Sports betting in Florida is legal on Friday, but launch date remains unclear

Sports betting in Florida is legal on Friday, but launch date remains unclear

Article brief provided by Florida Phoenix
  • Laura Cassels, Florida Phoenix
October 13, 2021 10:40 PM
  • Laura Cassels, Florida Phoenix

It depends on what you mean by “fall.”

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The Seminole Tribe of Florida is marketing its new offering of statewide sports betting as “coming this fall.” Many thought that would mean an Oct. 15 launch, this Friday, citing new legislation authorizing online sports betting to begin no sooner than that date.

Then, lawsuits were filed around the 30-year gambling compact approved last spring between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe, leading to speculation that the launch would not start until certain court proceedings play out in November.

Sports betting is at its peak during fall football season, and new online sports betting operations recently launched in several other states. But the Seminole Tribe has yet to announce a start date.