Posted on: October 13, 2023, 11:43h.
Last updated on: October 13, 2023, 11:43h.
It seems like legal sports betting may not be coming to Florida anytime soon.
The Supreme Court has temporarily halted a proposed sportsbook opening by the Seminole Tribe in Florida while it reviews an appeal from local gambling companies opposing the arrangement.
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a stay in response to West Flagler Associates and Bonia-Fort Myers Corporation’s request. These companies operate a South Florida pari-mutuel betting establishment.
This delay will further postpone the legalization of sports betting in Florida. If the high court decides to take on the case, it will likely not be resolved until next year. This means that bettors may not have access to legal sportsbooks until after the current NFL season or even next year’s March Madness college basketball tournament, which are typically busy times for sportsbooks.
A Lengthy Legal Battle
Over the past two years, West Flagler has been working to overturn a 2021 agreement between the Seminole Tribe and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. This agreement would have given the tribe a monopoly on sports betting in the state. In addition to allowing sportsbooks in the tribe’s Hard Rock casinos, the gaming compact would have also allowed online and mobile betting within Florida.
West Flagler sued in federal court, claiming that the agreement allowed for off-reservation gaming, which is prohibited by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Florida, the Interior Department, and the tribe argued that online betting was legal because the computer servers accepting the bets were located on tribal land.
Legal sports betting was briefly available in Florida for three weeks in November 2021 before a federal judge intervened and blocked the compact. The decision was later overturned on appeal, and the case was not reheard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Washington, D.C. circuit. This brought hope to local gamblers.
Now, the future of sports betting in Florida is uncertain once again.
What’s Next?
Chief Justice Roberts did not provide a reason for his decision. He has requested a response from the Interior Department regarding West Flagler’s stay request by October 18.
West Flagler plans to file a petition for certiorari by November 20, asking the court to take up the case.
Meanwhile, the company is also pursuing a separate legal path in the Florida Supreme Court to try and invalidate the gaming compact. The court has asked Governor DeSantis’ office to respond by November 21.