The Seminole Tribe is set to relaunch sports betting in Florida this December after a protracted legal battle. The tribe entered into a new gaming compact with the state in April 2021, which received approval from Governor Ron DeSantis. Legal challenges had delayed the tribe’s expansion plans, but recent developments have opened the door for the anticipated launch.
On December 7, bettors will be able to participate in craps, roulette, and sports betting at several Seminole properties, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Classic Casino, and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa will join the lineup a day later, with Seminole Casino Immokalee and Seminole Brighton Casino set to go live on December 11. The tribe plans to host events to celebrate the launch, with details forthcoming.
Seminole Tribe Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. expressed gratitude for the backing of Florida, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Department of Justice, stating, "By working together, the tribe, state, and federal government achieved a historic legal victory." Governor DeSantis echoed this sentiment, highlighting the initiative's potential to boost jobs, tourism, and state revenue. He expressed pride in collaborating with the tribe to implement the gaming compact fully.
Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming, emphasized the significant employment opportunities that would arise from the compact, projecting the creation of over 1,000 new jobs. "This is a historic milestone that immediately puts Florida in the same league with the world’s great gaming destinations," Allen added.
The legal clarity for the Seminoles came after the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a motion from West Flagler last week, allowing them to proceed with their plans. West Flagler now has until December 11 to submit a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court, seeking a higher court's review of their case.
The journey to this moment has been turbulent. After the compact's approval over two years ago, plans for Hard Rock Bet were halted when a District of Columbia court ruled that the Seminole Tribe's agreement violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). This ruling stemmed from a challenge by West Flagler and Bonita-Fort Myers concerning the legality of offering statewide online sports betting via tribal servers.
The DC District Court of Appeals reversed that ruling in June 2023, giving the Seminoles renewed hope. However, a series of legal skirmishes against West Flagler ensued. In August, West Flagler sought a rehearing in its unsuccessful case against Debra Haaland, the Secretary of the Interior. Subsequent refusals of their allegations against Haaland led West Flagler to contend that DeSantis had overstepped his authority in approving the compact.
Despite these challenges, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately rejected West Flagler's rehearing request. In its ongoing efforts, West Flagler, along with Bonita-Fort Myers, approached the Supreme Court again, hoping to halt the Seminole Tribe's rollout of Hard Rock Bet. The Supreme Court's temporary stay was later overturned with last week's decision, signaling a significant legal defeat for West Flagler.
