Huge Win for Legalized Sports Betting in Florida
It is legal to wager on sports in 37 states plus Washington D.C. in America. On Friday there was a huge win for legalized sports betting in Florida. Today the D.C. Circuit ruled in favor of the Seminole Tribe reversing the decision by the District Court that outlawed sports betting just days after going into effect. It is unclear what this means in regards to a timeline for legalized sports betting in Florida. There is still a possibility that a Florida based court could challenge the ruling or an appeal to the Supreme Court could change this ruling. But shy of that, legalized sports betting in Florida could be a reality before the 2023/24 football season kicks off. @Jifrah on twitter has provided some really good analysis and is a great source of information. The Hardrock Sports Book is even getting in on the action.
— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) June 30, 2023
I want to stress that this does not mean legalized sports betting in Florida goes into effect immediately.
But this is a hug win for legalized sports gambling in Florida. Per the most recent census, Florida is the 3rd most populated state in the US. California and Texas are the two with more residents, but neither state has legalizes sports gambling. New York has a little less that 2 million fewer residents than Florida. Last month sports wagering brought in over $1,000,000 in taxes for the state. And that’s for June, a notoriously slow sports month with little outside of the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final going on. But this is a huge win for legalized sports gambling in Florida.
Update
After the original post the Seminole Tribe of Florida provided ESPN Southwest Florida with the following statement via Gary Bitner:
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., (June 30, 2023) – The Seminole Tribe of Florida is pleased with today’s unanimous decision. It is a positive outcome for the Seminole Tribe and the people of Florida, and for all of Indian Country. The Tribe is fully reviewing the decision to determine its next steps.