Seminoles Launch Mobile Sports Betting In FloridaOpponents Seek To Block With More Legal Wranglings Coming |
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The ever-changing Florida sports betting battle took another turn this week. After announcing that retail sports wagering would be returning to the tribe’s casinos in December, the Seminoles revealed this week that mobile wagering would be returning as well.
That move quickly brought a response by the longtime plaintiffs in the case, Magic City Casino and the Bonita Springs Poker Room, known as West Flagler Associates in legal filings, asking the state supreme court to suspend operations until the court rules on whether the tribe’s mobile betting violates a state law banning gaming expansion in the state.
“This launch was not previously announced and came as a surprise,” the plaintiffs noted in court filings. “The widespread understanding was that the references to sports betting were in-person sports betting.
“Taking advantage of the distraction created by their carefully crafted announcement on Nov. 1, the tribe has sought to surprise the Petitioners and this Court by presenting a ‘fait accompli’ on Nov. 7.”
Latest Seminole Betting Plans
According to media reports, mobile betting resumed beginning Tuesday for players who already had accounts when the platform operated briefly two years ago. The platform wouldn’t quite be open for all players yet, however.
“The Seminole Tribe is offering limited access to existing Florida customers to test its Hard Rock Bet platform,” spokesman Gary Bitner said.
The Hard Rock Bet website also offers a waiting list for bettors seeking early access through the company’s loyalty program. However, West Flagler’s move is meant to curtail those plans if the court allows for an injunction.
More Legal Maneuvers Possible
The state supreme court has yet to announce a decision in West Flagler’s attempt to nullify the expansion of mobile wagering as part of the state’s compact with the Seminoles. Gaming expert and attorney Daniel Wallach believes the tribe has a good chance of winning.
“I think Gov. DeSantis is going to prevail in the case brought against him because he appointed five out of the seven Florida Supreme Court justices, and they’ve never ruled against him on a similar kind of motion,” Wallach told FOX-13.
However, despite recently passing on reviewing the case at the federal level, Wallach believes the Supreme Court may decide to review the issues involved with the equal protection aspects of the case. Plaintiffs have argued that the state’s compact with the Seminoles violates this part of the Constitution by granting “an Indian tribe a statewide monopoly to conduct online sports gaming while simultaneously making such conduct a felony if done by anyone of a different race, ancestry, ethnicity, or national origin.”
Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed some agreement with that argument and Wallach believes the court could take a look once the state issues play out.
“The real action is going to be in the U.S. Supreme Court,” Wallach said. “The next decision, though, is going to be from the Florida Supreme Court. Look at it in increments. Probably between now and Thanksgiving sports betting is here to stay. Afterward it really does hinge on how different courts rule.”
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