There has been a long-standing legal impasse involving the Seminole Tribe and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida that originated back in 2021. This revolves around a gaming compact that has become entangled in a lengthy courtroom dispute. In essence, this arrangement allowed the Tribe to facilitate online sports wagers across the state, provided that the necessary computer servers are located within Indian territories. A Florida-based pari-mutuel firm, West Flagler Associates, initiated a lawsuit claiming that the compact contravened the provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
Years passed as the legal complications dragged on, eventually leading to a momentous decision from the US Supreme Court in November, partially resolving the issue. The Court upheld a ruling from the DC Circuit US Court of Appeals, indicating that the gaming compact between the Tribe and the state sanctioned sports betting conducted on Indian lands. For online sports wagers, the DC Circuit concluded that such activities fell under a separate agreement between the Tribe and the state, to which the IGRA was not applicable.
Post the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Seminole Tribe revived Hard Rock Bet in December. Essentially, it became the sole betting platform accessible to patrons in the state.
Despite the seeming resolution of the legal dispute, recent reports hint at West Flagler pursuing further legal recourse via a writ of certiorari. PlayUSA announced that the pari-mutuel firm has asked the US Supreme Court to examine the legality of the Seminole Tribe’s gaming compact with Florida.
Challenging the Legality of The Gaming Compact by The Pari-Mutuel Company
In its recent legal appeal, West Flagler is challenging whether the Department of Interior correctly permitted the gaming compact under the IGRA, specifically where it allows online sports wagering beyond tribal lands. The said compact gave the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights over online sports betting within the state, against which West Flagler contests as being a violation of the IGRA.
The writ of certiorari filed on Thursday raises several inquiries for the US Supreme Court. It questions if the sanctioned gaming compact under the IGRA contravenes the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, given it endorses sports betting via internet from locations outside the tribal lands.
Furthermore, West Flagler questioned if the approval of the gaming compact breached the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, given it allows the Seminole Tribe a monopoly on online sports betting.
The company also highlighted a point concerning the tribe-state compact under the IGRA. They have questioned the Supreme Court whether the IGRA sanctioned compact enables an online sports betting monopoly across Florida outside of the Tribal lands.
Regardless of this new legal move, it remains uncertain if the US Supreme Court would opt to revisit the aforementioned legal argument.
