Florida: Seminole Tribe wins federal court appeal in legal fight over sports betting

Friday, June 30, 2023 3:08 PM
  • Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald

In a victory for the Seminole Tribe of Florida that could upend gambling in the state, a federal appellate court on Friday reversed a lower court ruling that blocked the agreement that gave the Seminole Tribe a monopoly on sports betting in the state.

A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously concluded that federal gaming law allowed the state to enter into a 30-year agreement with the Seminole Tribe to control sports betting in Florida, add roulette and craps to the tribe’s casino operations and in return pay the state at least $2.5 billion over the first five years of the deal.