Supreme Court Rejects Challenge To DeSantis' Multibillion Agreement For Online Sports Betting In Florida
CNN -
The Supreme Court turned down an emergency quote Wednesday to obstruct a multibillion-dollar arrangement in between Florida and the Seminole Tribe to use online sports wagering throughout the state.
The court's order means that sports wagering could soon be offered in Florida, although other pending legal obstacles in state courts could impact the precise timing.
T he arrangement, or "compact," was by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, authorized by the US Department of the Interior and is slated to generate $2.5 billion in new revenue over the next 5 years and an estimated $6 billion through 2030.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote independently to state that he appreciated the court's action, however questioned whether the deal could raise different concerns under state law. He made clear, nevertheless, that issues under state law were not "squarely provided" in the present application brought by other gambling business.
The court's quick order might trigger other states and people to pursue comparable offers.
Back in 2018, Florida citizens approved a referendum that amended the Florida Constitution to guarantee that any form of casino gaming would only be enabled in the state through a separate referendum - to take power to approve such activity away from the state legislature.
But the 2018 referendum particularly carved out betting and other gaming negotiated through a compact between tribes and the state - so long as the compact was authorized by the federal government.
In 2021, the Seminole Tribe of Florida participated in an arrangement with the state under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that permitted the people to use online sports wagering throughout the state as long as the servers getting the wagers were located on tribal ground.
The following month, DeSantis signed a law that approved the compact between the 2 parties. The Department of Interior did not obstruct the offer, which had the same legal impact as if it officially authorized it.
Other wagering facilities, nevertheless, filed fit, arguing that the compact was unlawful under the IGRA because that law just permitted betting on tribal lands. They submitted suit versus the Interior Department, arguing that the compact ought to not have been authorized in the first location.
A district court agreed to block the compact but was reversed by a federal appeals court based in Washington, DC. The appeals court said that the secretary of Interior had not exceeded her authority in permitting the agreement.