The Florida Supreme Court has made a ruling in favour of an agreement between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Governor Ron DeSantis' administration, allowing the tribe to continue operating online sports betting and other forms of gambling in the state.
The court's decision comes after opponents of online sports betting in Florida, specifically West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation, operators of racetracks and poker rooms in the state, challenged the compact between the Seminole Tribe and the state government.
However, the court ruled that the opponents had filed the wrong type of petition to challenge the agreement.
The compact, signed in 2021, grants the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights to operate sports betting and casino gambling on its reservations. Opponents argue that this agreement circumvents state laws against gaming off tribal lands and creates a monopoly for the tribe.
Despite the legal challenges, the Seminole Tribe launched its online sports betting operation late last year, generating over $120m in revenue for Florida in 2024 alone. State economic forecasters predict that revenue sharing from tribal gaming could reach $4.4bn by the end of the decade.
This ruling marks the latest development in a legal battle that has now shifted to federal courts, where the rival firms are seeking to invalidate the compact. They argue that upholding the agreement would set a concerning precedent for bypassing state regulations on gambling expansion.
The legal battle over online sports betting in Florida has been ongoing for some time, with previous challenges and petitions filed by opponents of the compact. Despite these legal hurdles, the Seminole Tribe's online sports betting operation has continued to generate substantial revenue for the state.
