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The U.S. Supreme Court has granted the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) an extension to file its response in a Florida online sports betting case that could reshape the state’s gaming landscape. The DOI now has until April 12 to submit its arguments, a push from the original March 13 deadline. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar cited the attorneys’ heavy caseload as the reason for seeking more time.
At the core of the dispute is a challenge by parimutuel operator West Flagler and Associates (WFA) against Florida’s current sports betting structure, which they argue is illegal. WFA is fighting to prevent setting a precedent that could influence other U.S. regions. The controversy centers on the expansion of the Seminole Tribe’s gaming operations to include both retail and online sports betting, authorized by Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida’s legislature in May 2021 under a new compact.
This compact’s legality is under scrutiny due to Amendment 3, passed by Florida voters in 2018, requiring voter approval for any gaming expansion. On this ground, WFA has also sued Governor DeSantis and the legislature in the Florida Supreme Court, which has yet to decide on taking up the case.
WFA’s recent move to file a writ of certiorari prompted the need for the DOI’s response. After receiving it, the Supreme Court will decide whether to take the case. Despite this, legal insiders suggest the Supreme Court is unlikely to review the case, given its history of hearing only a small percentage of the numerous cases it receives each year.
In the meantime, the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Bet platform is operational in Florida, having launched just in time for the Super Bowl last month. With March Madness on the horizon, the platform is preparing for another significant betting event. The Seminole Tribe introduced online sports betting in November and followed up with the opening of physical sportsbooks in December.