Florida moves to dismiss lawsuit challenging Seminole Tribe’s claim to online sports betting
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has submitted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that questions the legality of online sports betting under the state’s agreement with the Seminole Tribe.
This motion, filed in the circuit court of Leon County, addresses a lawsuit by Protect the Constitution LLC in April. The lawsuit argues that the 2021 compact breaches a 2018 constitutional amendment mandating voter approval for casino gambling.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the compact with the Seminole Tribe in 2021, permitting mobile sports bets statewide through servers located on tribal land. The agreement also approved new table games and guaranteed the state at least US$2.5 billion in revenue over five years.
The state argues that the compact complies with the constitutional amendment, which provides exceptions for tribal gaming under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The motion also argues that Protect the Constitution lacks legal standing and that sports betting was not considered “casino gambling” when the amendment passed in 2018.
“That agreement ensures that hundreds of millions of dollars flow to the tribe each year, money that supports the tribe’s efforts to improve every aspect of life on tribal lands,” the state’s motion reads, adding that the compact benefits tribal communities and the state.
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