Hard Rock Bet Florida’s ‘Games Powered By Past Motor Races’ Blur Lines Of Sports Betting And Online Casinos

This week Hard Rock Bet in Florida announced the debut of a new product called, “Games powered by Past Motor Races.”

If the name is a bit perplexing, it is because the games themselves are also quite perplexing.

On the surface to the casual user, these games look, act, and sound like online casino slots. However, the mechanics of the product differ in a way for Hard Rock Bet to be able to qualify them as a form of sports betting, as online casinos are illegal in the state of Florida, per the current gaming compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe.

It’s an interesting development that appears to test where the line will be drawn between regulators and operators. Should this stand, it could spark other operators in states where iGaming isn’t legal to also look into developing a similar product.

Here’s a further breakdown as to what Hard Rock Bet’s “Games powered by Past Motor Races” are, including firsthand experience as to how it operates by a user in Florida.

How “Games Powered by Past Motor Races” Works

This new product has been offered to select Hard Rock Bet users in Florida.

Promoted as “real money games” users pick through about two dozen titles to play. These titles are actual real online slot games that are available at other operators where online casinos are legal.

When the game is selected, users have the option to pick an auto spin, set several auto spins, or opt for a manual selection.

The manual selection is available as these games don’t use the standard random number generator (RNG) to determine the outcomes. Instead outcomes are determined by finishing order of past motor races. These are historical motor races through time with real results. The driver selection and finish have odds set to them, so the order in which a user picks out the three races determines their odds for that particular bet.

Once set, the result plays out in an animation that looks like the spin of an online slot, animation and all. However, the animation is just for show, as the result is predetermined by the player’s manual or auto selections.  The process is similar to that of historical horse racing (HHR).

Users can see their actual results by the three historical races while playing the game, as they are shown on a grid while revealing when the race took place in history.

Each “spin” or “wager” has a $1 minimum, which is the minimum allowed by Hard Rock Bet for any sports wager.

Real Online Slot Titles Used by Hard Rock Bet

If this sounds confusing, it is because it is.

To an average user, these games appear to be the launch of online slots in Florida.

Part of that is because the games or “sports bets” advertised are real slot games available in legal states at legal operators like Hollywood Casino or betPARX.

The over 20+ titles include Buffalo Blitz, Oink Oink Oink, Leprechaun’s Luck, and more.

Below are screenshots from a user in Florida as to what Hard Rock Bet is offering.

Some of these titles come from game manufacturer Playtech. Sports Betting Dime reached out to Playtech for comment about their games being used in this “sports betting” format, but have not received an immediate response.

First-Hand Gameplay Confuses Player

When it comes to gameplay, a user in Florida communicated with Sports Betting Dime that the games resembled an online slot.

They opted to use the “auto spin” on Oink Oink Oink. When clicking on the auto option, the reels spun like they would at a legal online casino. The user did this about five times, with each play resembling a slot spin. It wasn’t until accessing the game results option that they received the past motor race results and saw how their spin outcomes were determined.

The user noted that they would have no idea how their results were decided otherwise. They also indicated that using the “manual” option to pick outcomes looked too confusing and overwhelming to attempt to figure out.

Hard Rock Bet is an operator known for being attentive to its customers, so I am sure they will continue to develop the product and communication to make things easier for users to understand. This has started as a limited rollout, so feedback is likely welcome for them to make “Games powered by Past Motor Races” as strong as it can be before fully releasing to the Florida public.

Could Hard Rock Bet Start a New Trend

This new product definitely goes a long way to give Hard Rock Bet access to a product that has all the appearance of online slots while still fitting into to the current gaming compact between the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe.

These games have a resemblance to digital instant games at online lotteries around the US as well. They have the look and feel of a slot game, but each spin is just an animation of a predetermined outcome, as opposed to using a RNG like online casinos do. But, like online slots, online lottery is also illegal in Florida.

