Hard Rock chief Jim Allen, whose company operates monopoly sports betting in Florida, US, has teased a commercial deal with sportsbook giants FanDuel and DraftKings.
Speaking to CNBC at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, the Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO said his company is “receptive” to conversations with the two sports betting operators.
“We do recognise that long term, some type of strategic relationship with some of the brands that really have marquee value could be helpful to both of us,” he added.
Flutter Entertainment brand FanDuel and DraftKings remain the top two brands in the US, but there remains a significant desire to enter Florida, Texas and California.
Hard Rock and the Seminole Tribe have faced a long-running battle to get their exclusive sports betting operation up and running due to a challenge from West Flagler Associates.
But in June, West Flagler was dealt a fresh blow by the US Supreme Court, which denied the company's petition.
West Flagler and Bonita-Fort Myers claimed that the Seminole Tribe’s ability to allow bets to be placed anywhere in Florida - when only the Seminole’s back-end technology is based on tribal lands - goes against the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which requires gaming to occur on tribal lands.
However, lawyers for Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed the compact into law, have said sports betting is different to casino gaming and is therefore not in violation of the regulations.
