Hard Rock has halted the acceptance of new bets, account registrations, and deposits on its sportsbook platform. However, customers can still access the app to withdraw their funds. All active bets for events scheduled before 11 a.m. on December 4, 2021, will be settled normally. Any bets related to events after that time will be void, and players will receive refunds for those bets.
In a statement, Hard Rock expressed its commitment to creating a premier sports betting environment in Florida despite the temporary suspension. The company stated, "We hope that you have enjoyed your gameday experience on the Hard Rock Sportsbook app, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future."
This decision follows a ruling from a District of Columbia court that determined the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s compact with the state violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), thereby rendering the agreement invalid.
Casino operators West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation challenged the notion that online betting occurring off tribal lands, but utilizing servers located on tribal property, could be viewed as betting on tribal lands. According to Florida's state constitution, expanding gambling beyond tribal lands requires a legal referendum.
Judge Dabney Friedrich agreed with this challenge, concluding that the compact sought to permit sports betting both on and off Indian lands. The original agreement had granted the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights to both online and in-person sports betting in Florida, which began on October 1. This ruling effectively halts the state’s sports betting market.