Sports Betting Dime reached out to the Florida Gaming Commission (FGC) for comment on this latest Hard Rock Bet product, but didn’t receive an immediate response.

Hard Rock Bet would have to receive clearance from the FGC to release the product, so it could open the door for other online sportsbook operators to look into creating similar products in states where online casinos aren’t legal.

It could be tougher in other states with multiple operators, as Hard Rock Bet is the only legal online sports betting app in Florida.

What Hard Rock Bet Says About “Games Powered by Past Motor Races”

After reading through this, we felt it was best to also give a full explanation straight from the sportsbook’s mouth.

Here is the comprehensive FAQ that Hard Rock Bet has on its app in regards to “Games powered by Past Motor Races.”

What is Games powered by Past Motor Races?

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. The outcomes of those wagers are shown to the player using entertaining video depictions

For each wager, a player selects the finishing order of the drivers in each of the three past motor races. The calculation of the player payout (if any) for each wager is determined by both the player’s successful selections of the finishing orders of the drivers in each of the three races and the probabilities of the drivers that were selected to finish in a particular finishing order based on the statistics of such drivers as presented to the player.

What are the Game Modes?

Quick Pick

Players press the BET button for each wager and the finishing order of the drivers is selected on behalf of the player. Each wager is solely determined by the outcome of the applicable past motor races with the outcome of the wager then depicted in each game theme.

Quick Pick Auto

Auto players can select how many times they would like to wager on sets of three past motor races. The wagers will then proceed automatically until the chosen number is complete or a feature is triggered, and the finishing order of the drivers is selected on behalf of the player. Each wager is solely determined by the outcome of applicable past motor races with the outcome of the wager then depicted in each game theme.

Manual Mode

Players manually select the finishing order of drivers in each of the three past motor races using visual selection boxes. Once selections are made, players press the BET button to confirm a wager. Each wager is solely determined by the outcome of the applicable past motor races with the outcome of the wager then depicted in each game theme.

How do I view wager outcomes?

After your wager is placed, the game theme displays the sports wager outcome through the entertaining video depictions.

• Select the Round Result button to view the outcome.
• You can move between all three past motor races to view finishing orders.
• The display will highlight the sports wager outcome for the applicable races, displaying the final races order.
• If your selections result in a winning wager, the sports wager outcome will be displayed by highlighting the driver’s name and position, along with a star above the graphical representation.

How do wagers and payouts work?

Each wager is determined by the results of three past motor races and the player’s selection of the top four finishers in each race (12 total positions). The calculation of the player payout (if any) for each wager is determined by both the player’s successful selections of the finishing order of the drivers in each of the three races and the probabilities of the drivers that were selected to finish in a particular finishing order based on the statistics of such drivers as presented to the player. The paytable for each wager can be found in Manual Mode when players manually select the finishing order of drivers in each of the three past motor races.

Where do I find my results and payout details?

To review your past wager outcomes and payouts:

1.Open the Menu

• Tap Menu -> Paytable

2. Select a Wager

• Each sports wager outcome displays:
• Wager ID
• Date and time
• Starting balance
• Wager Amount
• Win Amount
• Ending balance

3. View Visual Outcome Details

• Tap any individual wager to see how the game theme visually represented your result
• You’ll see which images, free spins, or bonus icons displayed the outcome and payout value in the applicable game theme. However, the game themes have no impact on the amount won, if any, by the player. Instead, the amount won is determined solely by the outcome of the sports wager on the past motor races.

How do I understand the visual representations?

Once your sports wager outcome is determined, the game theme displays a visual representation of that result.

These visuals can include icons, free spins, or bonus rounds, representing your win amount from the results of the three past motor races.

The visuals are purely for entertainment and correspond directly to your sports wager outcome. The entertaining video depictions have no impact on the amount won, if any, by the player. Instead, the amount won is determined solely by the outcome of the sports wager on the past motor races.