POTUS Aims To Dismiss Florida Sports Betting Compact Lawsuit

• The Joe Biden administration is seeking for the judge presiding over the FL sports betting case to dismiss the lawsuit on the new Florida gambling compact.
• The compact adds sports gaming to the Sunshine State which has already been approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• These lawsuits have been raised by the No Casinos organization and local Florida businesses.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– The sports betting compact in Florida has continuously been challenged by local groups ever since being signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis and Seminole Tribe Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr.

President Joe Biden is hoping a federal judge will dismiss the lawsuit, which also names the Federal Department of Interior (DOI).

The lawsuit claims that the compact violates Florida’s constitution and accuses the federal approval it received of bypassing Florida law. If a judge dismisses the case, sports betting in Florida will be able to launch without a hitch.

Biden Vs. Florida

The lawsuit that targets the federal branch in charge of tribal gaming has been brought forth by owners of the Bonita Springs Poker Room and the Magic City Casino.

As the compact gives sole authority to sports betting to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, these entities believe this would have a devastating impact on their businesses going forward.

The Biden administration claims that the lawsuits do not specifically claim a direct negative impact of the compact, arguing that the plaintiffs’ argument is all speculative and without merit.

“At most, plaintiffs identify highly speculative, hypothetical injuries that turn in part on plaintiffs’ own decision whether to participate in the online sports betting program to which they object,” wrote lawyers representing the Biden Administration in the motion for dismissal. “Such contentions fail to establish standing and thus this suit must be dismissed.”

The lawsuit, which names Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland by name, deems the compact as “legal fiction” claiming specifically the section that gives the Seminole Tribe the option to offer online and mobile betting exclusively as unconstitutional.

“Through this fiction, the compact and implementing law seek to expand sports betting outside of Indian lands to individuals located anywhere in Florida so long as they have a computer and internet connection — subject only to the tribe’s monopoly,” reads the lawsuit.

What’s Next For Florida Sports Betting?

Legal sports betting in Florida is able to go live, as the compact became law on October 15. Florida sports betting could launch at any moment. The Seminole Tribe has not announced any launch date, likely due to the multiple lawsuits.

Should the judge dismiss the case then sports betting would likely launch sooner rather than later. If not, sports could have to wait until the November 5 court date to see how the judge rules.

While regulated land-based sportsbooks are able to go live, online betting will continue to be in flux until the compact is approved by the courts in November.

News tags: Deb Haaland | Florida | IGRA | Indian Gaming Regulatory Act | Joe Biden | Marcellus Osceola Jr. | POTUS | Ron DeSantis | Seminole Tribe of Florida | Tallahassee