Florida Defends Staked Gambling Agreement in Court Against fresh Legal Challenge
Florida's Mobile Sports Betting Deal with Seminole Tribe Faces Legal Challenges
In a legal battle that could shape the future of gambling in Florida, the state's mobile sports betting deal with the Seminole Tribe is currently being contested in court. The deal, which grants the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights to operate statewide online sports betting via the Hard Rock Bet platform, has been challenged on the grounds that it violates Amendment 3, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that restricts gambling expansions without Seminole Tribe approval.
The compact, negotiated by Governor Ron DeSantis and approved by the legislature, was signed in 2021. It allows the Seminole Tribe to conduct online and retail sports betting statewide, with bets routed through tribal servers. However, opponents of the deal argue that it circumvents Amendment 3 by effectively granting exclusive mobile sports betting to the Tribe.
The legal dispute has resulted in lawsuits filed by Magic City Casino and Bonita Springs Poker Room, challenging the compact's validity. Florida's Attorney General has requested dismissal of these lawsuits on the basis that the challengers lack standing, and has defended the compact's legal soundness, emphasizing that all online sports bets are processed on tribal lands, complying with federal Indian gaming law.
Despite this, the compact has faced judicial nullifications and appeals, causing uncertainty. However, the Seminole Tribe successfully reinstated sports betting after a federal judge initially struck down the deal. Governor DeSantis did not sign a newer deal proposed in 2025, which led the Tribe to stop its usual $350 million annual revenue-sharing payments to the state.
Florida continues to permit only Seminole Tribe-operated sportsbooks for legal betting, with major commercial sportsbooks like DraftKings or FanDuel not yet authorized. The Tribe has also expanded casino gambling offerings, including roulette and craps, with projected state revenue sharing agreements amounting to at least $2.5 billion over five years.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have broader implications, potentially paving the way for online casino expansion under tribal control if the court sides with Florida. If not, it could force the issue back to the ballot box and bring Florida's booming digital betting market to a halt, once again.
Protect the Constitution LLC, an entity aiming to revive the issue through a more conventional lawsuit, has not disclosed who its members are. The money from this deal has already been flowing into state coffers since the platform relaunched in late 2023.
[1] The New York Times [2] The Miami Herald [3] The Tampa Bay Times [4] The Associated Press [5] The Florida Phoenix
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