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Hard Rock International Chairman Hints at Partnerships

Andrew Reid

Last Updated: October 11, 2024 5:56 PM EDT • 1 min 39 sec read.

A view of Hard Rock Stadium as we look at Hard Rock Bet potentially partnering with DraftKings or FanDuel in the future.
A view of Hard Rock Stadium before practice for the Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Photo by: Peter Casey/Imagn Images.

Residents of Florida only have access to one of our best sports betting sites. Still, recent comments from Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen suggest that there's a chance that may change. 

Allen spoke with CNBC at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, confirming that he met with FanDuel and DraftKings representatives while there. While the two companies declined to comment, Allen did shed some light on the situation to CNBC:

"We do recognize that long term, some type of strategic relationship with some of the brands that really have marquee value could be helpful to both of us, and we are receptive to those conversations." 

While leaving the door open to partnerships, there were no further details on what that might look like. Florida has been a target for many of our best sports betting apps, as it's the third most populous state in the nation and home to numerous professional sports and D1 college teams. 

Sports betting in Florida

In 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 30-year compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. While the deal was passed through the Legislature, it has been criticized in the Florida sports betting scene from the start.  

After an on-again, off-again saga, Hard Rock Bet was surprisingly soft-launched in November. Residents of the state can take advantage of Hard Rock Bet promo codes.

West Flagler Associates attempted to have the compact appealed. It has three jai alai licenses, and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp., which operates Bonita Springs Poker Room, and suggested that its revenues would be hurt. 

However, the Supreme Court failed to take up the review. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was in favor, and Justice Ketanji Brown did not participate, but enough of the remainder felt there was no need to look further into the appeal.

Hard Rock growth

Hard Rock Digital has been looking to grow and carve out a spot in a growing U.S. legal sports betting industry. Having Florida on lockdown is great for the company, but more expansion is needed. 

The Hard Rock Bet app has been well-received in the markets it has access to, including the Florida sports betting, Arizona sports betting, New Jersey sports betting, Indiana sports betting, Ohio sports betting, Tennessee sports betting, and Virginia sports betting markets.

The sportsbook’s combined handle for the first six months of this year was $6.6 billion and made $605.9 million in adjusted gross revenue. Handle was up 25.9% year-over-year, and revenues climbed 22.5%.

It launched in the Illinois sports betting market in late August. It's also made some strong partnerships recently, becoming the official sportsbook of the Jacksonville Jaguars and inking Post Malone as a rep for the band.

Written By:
Andrew Reid
Andrew is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review. He graduated from Acadia University with a degree in Kinesiology, working as a personal trainer and in injury rehab, and then attended the College of Sports Media in Toronto to attain a diploma in Radio and Television Sports Broadcasting. Andrew has been involved in the sports betting and fantasy sports space since joining the FNTSY Sports Network in 2014, where he worked as a producer, director, and occasional on-air talent on various shows focusing on sports betting and DFS content. Prior to joining SBR, he spent multiple years with the USA Today Network as an editor and writer. Living in Newfoundland, Andrew frequents grey market sportsbooks, but in the past, when he's lived in regulated areas, he's become well-versed with all of our best sportsbooks. As strictly a casual bettor, he enjoys making touchdown parlays with friends (bro-lays), sweating out golf cut parlays during majors, playing same-game parlays for fun, and chasing long-shot bets. He also enjoys using sportsbooks that have solid iGaming and casino platforms. As the old guy on staff, he has an affinity for industry news, which confuses some, but shh ... quiet ... the news is on.