Florida’s Supreme Court Rejects Online Sports Betting Case

A gaming compact signed between Florida and the Seminole Tribe has been subject to a legal dispute for years. The legal battle is led by West Flagler and Associates (WFA) along with Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation, two pari-mutuel companies in the state. The duo challenged the legality of the compact that allowed the Seminole Tribe to operate statewide sports betting.

In the latest episode of the legal battle, the Supreme Court in Florida, the highest court in the state, ruled against the companies’ request that challenged the compact. The Florida Supreme Court confirmed that the companies did not file the right type of petition while seeking to challenge the legality of the compact between Florida and the Seminole Tribe, as announced by the Associated Press.

Despite the decision, the two pari-mutuel companies have the option to file for a rehearing. Besides the Florida Supreme Court, the companies have raised the issue with the US Supreme Court as well. Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court extended the deadline for the submission of a response by the US Department of Interior (DOI) regarding the betting case. While the initial deadline was set for March 13, the DOI was given until April 12, 2024, to submit its response.

The Legal Hurdle Continues

It is not a surprise that West Flagler and Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation are challenging the contradictory gaming compact in Florida. This is because the compact, signed under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, granted the Seminole Tribe exclusivity over online and retail sports betting. In other words, there are potentially millions at stake for this contract.

The two pari-mutuel companies that challenged the compact claimed that the state granted the Tribe exclusivity for statewide sports betting via a loophole. This was achieved considering that the servers required for sports betting are located within tribal lands. However, West Flagler argued that the compact violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Under IGRA, gambling activities are restricted to Tribal lands, which means that the Tribe should not be able to offer betting statewide.

In contrast to West Flagler’s position, Gov. DeSantis’ defense said that the IGRA applies to casino gambling and not sports betting. While the legal hurdles continue, the Seminole Tribe relaunched Hard Rock Bet back in December.