The U.S. Supreme Court has issued an order preventing the Seminole Tribe from launching its Hard Rock Bet sports program in Florida. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
WFA requests stay
The US Supreme Court has issued an order preventing the Seminole Tribe of Florida from launching the Hard Rock Bet sports betting platform.
Chief Justice John Roberts is requesting a response from the US Department of the Interior (DOI) by 5pm on October 18. Roberts is seeking to determine next steps regarding the residency application submitted by West Flagler and Associates (WFA) on October 6.
While FIFA has not yet applied to the Supreme Court, it is expected to do so by November 20. According to WFA, DOI Secretary Deb Haaland did more than her job status allowed when she “deemed to approve” a gaming agreement between the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe.
That would give the Seminoles control over sports betting
In doing so, it would give the Seminoles control over sports betting, as well as permission to offer craps and roulette in their land-based casinos.
After October 18, the Supreme Court will decide whether to maintain the residency or not.
What happened?
This is the final step in a court case starting in 2021.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has legalized sports betting through an agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In doing so, the 30-year deal paved the way for the tribe to launch online and retail betting. Following this decision, the DOI gave the green light to the agreement.
According to the judge, the gaming agreement was in violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
However, the Florida betting market lasted less than a month when a federal judge in Florida deemed the agreement illegal, putting an end to Hard Rock’s betting. According to the judge, the gaming agreement was in violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
In June, the sports betting issue involving the Seminole Tribe reached a crossroads. In a historic moment for the tribe, a panel of judges on the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the tribe. The 30-year gaming agreement gives the Seminoles control of sports betting in the state of Florida. In return, the tribe will pay the state at least $2.5 billion during the first five years of the agreement.
