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The wait is finally over! After more than two years of people waiting for some positive Florida sports betting news to arrive, it looks like things are here – and it can’t come any sooner. The Seminole Tribe and Governor Ron DeSantis have been in a long legal battle with the owners of the Magic City Casino over betting in the state, but that’s all in the rear-view mirror. Last week, DeSantis announced that Florida sports betting will officially re-launch in December.
More specifically, the Seminole Tribe will launch sports betting on Dec. 7 at three of their casinos in Florida. Then after that, per a report, more places will open up on Dec. 8 and Dec. 11. It’s important to note that for now only in-person betting will be allowed in Florida for this second launch, but there’s no question that online betting will follow soon after. With a launch date put in place, this is a major victory for Florida sports fans.
“The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s new initiative will create jobs, increase tourism, and provide billions in added revenue for our state,” DeSantis said in a release about the return of sports betting for Florida. “I was proud to work with the Tribe on our historic Gaming Compact and I look forward to its full implementation.”
With the return of legal sports betting in Florida, it’s going to provide a massive boost for the local economy. Not only that, but it’s also going to highly reduce the illegal activity that the state has been trying to combat for a while now. This has been a long process and journey for DeSantis and the tribes, but come Dec. 7, there will be plenty of relief for everyone involved. We can only hope the owners of the Magic City Casino don’t try and throw a Hail Mary to try and prevent this from going down.
The Seminole Tribe has announced it will launch in-person Florida sports betting at its six casinos on Thursday, Dec. 7.
Craps and roulette will also launch.
Still no word on then online sports betting launch. pic.twitter.com/LuMlleCr6j
— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) November 1, 2023
Sports betting is coming at the right time for Florida NFL wagers
It goes without saying, but sports betting is coming at the right time for Florida NFL wagers. Despite suffering a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9, no one can question the fact that the Miami Dolphins still hold strong NFL betting odds to not only win the AFC East, but to also go on a deep postseason run. Head coach Mike McDaniel is an offensive guru and the team has been looking sharp with him running things.
The Dolphins are going to have a ton of eyes on them once Super Bowl betting odds are released ahead of the playoffs – they’re not the only ones from Florida ready to push for a title either. Elsewhere in the AFC, the Jacksonville Jaguars have high hopes to get to the AFC Championship Game this year. They nearly did in 2022, but they suffered a heartbreaking loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the postseason.
Between the Dolphins and the Jaguars, plus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you better believe that football betting is going to be sky-high for Florida once the green light is given on Dec. 7. As things stand, the Chiefs have the best Super Bowl odds, so people in Florida could look to bet big on them down the road, but on a weekly basis for the rest of the regular season, countless wagers on Miami, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville will surely roll in too.
This is going to be a great positive for DeSantis and the tribes. Obviously, officials and lawmakers are going to have their eyes on the sports betting numbers for December and January. Once online betting is put into place too, then we’re only going to see the stats climb. All in all, the first month could have some ups and downs numbers-wise, but things should also take off thanks to the NFL season.
Hope is a dangerous thing.#JAXvsPIT | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/qOeoy7fixD
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 29, 2023
When will online sports betting arrive in Florida?
A question everyone has on their mind is when will online sports betting arrive in Florida? While the launch of in-person betting is great, DeSantis didn’t have an update in his statement as to when mobile options will be put in place. This is of course something that’s been worked on behind the scenes for Florida officials. Online betting has the potential to provide millions of dollars in revenue for Florida.
There’s nothing sports bettors love more than the convenience of being able to place a bet from the comfort of their own home. That’s why it’s needed in Florida soon. However, people also can’t complain, as they’re over the moon with happiness that at least in-person betting is allowed for now.
Having said that, making sure that online betting arrives within the next few months will be key for the state. It’s going to provide a boost for sports betting numbers, as we’ve seen the difference for states in the USA with their betting handles when it comes to places that have online betting and those that don’t. The hope is that online betting for Florida will be available in early 2024.
