The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has formally requested for an extension in the ongoing Florida sports wagering case before the Supreme Court of the United States. The DOI was initially slated to deliver a response to the petition for a writ of certiorari brought forward by two Florida parimutuel operators by 12th April. However, due to temporary unavailability of its lawyers, the DOI now seeks to delay this until the 12th of May.
Continued Legal Wrangling
The legal complication centers around the question of whether the Secretary of the Department of Interior, Deb Haaland, had the inherent power to endorse the 2021 gaming pact between Florida and the Seminole Tribe, the source of consistent legal confrontations over several years. This agreement allows any bets made throughout Florida to be considered as if placed on tribal land, as long as they go via a tribal server.
The legality of the compact under Amendment 3, which was endorsed by Florida voters in 2018, is another aspect of the case being disputed. It mandates that any extension of gambling activities must be authorized by a referendum. West Flagler and Associates along with Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation aim to confront the Seminole Tribe’s exclusive control over gambling in Florida, arguing on grounds of unconstitutionality.
A writ of certiorari acts as a formal request for the Supreme Court to reassess a ruling made by a lower court. In this specific case, the request is regarding the DC Circuit’s June 2023 judgment validating the legality of the gaming pact between the Seminole Tribe and Florida despite objections from federal bodies. However, any acceptance by the Supreme Court remains to be seen as its intervention is sparing and usually reserved for extraordinary circumstances.
Possible Conclusion of the Dispute Looms
With the DOJ’s counsel inundated with multiple other cases at the Supreme Court, an extension appeal appears to have become inevitable. This delay implies that a resolution regarding the case’s merits will most likely be postponed until the subsequent session, commencing in October 2024. The delay will extend the duration of the legal tussle to over three years since its inception.
The counsel responsible for the detailed preparation of the government’s response prevailed due to numerous issues coming before the Court.
DOI extension request
After the Supreme Court of Florida refused to entertain an associated case put forth by West Flanger last month, parties involved ponder on the likelihood of a Supreme Court intervention. This is attributed to the case’s wider-reaching consequences regarding tribal autonomy. While a definitive outcome is yet to be established, such a move could result in the extension of the ongoing lawsuit into 2025.
Next, the subsequent step in the Florida sports wagering case encompasses the DOI submitting its reaction. The two operators implicated in this case chose not to oppose the government’s demand for an extension, making it probable that a decision on whether the case will be heard will be passed in October. Meanwhile, the Seminole tribe will persist in operating its sports betting enterprise.
