The U.S. Supreme Court has issued an order blocking the Seminole Tribe from launching its Hard Rock Bet sports betting offering in Florida. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
WFA applies for a stay
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued an order blocking the Seminole Tribe of Florida from launching its Hard Rock Bet sports betting platform.
Chief Justice John Roberts needs a response from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) by October 18 at 5 p.m. Roberts wants to determine next steps regarding a motion to stay filed Oct. 6 by West Flagler and Associates (WFA).
While the WFA has not yet filed a petition with the Supreme Court, it is expected to do so by November 20th. According to the WFA, DOI Secretary Deb Haaland did more than her professional status permitted when she deemed a gambling contract between the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe “approved.”
would give the Seminoles control of sports betting
This would give the Seminoles control over sports betting as well as permission to offer craps and roulette in their land-based casinos.
After October 18, the Supreme Court will decide whether to uphold the suspension or not.
What happened?
This is the latest move in a 2021 lawsuit.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis legalized sports betting through a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In doing so, the 30-year agreement paved the way for the tribe to introduce online and retail betting. Following this decision, the DOI gave the green light to the agreement.
According to the judge, the gambling contract violated the Indian Gambling Regulatory Act.
However, the Florida betting market lasted less than a month when a federal judge in Florida declared the contract illegal and put an end to Hard Rock Bet. According to the judge, the gambling contract violated the Indian Gambling Regulatory Act.
In June, the Seminole Tribe sports betting case reached a crossroads. In a historic moment for the tribe, a jury of the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the tribe’s favor. The 30-year gambling agreement gives the Seminoles control of sports betting in the state of Florida. In return, the tribe would pay the state at least $2.5 billion over the first five years of the agreement.
