Hard Rock Bet introduces Florida-only game using NASCAR race data

Hard Rock Bet has launched a new gaming product in Florida that merges elements of sports wagering and slot play.

The release is allowed through the 2021 compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state, granting the tribe exclusive rights to operate sports betting.

The 21-game suite, launched last week, mimics online slot machines but determines results from two decades of NASCAR race outcomes instead of random number generators.

While online casino gaming is illegal in Florida, Hard Rock classifies the games as sports wagers. The company cited language in the compact allowing bets on “any past or future sports or athletic event,” including “any motor vehicle race.” Playtech supplies the race data for the platform.

NASCAR, whose historical results are used, told Casino Reports it was unaware of the product’s launch. Legal precedent suggests the league lacks ownership of the results. In C.B.C. Distribution vs. MLB Advanced Media, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that player data and performance statistics fall within the public domain.

Gaming outlets have reported that the company believes no data license is required, drawing a comparison to historical horse racing (HHR) systems. Its terms describe the slot-like interface as “entertaining video depictions.” No NASCAR trademarks are used, though drivers’ names, numbers, and past race titles appear.

Under Nat’l Basketball Ass’n v. Motorola, Inc. (1997), factual information such as sports results is not copyrightable, though compiled data may receive limited protection. Florida’s publicity-rights law also restricts the commercial use of a person’s name without consent.

Industry observers said the product represents a novel approach to using historical race data in wagering.

Like HHR, Hard Rock’s games rely on past race results rather than random outcomes. Players select finishing positions from a database of races, and payouts depend on how many selections match actual results.

Hard Rock stated that the compact authorizes the use of historical data. The company previously paused its first mobile betting operation in Florida for nearly two years during legal challenges, signaling a cautious regulatory approach.

The 30-year compact allows “any new game authorized by Florida law for any person for any purpose.” It also requires that all data used for wagering be “complete, accurate, reliable, timely, and available.”

For now, the new product remains exclusive to Florida. Hard Rock has not introduced it in the other eight states where it holds sports betting licenses.