Launch date for sports betting in Florida unclear despite being legal

Although sports wagering became legal in Florida today (Friday), no casino has a date for starting operations.

US.- Sports betting becomes legal in Florida today, but players won’t be able to place their bets immediately. The state’s casinos have not yet announced a date when they will start taking wagers. The Seminole Tribe is not yet read because it’s facing lawsuits that will have a hearing on November 5. 

Magic City Casino and Bonita Springs Poker Room have filed a motion at federal district court hoping to block online sports betting in the state, and Armando Codina and Norman Braman, both outspoken critics of gambling, have sued secretary of the interior Deb Haaland.

If the judge throws out the lawsuit, the tribe is expected to launch mobile and in-person sports gambling in the next 60 days. The Seminole Tribe will conduct its sports-betting operation through Hard Rock Sportsbook, which launched its first operations in January in New Jersey.

Hiring and training of hundreds of employees and the installation of new equipment will be needed before launch.

See also: Another lawsuit aims to block online sports betting in Florida