What the Seminole Sports Betting Court Decision Means for Tribes

Gaming Today interviewed Indian Law attorney Derril Jordan this week about the recent decision allowing sports betting in Florida statewide on the Seminole Hard Rock app. Jordan is quoted about the outcome saying this ruling provides a “pathway for a state that wants to authorize sports betting, and for tribes that want to be authorized to do sports betting.” Essentially, this means that the Seminoles will be able to bring back mobile sports betting via the Hard Rock app throughout the entire state. 

Last year Gaming Today tapped Jordan for an interview to preview the case. His prediction back then is exactly how the Circuit Court decision played out this past week. At this time, he said that voiding the compact was incorrect “because at least part of the gaming is on tribal land, and the state and the tribe have agreed that this is permissible conduct, the tribe isn’t doing it unilaterally without the state’s participation. Therefore, this is legal,” he said.

The Circuit Court in Washington, D.C., unanimously ruled to overturn the invalidation of the Seminole Tribe’s gaming compact. This means that the Tribe, in conjunction with the Hard Rock will be able to relaunch sports betting in the state of Florida.