sports betting is our main topic for today.
Sports betting is the wagering of something of value (in most cases money) on the outcome of a future event, match or bet in hopes to increase their initial sum. There are several types of bet types and different sports will have different betting options. To keep it simple a sports bet is and is not limited to, Betting on the outcome of a football match.
Betting in Florida Now
Currently, it is illegal to bet on sports in Florida. That being said, there is no law stating that locals from the State of Florida cannot use offshore bookies to wager. Florida even had the Hard Rock Sportsbook App released until it was taken down in December 2021 which offered iOS and Android device users to wager. So where does this leave sports betting at the moment, well pretty much at a standstill with ongoing trials waiting for a verdict?
So how did it get to this point?
Sports betting talks in Florida were conducted almost exclusively behind closed doors, unlike in most other states. The state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe have to come to an agreement on a broader gaming agreement before discussing sports betting. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida signed a new contract in April 2021, which would have brought some sort of statewide mobile betting to the Sunshine State. This obviously raised some eyebrows, It was claimed that the state’s constitutional amendment needing voter approval or the Indian Gaming Regulation Act was violated by the introduction of sports betting in Florida.
How Do I Bet In Florida?
In order to place a bet on a sporting event in Florida, you must be of legal age. There are a surprising amount of offshore gambling sites in Florida where you may wager on your favorite sports or teams. Before heading to the first bookie that offers betting solutions you should check this guide about online sports betting in Florida, which goes into great detail regarding offshore sportsbooks. These are still the greatest option for placing bets on Florida’s sporting events. Many options exist, but not all of them are created equal or trustworthy. The typical concerns regarding offshore are betting sites’ lack of legal obligation to pay out winnings to players in the United States. This is due to them not having a Florida or US license in some cases. Thankfully the guide provides reviews for the most trusted and reliable bookies available.
History of Betting in Florida
Let’s dive into a brief history lesson starting from 2018 to get you up to speed on the current ongoing situation for Legal Sports betting in Florida.
2018
With the approval of Amendment 3 in November, the Seminole grabbed authority of any changes to gaming in the state away from the legislative body.
This basically means Legislators can’t give the green light to new casinos under Amendment 3. Voters must not only approve, but also initiate, any growth of gaming in their jurisdiction. This makes it hard for sports betting to become legal if deals are being made behind closed doors. Which in turn made it difficult for future legislators to authorize sports betting in Florida without collaborating with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
2019
Simpson and the tribe were able to come to a provisional agreement. Among other things, it would have compensated the state at least $500 million per year in exchange for agreeing to shut down the specified card games provided at state parimutuels, among other concessions.
Governor Ron DeSantis, on the other hand, refused to approve the agreement. After receiving the governor’s answer, the Seminoles informed him that they would suspend their yearly payments to the state of around $350 million “unless the unlawful banked card game problem is rectified.”
2020
Legislators vowed to eliminate the Seminoles’ role in the state’s gambling industry in 2020, saying they would instead concentrate on pari-mutuel and private gaming prospects.
In order to regulate sports betting without the tribe’s involvement, Sen. Jeff Brandes introduced a measure that would allow the Florida Lottery to do so.
As a result, the Seminoles exercised their legislative muscle. While Brandes’ bill was never brought up for a vote in the full House.
No agreement was reached when the session ended on March 13 in spite of the typical talk of discussions behind the scenes on a complete gambling arrangement that would include Florida sports betting.
Mobile sports betting in Florida might soon be hosted by the Seminole Tribe, according to an Orlando Sentinel report. The state’s revenue-sharing payments would then continue and be significantly increased by the tribe.
2021
In May 2021, the state legislature approved the agreement between the governor and the tribe. Although the federal government complied with the law by allowing the agreement to be submitted to the Federal Register, it did not indicate approval.
After DeSantis signed the deal, many lawsuits were brought against Florida sports betting. After a federal judge ruled that the contract between Florida and the Seminoles was void, the Hard Rock Sportsbook app was shut down throughout the state in November. In spite of the Tribe’s efforts to overturn the state’s decision, the single app that debuted in the state has been removed.