Latest articles
Former Florida Regulator and Illinois Legislative Counsel Join FanDuel Government Relations Department
FanDuel has hired former Florida regulator Louis Trombetta and Illinois lawmaker James Hartmann as government relations directors.
Florida Man Arrested in Hard Rock Tampa Explosives Case Makes First Court Appearance
A Florida man accused of planting explosive devices in bathrooms at Hard Rock Tampa made a brief court appearance on Tuesday to seek a continuance. He faces up to 30 years in state prison. Brian Eckley, 46, is accused of placing the “crude” remote-controlled devices in men’s bathrooms at the casino on Sept. 29 and […]
Hard Rock and Seminoles Make Million-Dollar Hurricane Relief Donation
The Seminole Tribe of Florida and Hard Rock International committed $1,000,000 to fund Hurricane relief for those in Florida and the Carolinas impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Donated funds will help World Central Kitchen (WCK) and the American Red Cross deliver emergency support and facilitate long-term rebuilding for communities dealing with the aftermath. Seminole […]
Youtuber ‘Greatness Reinvented’ Wins Big at Beau Rivage Casino While Fleeing Hurricane Milton
As Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc across Florida, YouTuber and rapper Jason Jensen, who goes by “Greatness Reinvented,” found refuge at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. There, his unfortunate situation took on a silver lining as he won nearly $150,000 on a single spin. Early Tuesday morning, around 7 a.m., Jensen was playing the […]
Hard Rock Tampa Evacuated Twice in 24 Hours Over Suspicious Devices
The staggered discovery of a pair of concealed devices at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa last week caused authorities to evacuate the Florida casino hotel twice in 24 hours. The first device, a “crude concealed device with fireworks components,” was discovered shortly before midnight on Sunday in a men’s restroom near the casino. According to […]
Florida’s Sportsbook Is Hard Rock Bet and Only Hard Rock Bet, With SCOTUS Dismissal
Hard Rock Bet is still legal in Florida because, on June 17, the highest US court declined to hear the appeal in a lawsuit brought by the competition to “Florida’s Sportsbook.” So Hard Rock Bet remains the only game in town for the 23 million-resident state. Meanwhile, online casinos and poker are illegal in Florida. […]
Hard Rock Sports Betting Monopoly Could Become Bargaining Chip in iGaming Negotiations
It should come as no surprise that the Seminole Tribe of Florida intends to push for online casino gaming in the state once the dust settles in the legal battle over mobile sports betting. The first draft of the sports betting compact included a guarantee that such negotiations would take place within 36 months, though that clause […]
West Flagler Hits a Dead End in Florida as Supreme Court Denies Quo Warranto
West Flagler Associates is rapidly running out of options for its challenge to Florida’s sports betting model, having been rebuffed by the Florida Supreme Court while waiting for what will likely be a similarly unfavorable response at the federal level. On both fronts, courts have indicated to the retail gambling operator that it is approaching […]
West Flagler SCOTUS Appeal—What’s at Stake?
West Flagler Associates filed its request for the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to hear its Florida sports betting case on Feb. 8, 2024, the last day allowable under the extension it obtained in December. Many of those following the case believe that it’s unlikely that SCOTUS will grant the appeal in light of […]
Florida Sports Betting Challenge—State Seeks Dismissal of Quo Warranto Petition
Lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature have filed counterarguments to West Flagler Associates’ petition for quo warranto in the state Supreme Court. West Flagler, a retail gambling operator in the state, is challenging whether the governor and lawmakers exceeded their authority and violated the state Constitution when they authorized the Seminole Tribe to conduct online sports […]
