The Florida State Supreme Court denied pari-mutuel betting operator West Flagler Associates’ request to suspend Hard Rock Bet and its online sports betting offerings in the state.
Western Flagman presented the motion Earlier this month to prevent Hard Rock Bet from offering sports betting in Florida. movement requested the court to expedite enforcement of all court orders in the jurisdiction to immediately suspend online sports betting.
West Flagler argued that the suspension should continue pending final determination of the petition for injunction.
This follows Hard Rock Bet, which is operated by the Seminole tribe. Launched in Florida on November 7. Early access was previously possible for customers who bet with the operator and members of Hard Rock’s loyalty program.
But in a blow to West Flagler, the Florida State Supreme Court denied that request on Friday, Nov. 17. The decision was announced at a meeting in a short time He was released by the court.
“The ‘Motion to Expedite Review of All Writ Relief Requests Pending Adjudication of the Petition for Writ of Quo Warranto and to Suspend Sports Betting Provisions’ is hereby denied,” the notice said.
West Flagler now has the option to petition the Supreme Court in response to the decision.
West Flagler challenges Hard Rock Bet on mobile betting
In its now-defeated motion, West Flagler criticized Hard Rock Bet for how it launched online betting in Florida. West Flagler said the launch was not previously announced and that Hard Rock Bet was only referring to games approved by the 2021 agreement at tribal casinos.
Seminoles Announced the restart of sports betting in Florida but only on land-based properties, as well as craps and roulette. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek will open December 7, with other properties to follow in the following days.
“Nowhere has the Tribe mentioned off-reservation mobile betting,” West Flagler said in the motion. “The common understanding was that references to sports betting were personal sports betting. This is not the subject of the instant petition.
“Taking advantage of the distraction created by their carefully crafted announcement on November 1, the tribe attempted to surprise petitioners and this court by presenting a ‘fait accompli’ on November 7. Really took live bets.
West Flagler added that the only “remedy” to resolve the case is to immediately suspend its off-reservation sports betting commission.
Florida stand-off: how did we get here?
The court decision marks the latest development in a case that has dragged on for almost two years.
Hard Rock Bet Released in 2021 after state governor Ron DeSantis signed a gaming agreement. This allowed the tribe to offer sports betting only in Florida.
But this was suddenly stopped December 2021 When the District of Columbia ruled that the contract violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). West Flagler and Bonita-Fort Myers It has been questioned whether offering sports betting through tribal-based servers is the same as betting on tribal lands.
By skipping August this year, West Flagler has begun to escalate its legal challenges. He first made an application rehearing of the petition for Lost case against Interior Secretary Debra Haaland In June.
West Flagler in September Filed legal challenge against DeSantis and Florida state legislature. This brought into question whether DeSantis and the legislature overstepped their authority regarding the 2021 voting compact approval.
But the U.S. Supreme Court cast doubt on West Flagler’s efforts. West rejects Flagler’s request to stay In October.
That didn’t exactly clear the way for the Seminoles to unquestionably launch sports betting. But this gave the tribe an opportunity to get started when Hard Rock Bet went live a few weeks later.
Friday’s decision by the Florida State Supreme Court is unlikely to settle the debate.