The seemingly never-ending Florida sports betting court battles may possibly be coming to a conclusion at least at the state level, with the Florida supreme court expected to rule at any time if the Seminole tribe can continue offering statewide mobile sports wagering.
Since launching in 2021, the owners of the Magic City Casino and Bonita Springs Poker Room (known as West Flagler Associates) have battled in state and federal courts to block the tribe from moving forward with sports betting.
The group argues that the state’s agreement with the Seminoles granting a monopoly on sports betting violates a 2018 state amendment approved by voters calling for a ban in gambling expansion. Attorneys for the plaintiffs recently filed briefs with the state supreme court asking to put a stop to betting after the tribe resumed mobile wagering in December.
West Flagler’s final brief with the court argued that the court must “vindicate the People’s exclusive right to control the expansion of casino gambling in Florida.”
Ruling Expected in Coming Days
The disagreement over sports betting in the state has been a long court battle that even included an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. West Flagler argued that the agreement violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause. The plaintiffs also argued that under federal law, the tribe can’t legally operate gaming off of its traditional tribal lands.
The court ultimately decided not to hear the case, at least until the state court ruled. However, Justice Brett Kavanaugh did indicate that the plaintiffs may have a case in regards to the equal protections issue. So even a ruling at the state level in the Seminoles’ favor could possibly be appealed again at the federal level.
The state supreme court is now expected to make a ruling in the coming weeks. Many in the gaming industry are watching to see how the case plays out. Attorney and gaming industry expert Daniel Wallach believes the Seminoles could restart betting until the state court ruled.
“Yeah, the Seminole Tribe had the legal right to relaunch their online sportsbook, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the cases are over,” he told WPTV.
Wallach believes the issue will ultimately work its way back to the U.S. Supreme Court as there are some key issues to consider.
“This goes to … the people’s right of initiative – the constitutional power of the electorate to set gambling policy,” he said. “And if that’s usurped or frustrated, I think that’s an issue that demands the attention of the Florida Supreme Court in the first instance.”
Gun Lake Casino Employee Sentenced After Theft; A Look at Other Casino-Related Crimes
In other gaming news, a 26-year-old former employee at Gun Lake Casino was sentenced this week for stealing money from the property. Jordan Lewis Cook was given four months in federal prison and ordered to pay $85,000 in restitution to the casino.
The casino is owned by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians and Cook worked at the property from September 2021 to November 2022. As part of his duties, Cook was charged with maintaining cash machines throughout the property.
That included unjamming currency that would clog up the machines on occasion. According to a plea agreement released in September, Cook used his key card to open the devices to remove cassettes filled with cash. After removing wrinkled bills that clogged the machine and led to malfunction, Cook would help himself to some of the cash himself.
Cook said in the plea that “he would also steal cash from the machine” and authorities said he stole cash $84,500 on 32 separate occasions over 14 months.
This wasn’t the only casino related crime making news recently. A woman heading home from the Ho-Chunk Gaming casino in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday was robbed of thousands of dollars in winnings outside the property, according to police.
The woman and her husband were approaching their car around 2 a.m. when a man asked them for a ride. When they said no, the suspect grabbed the woman’s purse and fled the scene.
In California, San Jose police recently raided an alleged illegal gambling venue. Authorities said the venue was also used to sell drugs and to operate a brothel. Police arrested five suspects as part of the investigation and also retrieved weapons from the site.
“During the search, officers located and seized 33 firearms (including assault weapons), 150,000 rounds of ammunition, 500 pounds of marijuana, and approximately $20,000 in cash,” the San Jose Police Department noted.
Several women working at the brothel were also provided resources and assistance as part of the raid. Law enforcement groups across the country have been cracking down on a proliferation of similar facilities in recent months.
