Legal Battle Over Florida Sports Betting Continues Amid DOJ Response
The ongoing legal tussle over sports betting in Florida has reached another milestone with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filing a response in the Supreme Court on Monday, May 13.
Development is part of a protracted legal challenge against a 2021 gaming compact between Governor Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Background of the Compact
The disputed compact granted the Seminole Tribe exclusive control over sports betting in the state, with a commitment to pay Florida at least $2.5 billion within the first five years.
Agreement momentarily materialized through a sports wagering app launched by the tribe in 2021. However, the operation was halted when pari-mutuel companies, including West Flagler Associates Ltd and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp, launched a federal lawsuit.
Legal Challenges
The crux of the dispute hinges on whether the compact contravenes the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), as it permits gambling activities beyond tribal lands.
The pari-mutuel companies further escalated the issue by filing a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court in April, challenging the compact’s validity on several grounds.
DOJ’s Standpoint
In its latest response, the DOJ has recommended the denial of the petition for a writ of certiorari, arguing that the Supreme Court should not hear the case. The DOJ’s brief addressed several pivotal legal questions:
- Whether the compact violates the IGRA.
- If the agreement breaches the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act.
- Whether the Department of the Interior’s approval of the compact fails to meet equal-protection measures as per the Fifth Amendment.
The DOJ posits that the Department of the Interior has limited scope to disapprove a compact, with grounds for disapproval restricted to violations of the IGRA, other federal laws, or trust obligations to tribes.
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