The gaming compact inked between Florida and the Seminole Tribe has been at the center of what appeared to be a never-ending legal dispute in the last few years.
Currently, West Flagler wants to ensure that the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is familiar with the Florida Supreme Court’s fresh response to the group’s challenge to sports betting in The Sunshine State.
Background Story
The legal battle, which was led by West Flagler and Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation, was aimed at challenging the legality of the compact that enabled the Seminole Tribe to operate statewide sports betting.
Toward the end of March, the Supreme Court in Florida, which is the highest court in the state, ruled against the companies’ request.
The court confirmed that, by choosing to file the quo warranto petition, the companies did not make the right decision, which led to the ruling.
Currently, West Flagler is interested in emphasizing the way the court’s decision described the nature of the gaming compact in its ruling.
The group pointed out to SCOTUS that the filing described the compact as one that “authorizes mobile sports betting by which participants may place sports wagers with the Seminole Tribe through a mobile device,” among other gaming forms.
The description went forward explaining that participants “may be physically located” anywhere in the state when placing their wagers and that they are not limited to tribal lands.
The decision also mentioned that “regardless of where the bets are placed, the wagers are ‘deemed’ to occur on tribal lands.”
The Description Goes Against the DC Circuit Court’s Categorizing
According to West Flagler’s filing, the respective description goes against the federal D.C. Circuit Court categorized the gaming compact.
In the respective ruling, the court put the focus on what was allowed on tribal lands, explaining that the compact did not extend gaming off these lands on its own.
In the current context of the state court case being resolved, West Flagler believes SCOTUS would be the suitable place to challenge the compact since there are no concurrent cases open statewide for the time being.
At the moment, West Flagler is patiently waiting to see if a minimum of four justices would be interested in accepting the case and granting a court challenge of the legal decision.
Considering previous filings, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh might be interested in taking up the case.