Supreme Court Decision Solidifies Seminole Tribe’s Sports Betting Exclusivity in Florida

Background of the Compact

In 2021, the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida entered into a 30-year compact valued at approximately $20 billion.

This agreement allows the tribe to manage sports betting throughout Florida via a hub-and-spoke system, provided the servers are based on tribal lands.

West Flagler Associates (WFA) contested this compact, arguing it violated state law and that the Department of Interior overstepped its authority by approving it.

Seminole Tribe’s Position

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Seminole Tribe issued a statement expressing their satisfaction, emphasizing the positive future this ruling secures for both the tribe and Florida residents.

The tribe’s statement highlighted the stability and economic benefits expected from the upheld compact.

Despite the legal challenges, the Seminole Tribe launched their Hard Rock Bet platform in November 2022. A prior attempt to launch the platform in December 2021 was halted after just 34 days due to a court order.

With the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case, the tribe can now continue their operations without further legal hindrance.

WFA had argued that the case had national implications, potentially affecting how state-tribal gaming agreements are structured nationwide.

They suggested that the compact could allow tribes to circumvent state gambling prohibitions. The Supreme Court’s decision not to review the case leaves the lower court’s ruling intact, which might influence future state-tribal agreements across the country.