A new development has emerged in the Florida sports betting case with the Department of the Interior (DOI) opposing the stay request submitted by West Flagler and Associates for the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. The court decision was in favour of the DOI and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the continued stern positions from both sides did little to defuse the situation.
The Court Proceedings Persist
The focal point of the disagreement is Florida’s deal with the Seminole Tribe to present Hard Rock Bet to Floridians, specifically outside state lands. Despite West Flagler’s right to scrutinize the nature of the agreement, the DOI states that it has no obligation to participate in this issue. They insist that it is a matter for the state of Florida and state courts to address.
West Flagler has until October 2 to respond to the DOI’s submissions. The subsequent step will be for the court to make a judgement on the stay. If the request to stay is denied, it could potentially open doors to the introduction of Hard Rock Bet in Florida. The DOI was certain that the existing court decision was justifiable, as it elucidated a confined segment in one specific Compact under IGRA.
Because any such petition could present no serious question for Supreme Court review, a stay is unnecessary.
DOI comment
West Flagler also indicated its plan to apply for a writ of certiorari. The group must file its petition by December 11. After this action, the DOI and the Seminole Tribe will have 30 days to reply before the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) determines whether to hear the case.
Florida’s Sports Betting Future is Up in the Air
The decision of the Court of Appeals will likely determine the course of sports betting in Florida. Despite the legal hurdle, the Seminole Tribe reasserted their intention to reintroduce the betting offering through the Hard Rock brand. As the legal contest has been extended for several months, West Flagler is coming towards the end of possible routes to oppose the court’s decision suggesting the saga might be coming to final stages.
The Seminole Tribe currently has a 30-year deal with the state of Florida, which gives it a monopoly on all sports betting. The deal also mandates the tribe to pay the state a minimum of $2.5 billion in the deal’s initial five years. Nevertheless, all plans are presently on hold due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
The result of this legal tussle will greatly affect the future of sports betting in Florida and will elucidate the application of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Even though the present situation is favouring the Seminole Tribe, both sides are anxiously awaiting the court’s decision on the stay request, with the ultimate resolution of the case still being unpredictable.
