Once taboo, sports betting has now found itself as a part of mainstream sports media with its presence felt via TV ads during big games, live game odds displayed on NFL broadcasts, and a surge in sports betting content on social media.
As more and more states legalize sports betting, the interest in these once hush-hush betting companies has skyrocketed. People are now taking interest in whether or not their state allows online betting, and if they do, who to place their bets with.
When it comes to a larger state like Florida, it can be a tricky and competitive process to determine which betting companies will be awarded licenses to operate. For example, New York is another large state that has just gone through the process of awarding the licenses for betting companies to operate. The sports betting sites in New York that were approved for licenses had to go through a lengthy process where the betting companies worked together to submit joint bids to the New York State Gaming Commission. With the two markets very similar in population size, it’s possible that a similar course of action will be taken in Florida when the time comes for betting companies to stake their claim of the Florida betting market.
As Florida is now on the cusp of legalizing sports betting, we take a look into the top 5 sportsbooks we are hoping to see when sports betting is officially launched here in the Sunshine State.
5. BetMGM
MGM Resorts is best known for its world-class casinos and hotels, but did you also know that they have stepped into the world of online gambling? Using their prestigious history in the industry, they have developed a top-tier betting platform for the more straightforward bettor. We’ve also seen BetMGM partner up with NFL franchises like the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals in other legal sports betting states, so the possibility of a potential partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly exists and would be very exciting for Bucs fans.
4. Fubo Sportsbook
Fubo Sportsbook is certainly one of the lesser-known operators on this list, but I think it has the potential to become one of the more popular betting platforms if it can properly execute what Fubo is promising. FuboTV is most commonly known as a sports-focused tv streaming service, however, they have decided to follow other popular streaming/broadcasting companies by branching out and creating a sportsbook. What separates Fubo Sportsbook from other extensions of broadcasting companies such as Fox Bet and Bally Bet, is that Fubo Sportsbook is planning to fully integrate its streaming services with its sports betting platform. Meaning, with a fuboTV subscription you’ll be able to place your bets and watch all your favorite sports in the same place. This sounds like it has real potential if it can be executed properly, and for this reason, it would be very exciting to see Fubo Sportsbook as an option here in Florida.
3. DraftKings Sportsbook
One of the “Big Dogs” in US sports betting is DraftKings, a brand I’m sure many of you are already familiar with thanks to their aggressive marketing on mainstream TV and social media. They’ve been operating for a long time, providing participants with top-tier Daily Fantasy Sports, the legality of which as a skill-based game against gambling has been hotly contested in several states. However, with the legalization of online sports betting in the United States, they have not skipped a beat in becoming an industry leader, leveraging their popular status and deep pockets to acquire market access in many, if not the majority, of the states where sports betting is permitted. We would be quite surprised to not see DraftKings in Florida eventually.
2. FanDuel
FanDuel, like DraftKings, is an immensely popular and well-known brand for sports betting in the United States. They, too, have a lengthy history of offering Daily Fantasy Sports in a variety of states around the country. FanDuel is now owned by Flutter Entertainment, a large parent company that also owns and operates popular betting sites such as Paddy Power and Sky Bet in the United Kingdom. This means that FanDuel has the resources to build a top-tier product as well as the power and influence to gain market access almost anywhere they want.
1. PointsBet
Originally hailing from the land down under, PointsBet has been following an aggressive plan to extend its brand into the US market. And for the most part, it has been going quite well for them. The thing that makes PointsBet great is their attention to quality. Their app is very user-friendly, looks nice, and most of all is ridiculously fun to use when betting. They also have this innovative trademark feature called PointsBetting, which essentially is a revolutionary betting concept in which winnings are decided by the accuracy of a bet rather than the ultimate outcome. For the sake of variety and quality, we would love to see PointsBet continue their US take-over here in the Sunshine State.