- Florida is seeking to shut down a lawsuit that threatens the legality of its exclusive online sports betting agreement with the Seminole Tribe.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida is fighting to protect its multi-billion-dollar gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe, filing a motion to dismiss the latest lawsuit challenging the legality of mobile sports betting in the state. The lawsuit, brought by Protect the Constitution LLC, claims the 2021 compact sidestepped Amendment 3, a 2018 constitutional measure requiring voter approval for new forms of casino gambling.
Catch Up: New Lawsuit Targets Florida Sports Betting Compact
State attorneys argue the complaint lacks standing and that the compact is legally sound. The crux of Florida’s defense rests on federal tribal gaming law: because bets are processed through servers on tribal land, the activity falls under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), not state commercial gambling law.
The compact, negotiated by Governor Ron DeSantis and approved by the legislature, granted the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights to operate statewide Florida online sports betting via Hard Rock Bet. In return, the tribe committed to paying Florida a minimum of $2.5 billion over the first five years… money already flowing into state coffers since the platform relaunched in late 2023.
The state’s motion emphasizes that the 2018 amendment doesn’t apply to tribal gaming compacts authorized under IGRA.
A Broken Record?
This isn’t the first legal sports betting fight over the compact. Previous lawsuits brought by pari-mutuel operators failed in both state and federal courts. In fact, the Florida Supreme Court dismissed a similar challenge earlier this year, though this was not on substance, but due to the improper legal format.
Protect the Constitution now aims to revive the issue through a more conventional lawsuit, though it still hasn’t disclosed who its members are.
What’s at stake isn’t just a compact but a legal model that could shape how other states with legal sports betting work with tribes to roll out sportsbook apps. If the court sides with Florida, it would solidify the state’s approach and potentially pave the way for online casino expansion under tribal control. If not, it could force the issue back to the ballot box and bring Florida’s booming digital betting market to a halt… again.
