A funny saying is, “Nightmares in other states are just visions of what’s really going on in Florida.”
It was a nightmare for Florida sports gamblers back in November 2021. Out of nowhere, sports betting became legal then disappeared just as quickly. Now, legalized sports betting sits in limbo as lawmakers decide the path forward.
With the third most populous state, Florida would be a huge get for sportsbooks. The biggest city is Jacksonville with almost 1 million people. Due to the state’s geographical size and large population, many professional sports teams call Florida home. The NFL teams are Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins. The Miami Heat and Orlando Magic are the NBA teams. The two MLB teams are Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays. The NHL teams are the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. There are 13 Division 1 programs in the state. The national brands are Florida, Florida State, Miami and UCF.
The Sunshine State is known for many things. It was almost known as the biggest state to have legalized sports gambling. Hopefully everything can get resolved quickly. We need to hear crazy, entertaining sports betting stories about Floridians.
Yes, gambling is legal in Florida, however, sports gambling is not. In November of 2021, Hard Rock launched their mobile sportsbook. This came after Governor Ron DeSantis signed a compact with the Seminole tribe to allow mobile wagering. This deal was signed in April 2021 and approved by state legislators in May 2021. After Hard Rock’s sportsbook was launched, a federal judge ruled the compact violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This forced the book to shut down and no legal wagering has been active since.
Online horse and greyhound racing is allowed in Florida. Retail table games within casinos are also legal along with Daily Fantasy Sports. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much information on what is happening regarding the limbo state legalized sports betting is in. Floridians who want to bet legally can visit nearby Mississippi or Tennessee.