Florida sports betting is currently in limbo due to a number of lawsuits. Local groups have argued that it is illegal and violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Department of Interior and the Seminole Indians have filed briefs in an effort to reinstate the new compact.
Although the state of Florida approved sports betting in May 2018, it will likely not be allowed to resume until at least 2022. In the meantime, the state is mulling the possibility of allowing pari-mutuels to offer card games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat.
A ballot initiative, orchestrated by DraftKings and FanDuel, failed to make it onto the November 2022 general election. However, CEO Jason Robins says that he is confident that the initiative will eventually pass.
While the state has not yet agreed to allow mobile wagering on off-reservation lands, the DC Circuit Court recently released a timetable for the litigation. If online sports betting is to resume, the state must reach a gaming deal with a Native American tribe.
On December 14, 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia heard arguments about the 2021 gaming compact. Both sides presented their cases before three judges.
In the end, the federal government argued that it provided adequate representation for the tribe’s interests. Meanwhile, the Seminole Tribe has appealed the decision.
While the case has not reached a conclusion, the Florida sports betting proposal still has the attention of the Orlando Sentinel. It would authorize Seminole tribal members to operate mobile wagering in a statewide manner.