The Seminole Tribe has suspended operations for its popular new sportsbook app.
On Saturday, the Hard Rock Sportsbook app was no longer accepting any new bets, accounts or deposits.
“Thank you for participating in our early access launch,” a statement on the app read. “Although we are temporarily suspending the acceptance of new bets and account deposits, we remain committed to building the best place for sports betting in Florida. We hope that you have enjoyed your gambling experience on the Hard Rock Sportsbook app, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future.”
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The app will, however, remain active in order for users to made any withdrawals.
Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich found that the multibillion dollar agreement between the state and tribe allowing online betting violated a federal rule that requires a person to be physically on tribal land when wagering. The lawsuit, filed by non-Indian casino owners in Florida, challenged the approval of the agreement by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees tribal gambling operations.
With the status of sports betting in Florida in limbo, sports gaming attorney Daniel Wallach says there are three main ways it could come back to the state legally.
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Those avenues include scenarios where the Seminoles win their federal appeals, Florida voters saying ‘yes’ in a referendum, or the Tribe and the State striking a new deal that removes the online component deemed illegal.
“They could do that tomorrow. You can bring an in person sports book on each of the tribal properties,” Wallach said. “But it cannot encompass any off reservation gaming activity.”
