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Hard Rock sports betting deal faces Florida court challenge
Florida is asking a Leon County judge to throw out a lawsuit that challenges its $2.5 billion gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe.
Negotiated by Governor Ron DeSantis and approved by lawmakers back in 2021, the deal gave the tribe an exclusive right to run online sports betting in the state. This meant that every single bet placed anywhere in Florida must be processed through tribal servers.
Despite the state’s approval, a group called Protect the Constitution argues otherwise. They say the deal violates a 2018 amendment to Florida’s constitution, which says voters must approve any new casino gambling. Their lawsuit, filed in April, claims that online betting expands gambling statewide without the public vote.
The lawsuit argues:
“Online sports betting occurs throughout the state of Florida. But no citizens’ initiative has ever been held to provide authorization.”
According to the state, the tribe cannot be taken as a new casino gambling venue, and that it corresponds to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which governs gaming on tribal land.
Florida State wrote in its motion:
“Casino gambling or not, sports betting was properly authorized by the compact.”
Due to legal battles, the Seminole Tribe paused its operations.
Previous lawsuits from other gambling businesses were dismissed by state and federal courts. The Florida Supreme Court also declined to take up a similar case earlier this year
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