The group is trying to prevent the Seminole Tribe from taking over poker and other casino games
Legalized sports betting in Florida could again be delayed after the owners of one of the state’s oldest pari-mutuel facilities filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court on Monday. They seek to invalidate the state’s gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe, arguing it illegally expands gambling in the Sunshine State.
West Flagler Associates, Ltd., Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation and Isadore Havenick, former owner of Magic City Casino, filed this latest petition. The request asserts that the compact violated the Florida constitution by giving the tribe exclusive rights to offer online and retail sports betting.
The 30-year deal permits gamblers over 21 to use a mobile app to bet online or use pari-mutuels under contract with the tribe. The suit argues that due to a 2018 constitutional amendment approved by voters, gambling expansion in Florida can’t be legalized without voter approval and that the sports betting provisions of the compact are unconstitutional.
The agreement signed by Gov. DeSantis required the tribe to operate a so-called “hub-and-spoke” sports betting model, which accepts online sports bets anywhere in the state using servers on tribal land.
In June, a federal appeals court reversed a November 2021 decision by a lower court that ruled the compact violated federal Indian gaming law. It also ordered the Department of Interior to reinstate the agreement, giving the tribe a monopoly on Florida sports betting.
After the June decision by the appellate court, the Seminole Tribe began planning for a relaunch of the Hard Rock sports betting app but hasn’t announced a target date.
West Flagler is also challenging the court’s ruling, asking the US Supreme Court to review the case and pause the launch of any sports book operation in Florida, arguing that it will be a “blueprint for expanding gaming outside of Indian lands.”
Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.
