Sports betting could be one step closer to relaunching in Florida after the courts denied a petition earlier this week.
The DC Circuit Court of Appeals denied West Flagler Associates’ petition for a rehearing en banc in the Florida sports betting case on Monday. West Flagler has been attempting to break a gaming compact that only allows sports betting on tribal lands in Florida. Now that the petition has been denied it possible sports betting could be relaunched in the state by the Seminole Tribe as early as September 18.
The Seminole Tribe operates Hard Rock Bet and essentially owns a monopoly on sports betting in the state through a 2021 gaming compact they signed with Governor Ron DeSantis. The Seminole Tribe has not publicly announced if they will relaunch Hard Rock Bet or if sevens days is even enough time to get sports betting active again.
Sports bettors in the Sunshine State have been unable to place bets for nearly two years after legal sports betting was suspended in the state on December 4, 2021.
Although West Flagler had their petition denied by the courts this week their battle to challenge the gaming compact may not be over. West Flagler can still petition the U.S. Supreme Court or file with the state courts. If West Flagler does decide to continue to press the issue sports betting in Florida could continue to be unavailable. West Flagler’s next steps, if they choose to take any at all, have not been announced.
