by
It seems like no one ever knows what’s going to happen for Florida sports betting news moving forward. Earlier this winter, the good news arrived that things were able to re-launch and we’ve seen tremendous numbers for online betting. This gave Governor Ron DeSantis and The Seminole Tribe plenty to be happy about. However, the case is headed to the Supreme Court and the latest update is that Florida asked for an extension in its sports betting case.
This doesn’t feel like a positive sign, but it will allow for the different parties to get ready for what’s sure to be a long case. This has already taken up a bunch of everyone’s time, as things were originally launched in October of 2021. However, a U.S. District Judge ruled in favor of the owners of the Magic City Casino, in turn shutting down sports betting for everyone in the state. It was a disappointing decision, no doubt.
Since then, there’s been a back-and-forth battle between the two sides. DeSantis and Co. were able to come out on top and get things back up and running, but now the Supreme Court will hear the latest updates on the case. Because of this, it’s totally up in the air if things will get shut down again, or if Florida will be able to keep running its operation as normal. This will be something that could take a while to decide.
Having said that, the fact that an extension has been filed means that this process is only going to be further delayed. This is a major headache for everyone involved, especially sports betting fans in the area. For now, people are able to keep posting their best and checking the best-rated sportsbooks for different odds, but there are plenty of nervous people who think things could go away again. This will be something to keep a close eye on over the next few weeks.
The sports betting case shouldn’t impact March Madness betting in Florida
While, yes, plenty of people are afraid, the sports betting case shouldn’t impact March Madness betting in Florida. This is crucial, as March Madness is easily one of the best events of the year for bettors across the globe. This will be the first time ever that March Madness betting will be legal in The Sunshine State. Previously, there was a big problem in the state with illegal college basketball betting, but that won’t be the case this year.
While Miami and Florida State have been a big letdown for hoops fans in the area, the University of Florida has a great chance to make the tournament this year. As of this writing, the Gators are 21-9 on the year and they’re hoping to make a big-time splash in the SEC Tournament. If Florida can go on a deep run and post an upset or two, then it will only help their chances of making the Big Dance.
that was a fun one 🥳#GoGators | presented by @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/2ViaqvqKPm
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) March 6, 2024
However, if the Gators aren’t able to turn heads, then there’s a good chance they could be headed to the NIT instead. That’s not what anyone in the state wants to see, as UF has the best chance of all the Power 5 programs to make the tourney. Florida fans will want an extra reason to participate in March Madness betting and only time will tell if Florida will give it to them. The Gators have a ton of talent, so we’ll see what happens.
Florida is behind Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina and others in the SEC standings, but you never know what might happen once the SEC Tournament gets here. Having said all of that, regardless of what happens, college hoops betting will surely post an impressive handle over the next month or so. For about two weeks, the tournament takes center stage in the sports world and that will once again be the case for 2024.
Will the Supreme Court shut MLB betting down in Florida?
Another major concern for fans is will the Supreme Court shut MLB betting down in Florida? This is a legitimate worry, as a decision could be made by the time the regular season is in full swing. While we don’t think that a final decision will arrive by Opening Day later this month, we could see things announced by the time the All-Star Game gets here in July. No one wants to see MLB betting impacted, as people are ready to put money down on the Marlins, Rays and other squads.
“The pitch mix just screams front-line starter.” 🗣️
Skip has no doubt in his mind that A.J. Puk has the tools to become a successful starter this season ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/c6YZxhCone
— Marlins Radio Network (@MarlinsRadio) March 6, 2024
Both the Marlins and Rays, the local teams in Florida, will enter the new season with high expectations. While they may not have the best World Series betting odds, both Miami and Tampa Bay should be in a good spot to make noise in their respective decisions. It will be interesting to see how the campaign goes for both clubs, but it’s unclear if fans will be able to bet on both sides from start to finish this season. An answer should arrive this spring, but more delays could be coming too.
