Hard Rock Bet has added the two-time Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to its growing roster of Florida sports partners.
The Bucs have signed up the Sunshine State’s only authorized online sports betting platform as their official sportsbook in a multi-year deal.
The team said the deal will see Hard Rock Bet provide exclusive promotions and betting offers for Buccaneers fans in-person at Raymond James Stadium and on the Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook app across the Tampa Bay region and beyond. The operator will get signage at the team’s home arena and will feature in digital, CRM and social media campaigns throughout the season, while customers will get access to VIP experiences at the stadium and at Bucs’ off-site events.
“We’re always looking for ways to enhance the gameday experience and evolve with the needs of our fans,” said Buccaneers Chief Commercial Officer Atul Khosla. “With sports betting becoming an increasingly exciting part of the entertainment landscape, Hard Rock Bet has quickly emerged as an essential gameday touchpoint for our fans.
“This partnership brings the best of both worlds — exclusive opportunities and unique in-game app experiences — giving fans more ways to engage, whether they’re watching from home or cheering from their seat at Raymond James Stadium.”
Hard Rock Bet spokesperson Nick Menas noted that, given the two parties’ respective status in Florida and the fact that the Buccaneers are one of the most-bet-on teams on the operator’s sportsbook, the partnership made perfect sense.
“This partnership will elevate the way fans connect with the Buccaneers and bring our players closer to the action through exclusive experiences and unparalleled access,” added Menas. “We’re seeing the excitement around the team in the app — as the Buccaneers are among our most heavily bet teams — and are confident we’ll continue to see that level of engagement and enthusiasm throughout the partnership.”
Hard Rock strikes chord with Florida sports
Hard Rock Bet is operated by the Seminole Tribe, which has gaming exclusivity in the state. Given that it is the only recognized legal sportsbook in Florida, it’s unsurprising that it has somewhat cornered the market on sports partnerships there. It also has sponsorship deals with the Bucs’ fellow NFL franchises, the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as the NBA’s Miami Heat, the NHL’s Florida Panthers and the Daytona International Speedway.
All of those deals involve similar aspects such as in-stadium branding, digital and social marketing campaigns and exclusive offers or fan experiences.
As well as its deals with sports teams and events, Hard Rock Bet also counts Nascar hall-of-famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Inter Miami’s global soccer superstar Lionel Messi as brand ambassadors.
While it enjoys status as the monopolist sportsbook in Florida, Hard Rock Bet is also available in eight other U.S. states, most recently launching in Colorado in July 2025. One of its other states is Illinois, where, like multiple other operators, it responded to recent major tax changes by implementing a minimum bet stake.
