Opponents of the Seminole Tribe’s operation of online sports betting suffered defeat on Thursday as the state’s Supreme Court ruled against their latest challenge to the agreement between the tribal nation and the state government, which permits the addition of this gambling activity.
The court determined that the opponents had submitted an incorrect petition type to contest the compact, which allows for various forms of gambling, including online sports betting, The Associated Press reported.
The agreement, forged between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration, is anticipated to generate substantial revenue, reaching into the hundreds of millions of dollars for both the tribe and the state.
This ruling marks another defeat for West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation, entities operating racetracks and poker rooms within the state. Their legal battle against the compact extends to federal court, with a petition also submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court for consideration.
The firms contest that the compact, enacted in 2021, effectively grants the tribe a monopoly on sports betting and circumvents a voter-approved requirement from 2018, mandating a citizen initiative for any expansion of casino gambling beyond tribal territories. They argue that the authorization of off-tribal land sports betting exceeds the powers of both Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature.
Questions also linger regarding the legality of online sports betting hosted on tribal lands when it’s only the computer servers that are located there, as wagers are placed through mobile devices and computers from across Florida.
The tribe has argued that the legislature has the authority to decide where online gambling is initiated and asserts that the constitutional amendment does not alter this prerogative.
Representatives for Governor DeSantis and legislative leaders maintain that sports betting falls outside the purview of casino gambling, thus not violating the constitutional amendment.
Having commenced its online sports betting operations in late 2023, the Seminole Tribe has already contributed over $120 million to Florida’s revenue in 2024. State economists project a substantial revenue share from tribal gaming, estimated to reach $4.4 billion by the end of the decade.
