Full-scale online casinos are currently only a reality in a handful of U.S. states. Even people in New Jersey, which is the biggest regulated iGaming market in the country, still heavily use offshore real money online casinos like those available on AskGamblers.
Floridians are now excited about the prospects of legal iGaming coming to their state. The latest development in the state’s online gaming evolution is Hard Rock Bet’s launch of NASCAR-based slots.
This rollout signals how the operator is looking to expand beyond its current sportsbook and reshape the landscape in the Sunshine State. Are fully legalized online casinos on the way?
A Landmark Moment in Florida
Hard Rock Bet’s launch of its online slot series in late October, based on historical NASCAR race results, was a signal that sports betting is no longer the only online avenue on the Seminole Tribe’s mind.
The new product only became possible due to a legal loophole in the tribe’s 2021 gaming compact with the state. This agreement gave exclusive sports betting rights to the Seminole Tribe. The compact states that it can offer betting on “any past or future sports or athletic event.” This language is broad enough to include the results of historical motorsport races.
This opened the door for Hard Rock Bet to offer a product that looks like a slot machine but is legally defined as sports betting. Similar products are available in other states like Kentucky and Oregon, where historical horse race results are the basis for gameplay outcomes.
No Involvement from NASCAR
While NASCAR race results are the key part in offering these games, the sports organization didn’t play a role in licensing or developing the product. Hard Rock appears to be in good standing with its legal argument.
Several landmark court cases give precedent for using sports data without needing a license, as the data is part of the public domain.
It appears that Hard Rock Bet is in the clear on this front, as it doesn’t use official NASCAR logos or trademarks.
How the Games Work
A random number generator is used in traditional slot machines to decide the result of a spin. Hard Rock Bet’s new product ties the outcome directly to real NASCAR race data.
When a player clicks the “Play” button, the system selects three historical races. The player needs to match finishing positions across these races. The interface looks a lot like a traditional slot game, but the outcome is totally based on the historic race results.
A Florida Experiment
Hard Rock Bet is live in eight other states where it offers sports betting. Its market access agreements in these other markets don’t appear to be broad enough to allow it to also offer these NASCAR-based slot games there.
The only other state where it has anything resembling casino games is New Jersey, where it’s licensed for iGaming products. Industry analysts see the NASCAR slots as a hard concept to replicate elsewhere.
What It Means for the Future
While traditional online slots and table gameplay remain prohibited in Florida, the new NASCAR-based product could be a proof of concept for how casino-like experiences could work under current laws. If the rollout succeeds, lawmakers might be encouraged to revisit conversations about allowing widespread adoption of online casinos.
This would mean an amendment or a totally new compact to allow for online casinos in Florida. The clever use of NASCAR data shows how big operators in the space are constantly innovating and looking for ways to take their services to the next level for customers.
There’s never been a more exciting time for online gambling in the U.S.
