Sports betting: Seminole Tribe execs, celebs flock to Hard Rock as in-person casino wagering begins

Ladies and gentlemen of Florida, start your casino sports betting.

Thursday was a day of gambling history for the Sunshine State. As of 5 p.m., the two Seminole Casinos — at the Hard Rock Hollywood and Coconut Creek — started accepting wagers on the NFL, college football, NBA and NHL, among other items.

The ceremonial “First Bet” was made at the Hard Rock Hollywood by Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., who bet $1,000 at 5:34 p.m. Thursday for the unbeaten Florida State Seminoles to win the Orange Bowl over Georgia.

Mascots from the Heat, Panthers, Marlins and Orlando City (soccer) were on stage.

The celebrities were out in force, too, in the Broward County gambling paradise led by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Jon Bon Jovi, Mike Tyson, Dwyane Wade and Heather Graham. A sea of cellphone cameras captured the moment.

In the afternoon, a news conference/ceremony was staged at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek to also usher in the first-ever craps and roulette gambling ever allowed in Florida. Rollouts at other Seminole casinos in Florida, including in Tampa, continue through Monday.

“Florida is a big state, we have 21 million people and have people retired from all over the country here," Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen told The Palm Beach Post. “So I think sports betting will do very well. Definitely an extra incentive (to bet on their native teams)."

At Coconut Creek, the most popular Seminole casino for Palm Beach County residents, per source, the property unveiled 32 sports-betting kiosks spread out across the vast gaming oasis. There were only two stations in which live tellers took in bets.

“I think it’s awesome they finally got it here," said West Palm Beach resident Bishop Loper.

“I can’t wait for it to open up. It’s been awhile since I did sports betting. I’m excited for it to be here."

A big Dolphins fan, Loper plans to win money on the Dolphins Monday night as they give 12.5 points against the Tennessee Titans as big favorites. “I’m hoping they make it to the Super Bowl this year," Loper said. “Definitely going to bet on them Monday night."

And Loper will likely put a casino wager on Miami winning its first Super Bowl since 1974. On the Coconut Creek money line, Dolphins are plus-750 (bet $100 to win $750).

Two members of NSYNC were present at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek for the ceremony: Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone, who have homes in Orlando.

“I’m a Pittsburgh and Nashville fan and I live mostly in Nashville," Kirkpatrick said. “I think it’s great. Everyone wants to get in. Football right now is so big. So is basketball. I love when you bet on a game. You watch games you normally wouldn’t watch."

There’s been a lot of courtroom strife before this day could happen. Two years ago, Florida finally got online betting legalized until it was shut down quickly by the government. Two weeks ago, the Hard Rock app restarted taking sports bets. Now you don’t need a cellphone or computer — just wheels to get to the casino.

“In Florida, you really couldn’t bet sports in a casino," Fatone said. “You had to go to another state."

And that never made much sense for this tourism juggernaut. Same with craps — considered the most social of games — and roulette.

The first-ever roll of the dice was done by Osceola at 1:19 p.m. The tribe executive dished a 5 as a phalanx of bettors, including celebrities and high-rollers, surrounded the table. Another tribe executive spun the roulette wheel for the first time at Coconut Creek minutes later Thursday with the little marble landing on black 15.

All ceremonial “first bet" money was funneled to the “Hard Rock Heals” Foundation.

“Most people play slots and blackjack but a lot of people love craps," Allen said. It’s a very exciting game as is roulette. Sports betting is all across the United States — 39 states. We’re excited about it. It’s a great day for the tribe. It’s another step in the journey."

That business journey began in 1957 — referenced several times during the ceremony. That year, the Seminole Tribe was recognized by the U.S. government.

“We have had questions and more questions without answers for the last 2½ years," Osceola said. “We are successful in our endeavors. But the battle continues. Our ancestors made sacrifices. Today we are making history and want to make more history."

One hardened sports bettor, a snowbird from Rome, New York, wasn’t waving any pom-poms.

“It depends on what kind of payoffs they give us," said Bruce, who declined to give his last name. “What they pay in New York and what they pay in Caesar’s (in Las Vegas) and what they pay down here with the Seminoles. We’ll see what the parlays pay out and I’ll go from there."

A parlay is a string of three, four or five bets into one wager, needing to hit all of them to win a big payout.

While one Seminole official crowed, “It’s time to spend your money," Osceola warned, “But ease up on your bets. Don’t get out there all crazy the first time. Pace yourself."

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sports betting Seminole Tribe casinos start taking wagers