Are Florida Sports Betting Legal Challenges Over?


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Florida sports betting

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has strengthened its monopoly on the Florida sports betting market through a deal with the party behind lawsuits challenging its status. 

The Seminole Tribe announced Monday that it had entered a deal with West Flagler Associates and associated companies to end legal challenges to the tribe’s Florida sports betting monopoly. In exchange for West Flagler not bringing future litigation, the tribe will offer jai alai on its Hard Rock Bet app.

“This is truly a win-win agreement for the Seminole Tribe and West Flagler,” Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen said. “This agreement establishes a relationship of collaboration among the Seminole Tribe and West Flagler in the state of Florida.

“Rather than engaging in years of additional litigation, this agreement will allow the parties to work together to promote jai alai, which has played an important role in Florida’s gaming landscape for nearly 100 years.”

Florida sports betting challenges done? 

West Flagler has lost several legal challenges against the Seminole and the Florida sports betting model. The tribe and state agreed to a 30-year gambling compact in 2021 to allow sports betting on tribal land.

Pari-mutuel companies filed a lawsuit saying the compact violated federal law. The lawsuit moved through multiple courts, including the US Supreme Court earlier this year. West Flagler and associated companies offer pari-mutuel betting on jai alai and will now be looped into the Hard Rock Bet app early next year.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Seminole Tribe in support of their gaming operations in Florida and to promote jai alai, which has been a critical component of Florida’s gaming industry since the 1920s,” West Flagler owner Isadore Havenick said. “We are proud that jai alai will be featured on the Hard Rock Bet app and we look forward to developing a strong partnership with the Seminole Tribe.”

Hard Rock Bet journey

The Seminole first launched the Hard Rock Bet app shortly after the Florida compact agreement in 2021. The tribe shut it down after the legal challenges.

Hard Rock Bet relaunched in Florida in November 2023.

As part of the gambling compact, the Seminole Tribe pays Florida at least $500 million annually.

More Florida sportsbooks? 

Allen spoke about the positives of potential partnerships with DraftKings and FanDuel at this month’s G2E.

“We do recognize that long-term, some type of strategic relationship with some of the brands that really have marquee value could be helpful to both of us, and we are receptive to those conversations,” Allen said.

The 2021 compact allows the Seminole Tribe to partner with other brands for a cut of their revenue. Earlier this year, Allen told LSR that partnership conversations were premature but possible.

Photo by Shutterstock/Sirikarn Rinruesee