A three-judge appeals court ruled in favor of the Seminole tribe of Florida and its push for monopoly control of sports betting in the state. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of the Seminole tribe of Florida in its legal battle against the US Department of the Interior.
The tribe claims the exclusive right to offer sports betting in Florida. This decision paves the way for the relaunch of the Hard Rock Sportsbook, but more legal challenges will likely lie ahead.
A 30-year agreement gives the Seminoles control over sports betting
the The judges’ decision on Friday They saw that they unanimously agree that federal gaming laws allow the Florida state government to enter into a 30-year agreement that gives the Seminoles control over sports betting, as well as permission to offer craps and roulette in land-based casinos. In exchange, the tribe will pay the state at least $2.5 billion over the first five years of the agreement.
This latest decision overturned a November 2021 ruling invalidating the agreement. At the time, the Hard Rock Sportsbook had already been in the state for a few weeks and had to shut down immediately. It is unclear if the tribe will now look to get it back up and running in the near future.
