district court sided with the companies, a federal appeals court sided with the Dept. They said it violated the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Department of Interior, which oversees tribal lands, signed off on the plan.īut West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp., owners of casinos and poker rooms in South Florida, sued to stop the deal. The 30-year deal gave the Tribe control over sports betting throughout Florida and allowed it to add the craps and roulette, and in return the Tribe would pay the state at least $2.5 billion over the first five years. The ability for the Tribe to offer sports betting, both in-person and online, craps and roulette was part 2021 compact the Tribe reached with the state of Florida. The Tribe intends to host the openings with “star-studded celebrations.”Ī spokesperson for the Tribe did not have any information on when online sports betting would begin. The Tribe announced that in-person sports betting, as well as craps and roulette, would debut at its Seminole Hard Rock casinos throughout Florida starting in December. – The Seminole Tribe is ready to roll the dice on sports betting in Florida, at least in person, even as legal challenges continue in the federal and state court systems.
