The Florida Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Seminole Tribe and its exclusive rights to online sports betting in the state. This decision is a victory for the tribe and Governor Ron DeSantis, who reached an agreement to grant them such rights.
West Flagler Associates and the Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation, which operate racetracks and poker rooms in Florida, had been fighting against the compact. They argued that it granted the tribe a monopoly on sports betting and violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by allowing betting to occur off tribal lands. However, their petition was deemed incorrect by the court.
Opponents also questioned whether bets made online from anywhere in Florida can be considered as being on tribal land, given that only the computer servers hosting the betting services are located there. However, economic forecasters predict that this agreement will generate significant revenue for both the tribe and the state through shared revenue of $4.4 billion through the end of the decade. Despite legal challenges, it appears that this agreement will be beneficial to all parties involved.
