There has been no official word on when internet sports betting will be available to Floridians, even though it’s been allowed in the state since May 2021. A 30-year arrangement with the state in May gave the Seminole Tribe of Florida a virtual monopoly on sports betting in the state, prompting them to build their own app.
Legislators had planned to authorize sports betting in Florida in March 2020, just 10 days before the legislative session ended. As a result, Florida’s attempt to legalize sports betting in 2019 has been delayed until 2021 due to a stalemate over law and an agreement with the tribe. After the collapse of SB392 in January 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis negotiated a deal with the Seminole Tribe in April 2021, with the Florida House accepting this arrangement in May 2021. When Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber wrote a letter in June 2021, he called for a rejection of the Seminole Tribe’s deal with the federal government. Washington, D.C. followed suit in September, and the scheduled debut date of sports betting, Oct. 15th, was delayed as a result.
As of November 1st, the Hard Rock mobile sports betting app was live in Florida despite a variety of legal hurdles, however, Hard Rock Sportsbook was forced to shut down its mobile app pending an appeal after one of these legal challenges was successful. As a result of recent news about the state’s sports betting proposition failing to be put on the November ballot, it appears that those in the state will have to wait a little longer before being allowed to join up either online or by mobile.
There Are Options
Online gambling is not regulated in Florida, and no casinos are allowed to operate within the state’s borders. However, as the state’s laws do not mention online gambling at all, offshore-based casinos, poker, and sports betting sites are lawful to wager on. Not only does Florida not have a history of criminalizing this practice, but there is no law that might lead to a conviction.
Despite the state’s anti-gambling laws, there are still online casinos that accept gamblers from Florida so if you were wondering is online gambling legal in Florida, the quick answer is no, but you can still make use of offshore-based bookies/casinos without fear of persecution. However, gambling online in the state of Florida is legal until the legislature decides to prohibit or regulate the practice. It’s safe to join up and play and one can enjoy the entertainment without worrying!
Public Opinions About Gambling
With the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s agreement to run blackjack games on a trial basis, a recent poll of Floridians found that the state’s inhabitants were more than happy with the experiment. To find out if Floridians agree with the Seminole Tribe’s request to renew this contract, 600 Floridians from all throughout the state took part in a poll that was commissioned by the tribe.
Both questions were supported by a huge margin of 40 points. The poll concluded that those who supported the deal did so primarily because of its capacity to block out-of-state corporations from entering the market for table games. This is not a surprise, as the Seminole Tribe has been using this position for years now to defend the expansion of table games in the state. A predisposition for the status quo and for anything that appears to raise money is something we’ve observed in Florida over many decades. First and first, Florida residents prefer to vote for the status quo, followed by their wallets, and then anything else.
The current deal expires without an extension vote in the summer of 2016 and grants the group the ability to host live blackjack on their Florida land. There are just three Broward County casinos where the Seminole can offer blackjack and other table games under this arrangement, and several in Tampa and Immokalee.
Is it worth it for Florida to make this trade? It was worth so much to the Seminoles that they’re willing to shell over another couple billion dollars for a five-year experimental arrangement. The Seminoles’ performance in table games has far exceeded expectations, despite some observers’ claims to the contrary. The Seminoles contend that expanding blackjack and table gaming options will save 3,000 permanent jobs in the state while producing 15,000 new construction jobs as a result of the planned development of the hotel industry.
Final thoughts
Considering the state’s long history of legislative turmoil, it’s easy to become lost in the maze of gambling regulations in Florida. This article is aimed to give a general summary, but it is not the final word.
Hours of investigation are required before you can get to any form of decision. In contrast to the majority of people, those who are eager to take on such a challenge require more resources at their disposal.
