Hard Rock Could Launch Florida Sports Betting on Sept. 19

• A rehearing request of the Florida sports betting case was denied, opening the door for legal Florida sports betting to return in the near future.
• Now, West Flagler Associates’ best remaining option is to bring the case to the Supreme Court of the United States in the next 90 days.
• Hard Rock Bet could launch legal Florida sports betting on September 19.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The U.S. Court of Appeals denied a rehearing request for the decision to restore a Florida gaming compact that allowed legal sports betting.

With no further legal pursuit by the plaintiff, West Flagler Associates, legal Florida sports betting could launch on September 19.

This is based on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruling that state decisions become effective eight days after they’re issued. So, it opens the door for Hard Rock Bet to launch if West Flagler calls it quits.

Supreme Court is the Likely Next Step

However, West Flagler’s persistence with preventing legal sports betting in Florida hints that they will exhaust every option. One of West Flagler’s best remaining options is to take the case to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS).

West Flagler has 90 days to decide if they want to request a writ of certiorari, which sets up a potential hearing with SCOTUS. Legal experts believe this is the most likely next step because it has a chance to be successful while further delaying a Florida sports betting launch.

That chance is slim, but the likely denial in the SCOTUS wouldn’t happen until the end of the year.

When Will Sports Betting be Legal in Florida?

It could be sooner than most think, as the court-issued response for the rehearing request came two days after the petition was filed. Although courts typically take months to respond to similar cases, the implications of this case seems to have the attention of U.S. courts.

After all, the outcome of Florida sports betting would reshape the future of legal sports betting across the country. If the 2021 gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe and Florida stands in compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), other tribal states could launch legal online sportsbooks through a similar compact.

Legal Florida sports betting could launch as early as September 19. At worst, it could take months or even years to return, but Monday’s rehearing denial is a step in the right direction.

News tags: Florida | Hard Rock | Hard Rock Bet | West Flagler Associates