TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A new gambling option begins Friday in Tampa. Craps, roulette and sports betting open at Hard Rock Casino.
The “first roll” and first in-person sports bet will take place on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Hard Rock folks are calling this a “new era of Florida gaming.”
The Seminole Tribe has been fighting for years to have sports betting in their casinos.
Friday, that dream will become a reality in Tampa, even though a lawsuit is pending in the Florida Supreme Court.
While some were strongly opposed to this addition, others, like the Hard Rock Casino patron we spoke to, were excited.
“If you’re just here and playing slots or something, now you can actually go and bet on your own horse or bet on the soccer team that’s playing tonight.”
Some Hard Rocks in the state began offering in-person betting on Thursday. A retail sportsbook with 43 electronic sports betting kiosks and his eight stations for in-person betting will open Friday at the Hard Rock in Tampa.
The Hard Rock Bet app is now available to everyone in Florida. This is the only legal option for online sports betting in the state.
Check it out and you’ll find 8 new craps tables and 16 roulette tables. Tables will be located near the grand entrance this weekend, but some will be moved to other parts of the casino on Monday.
The implementation of these popular games is expected to bring in billions of dollars in revenue for the state.
Hard Rock is expected to be crowded on weekends.
Thomas Rhett will perform on Friday, and The Chainsmokers will be at the pool party on Sunday.