Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioHard Rock Bet has introduced a new product to its Florida sports betting app that visually resembles online slots. As online casino gambling remains illegal in the state, the product called “Games powered by Past Motor Races” uses the outcomes of real historical races, functioning similarly to historical horse racing (HHR) machines.
How It Works: Inside ‘Games Powered by Past Motor Races’
At first glance, the new titles appear to be slot games, including spinning reels, symbols, and themed animations. However, instead of relying on random number generator software, each result is determined by the outcomes of past motor racing events.
Players can open a results screen to view the actual race data. This includes the finishing order and how their selections aligned with those results.
According to Hard Rock Bet’s FAQ, “Games powered by Past Motor Races” is “a form of sports betting available in Florida where a player wagers on the outcomes of real past motor races as authorized by the 2021 Compact with the State of Florida.”
Each wager involves three past races. The players select the finishing order of the top four drivers in each category, totaling twelve positions. Payouts depend on the accuracy of those selections and the statistical likelihood of each driver finishing in that position.
Game Modes
- Manual Mode: Players manually select the finishing order of drivers for each of the three races using on-screen selection boxes.
- Quick Pick: The system automatically selects the finishing orders on the player’s behalf when they press the BET button.
- Quick Pick Auto: Players decide how many rounds to wager. The system automatically places those bets until the sequence is complete or a bonus feature triggers.
The results of the corresponding past races solely determine each wager, not by animations or symbols shown during gameplay.
Viewing Outcomes
Once the player places the wager, the game displays the outcome through animated video sequences. Players can press “Round Result” to see how their selections matched the real finishing orders.
The FAQ explains that the game highlights the drivers’ names, positions, and marks winning outcomes with a star. Crucially, the FAQ clarifies that “the game themes have no impact on the amount won, if any, by the player. The amount won is determined solely by the outcome of the sports wager on the past motor races.”
Legal Framework
Florida’s 2021 compact with the Seminole Tribe, which owns Hard Rock, authorizes wagering on past sporting events. It also gave the tribe a monopoly over sports betting in Florida. However, the compact, which is still challenged in court, does not authorize online casino gaming, which remains illegal in Florida.
The new “Games powered by Motor Races” leverages the provision for past sporting events to create a sportsbook licensed product that mimics a casino-style experience without being classified as online casino gaming.
Each wager is defined as a sports bet because it’s determined by the outcome of a real, historical sporting event, not by a random number generator. That difference helps the product avoid the state’s definition of a “game of chance.”
Another strategic move by Hard Rock is to base the games on past motor racing data, rather than historical horse racing.
In most states that permit HHR machines, the games operate under federal parimutuel wagering laws, which differ from both casino and sports-betting regulations.
By using past motor races instead of horse races, Hard Rock avoids parimutuel regulations and positions the product under its sports-betting compact.
Why it Matters
The new model introduces a potential precedent for blending sports-betting mechanics with casino-style presentation. If it withstands possible regulatory or legal challenges, it could pave the way for other similar products.
It could create a template for other tribes or commercial operators to expand casino-like products to states without legal online casinos. This is notable, as iGaming legalization has stalled in recent years. Rhode Island was the last state to authorize online casinos, with one platform launching in March 2024.
In the meantime, “Games powered by Past Motor Races” allows Florida users to play a slot-like product without the explicit legalization of iGaming.
