Legal Battle Continues over Online Sports Betting in Florida
Date: 2024-03-12 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: SPORTS BETTING
Challenging the Gaming Compact
In 2021, Florida signed a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe, allowing statewide legal mobile sports betting. However, Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation and West Flagler and Associates contested the compact's legality, claiming it bypassed the state constitution.
Loophole Allegations
The two companies argued that the Tribe's exclusivity for mobile betting relied on a loophole, permitting wagers statewide if servers were on tribal lands. They accused the compact of evading constitutional referendum requirements.
Legal Battle Escalates
West Flagler filed a lawsuit, alleging the compact violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by extending gambling activities beyond tribal lands. Despite initial setbacks, the case reached the US Supreme Court, prompting an extended deadline for the Department of Interior's response.
Uncertain Future
The outcome remains uncertain, as the Supreme Court reviews only a fraction of lawsuits. West Flagler hopes for a favorable ruling, potentially reshaping Florida's betting landscape. Currently, the Seminole Tribe operates the sole legal sportsbook in the state, Hard Rock Bet.
