The Florida Supreme Courtroom won’t halt sports activities betting within the state whereas a authorized battle over the Seminole Tribe’s monopoly continues.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida owns the Arduous Rock on line casino model, above. On Friday, the Florida Supreme Courtroom stated it might not cease the tribe from providing sports activities betting within the state whereas a authorized battle continues. (Picture: Seminole Arduous Rock Tampa)
In a brief order Friday, the court docket denied a request from pari-mutuel operators West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. to droop sports activities betting and expedite a decision to the case. The unanimous order didn’t present reasoning for the court docket’s resolution.
West Flagler has requested the court docket to invalidate a tribal gaming compact the Seminole Tribe reached with the state in 2021. The gaming compact, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and endorsed by the state legislature, allowed the tribe to increase the video games supplied at its casinos within the state and gave it unique entry to cell sports activities betting.
Sports activities betting in Florida has been in limbo for many of the previous two years, as West Flagler fought the tribal gaming compact in federal court docket. The U.S. Supreme Courtroom in October let the compact take impact, and the tribe final week launched its Arduous Rock Bets cell sportsbook within the Sunshine State.
Case Continues
Whereas Friday’s order is a discouraging signal for opponents of the sports activities betting association, it’s not the tip of the highway for West Flagler and Bonita-Fort Myers. The underlying case will proceed, with a ruling anticipated someday subsequent yr.
Opponents of the compact say it violates the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the state’s structure by permitting the tribe to supply entry to gaming off of its reservation. Supporters of the association say it’s authorized so long as the cell sportsbook is hosted on server situated on Seminole land.
West Flagler owns the Bonita Springs Poker Room in southwest Florida. It additionally, till not too long ago, owned the Magic Metropolis On line casino in Miami. The corporate stated in its request for expedited motion in state court docket that the tribe stands to probably earn thousands and thousands from exercise that the court docket might ultimately discover to be unconstitutional.
Expanded Entry Anticipated
Within the meantime, cell sports activities betting is more likely to increase for Floridians. Beginning final week, Arduous Rock Bets allowed choose prospects to start inserting bets.
The chance was restricted to those that had opened an account in the course of the few weeks the platform was on-line in 2021 or who belonged to the loyalty program for patrons of Arduous Rock casinos. New prospects can join a wait record.
Along with sports activities betting, the tribe’s on line casino choices are also increasing to incorporate craps and roulette beneath the phrases of the 2021 compact. These video games are being rolled out on the six tribal casinos within the state starting subsequent month.
