A Leon County circuit judge has dismissed a lawsuit contesting Florida’s gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe, which authorized statewide online sports wagering.
The suit, filed by Protect the Constitution LLC, argued that the 2021 agreement violated a 2018 constitutional amendment requiring voter approval for casino gambling expansion.
Judge Jonathan Sjostrom ruled that the plaintiff lacked standing, noting the complaint failed to identify its members or provide sufficient detail about their business activities and alleged harm. While the case was dismissed, the judge allowed the group until November 21 to submit a revised filing.
The Florida Gaming Compact
The contested compact, negotiated by Governor Ron DeSantis and ratified by the Legislature, permits the Seminole Tribe to accept mobile sports bets placed anywhere in Florida, provided wagers are processed through servers located on tribal lands. Sports betting under this framework began in late 2023.
Protect the Constitution contends that the arrangement circumvents the 2018 amendment, which reserves to voters the exclusive authority to approve casino gambling expansions. The amendment, however, includes an exception for gaming conducted on tribal lands under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The plaintiffs argue that routing wagers through tribal servers does not satisfy this requirement.
In addition to sports betting, the compact expanded the Seminole Tribe’s casino offerings to include games such as craps and roulette. The agreement guarantees the state at least $2.5 billion in revenue over its first five years, with the potential for billions more throughout its duration. The compact was enacted in 2021 and has a 30-year term.
Florida Gambling Laws
The state of Florida does not authorize commercial casinos or sportsbooks to operate within its state lines. However, there are numerous tribal casinos licensed by the Federal government to operate on tribal land.
Florida’s tribal casinos currently have a compact with the state that gives them exclusive rights to provide sports betting and casino gaming if the bets take place on the reservation. The compact also provides the casino with the right to offer class III gaming, including slots, table games (blackjack, baccarat), craps, and roulette.