The deal between the state and the tribe has been scrutinized for two years over whether sports betting is covered by a state constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2018. The two firms have filed a legal challenge to that contract with the U.S. asked the Florida Supreme Court to “immediately suspend the sports betting provisions” of the 2021 contract between the state and the Seminole Tribe. West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. Two companies that operate poker rooms and jai-alai betting have challenged the gambling contract between the state and the tribe. The final whistle has yet to be heard and the stakes are much higher than just sports betting. Over the last few years, however, there’s been a legal back and forth in the courts. It’s something the state agreed to a few years ago in exchange for billions of dollars and the possibility of future payments. The tribe has the state monopoly on sports betting. One state had been exempted from that law - Nevada.Īfter 2018, other states could join in, with Delaware, New Jersey and a handful of states allowed it before the end of that year. Supreme Court threw out a law, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, that banned states from allowing gambling on sports. The tribe unplugged the app after legal challenges.īut the story of legal sports betting doesn’t start there.

The tribe had a sports betting app in 2021 after signing a deal with the state giving it the exclusive right to do so. The journey to online sports betting in Florida has taken years. One week later the tribe re-released its Hard Rock Bet app allowing mobile sports betting. That same statement also announced the tribe would begin offering in-person craps, roulette and sports betting. By working together, the Tribe, the State and the federal government achieved a historic legal victory,” said Marcellus Osceola Jr., Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida in a statement after the court’s decision. Department of Justice for defending our Compact. “The Seminole Tribe thanks the State of Florida, the U.S.

How many casinos are in florida