US Supreme Court Temporarily Stays Florida Sports Betting

• The US Supreme Court issued a temporary stay for the Florida sports betting case, putting a hold on the effective mandate.
• Chief Justice John Roberts issued the administrative stay that prevents Florida sports betting from launching while the court decides their next move.
• A potential Florida sports betting relaunch faces a large delay if the US Supreme Court issues a long-term stay.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) put a temporary hold on the decision to reinstate the 2021 Gaming Compact between the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida.

This decision is a major concern for the return of legal Florida sports betting, as the temporary stay proves SCOTUS has some level of interest in the case. A highly-anticipated relaunch would be significantly delayed if SCOTUS elects to grant a long-term stay to the Florida sports betting mandate.

Chief Justice John Roberts made the decision to issue an administrative stay for the mandate. With the decision, the Florida sports betting mandate is “hereby recalled and stayed pending further order of the undersigned (Roberts) or of the (Supreme) Court.”

Background Of Florida Sports Betting Battle

West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. filed their petition for SCOTUS to stay the mandate while they prepare to request review of the case. The two gambling entities directly challenge the online sports betting element of the 2021 Gaming Compact.

The compact allows legal sports betting outside of tribal lands through a hub-and-spoke model. US District Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled this was in violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) just 30 days after sports betting was offered in the Sunshine State.

A panel of the US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously overturned Friedrich’s decision and denied reconsideration of their decision. Now, the highest level of legal authority mulls over the legality of the compact and will decide if Florida sports betting can return.

This is not the same as a long-term stay, but the administrative stay increases the likelihood of granting a long-term stay. The Department of the Interior has until Oct. 18 to respond to West Flagler’s request for a longer stay.

News tags: Daniel Wallach | Florida | Hard Rock | Hard Rock Bet | Ron DeSantis | Seminole Tribe | West Flagler Associates