Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook - Making March Madness a Little Less Crazy (In a Good Way)

March Madness can be, well—a little crazy at times. But when it comes to placing a bet, crazy is the last thing you want. You want to know that your bet is in, you don’t want to feel rushed, nor do you want to miss any of the game if you can help it. 

You want the game and tournament to represent March Madness, not placing a bet. Because if you lose a bet (or don’t win one you should), madness may ensue (and not in a good way).

During the opening weekend of the 2024 NCAAM Tournament, I was fortunate enough to be in Hollywood, Florida, enjoying the March Madness action at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Sports betting had just launched in Florida in December, so the sportsbook was open for business, there were giant televisions all over the sports bar, and the Hard Rock Bet mobile app was up and running.

Take a look at our full in depth review of Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook and sign up to start betting at Hard Rock below.

My Hard Rock Sportsbook Experience

I've been betting on sports for the last few years but had yet to set foot in a retail sportsbook. As a longtime sports betting writer, I walked in with a few expectations but did my best to approach things with an open mind.

First things first—it was time to place a bet. The counter wasn't too busy, so I didn't have to wait long for someone to help me. As a first timer, I had a million questions, which the ticket writer answered clearly and sufficiently.

The process of placing a bet was not difficult, but I didn't want to lose (or not win) because I didn't do something right. With the help of the ticket writer, I was confident that would not be an issue as I walked to my table.

My picks on the other hand…

However, the ticket writer did suggest one thing. Rather than take the time to come to the counter to place a bet, he suggested I use one of the kiosks on the side wall of the bar or download the app and bet from my phone. That way, I wouldn't miss the games.

There was always a kiosk open whenever I looked, but as someone who reviews online betting apps for a living, I wanted to put the Hard Rock Bet app to the test.

Hard Rock Bet Mobile App

The app was available for iOS and Android users and downloaded quickly and easily to my phone. Time to sign up. When I opened the app, this is what I saw.

So, I clicked on the purple 'Sign Up' button, which took me to this screen:

I followed the prompts screen by screen to complete the registration process:

At that point, I saw this screen:

So, I claimed my No Regret First Bet, made my deposit, and I was ready to go! The whole process took about three minutes (approximately one commercial break).

Claim Your No Regret First Bet at Hard Rock

Overall Impression of the Hard Rock Sportsbook

The retail sportsbook inside the casino was great; I have no complaints whatsoever. Betting at the counter was quick and easy, service inside the bar was efficient and timely, and with televisions of different shapes and sizes everywhere, it was easy to keep up with the action.

But we live in a digital age, and betting via the Hard Rock Bet app was just so much easier. The app was easy to download and even more straightforward to navigate. The interface was clean, easy to understand, and I never saw the app glitch once.

My deposit was processed immediately; my withdrawal was not processed immediately, but it didn't take long.

As for markets, the betting menu is extensive, with all the usual North American and international sports and niche markets like snooker, handball, and darts.

The live betting options are excellent, the cash-out feature is fantastic, and the same-game parlay builder is smooth. The 'flex' parlay option was great; it allows users to cash out of parlays early if they haven't lost a leg.

I'm not crazy about second-chance promos like the 'No Regret First Bet' they offer, but they're the industry norm, so it's hard to complain too much.

My only criticism is that the No Regret Bet's value topped out at $100 and that they issued the bonus bet to you as a single token. I'm more likely to remain engaged with the app if you break that up into four $25 tokens. That way, I have four more chances to win a bet rather than just one.

In short, the app made betting so easy, the only madness was a result of my terrible picks.