Florida sports betting debate rumbles on

The US Supreme Court could rule at any time on the appeal filed by West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation aimed at blocking the Seminole from exclusively operating mobile sports betting in Florida through a provision of its gaming compact with the state.

The latest in the ongoing saga is the response from the US Department of Interior to the US Supreme Court essentially pressing the pause button on allowing the Seminole to relaunch betting.

Responding to the Supreme Court’s stay of mandate from a lower court ruling that cleared the way for the tribe to relaunch sports betting, the Department of Interior called the move unwarranted as the Supreme Court is unlikely to reverse the decision that allows the Seminole to move ahead.

Florida’s Atty. Gen. Ashley Moody has also asked for an extension to respond to the appeal at the state Supreme Court level, citing a particularly heavy workload, Sports Handle reported.

If Chief Justice John Roberts declines to extend the temporary recall of the mandate issued by the Court of Appeals, the Seminole Tribe would have no federal legal impediments to relaunching its online sportsbook in Florida.

West Flagler and Bonita-Fort Myers have until November 20 to file their official appeal to the Supreme Court.

Source: Fantini’s Gaming Report