No Casinos Group Urges Supreme Court to Reject Florida Sports Betting Deal

The No Casinos Group hopes the State Supreme Court rejects the Florida sports betting deal with the Seminole Tribe. The group supports the legal challenge two gambling companies filed against the proposed sports wagering plan.

Two pari-mutuel firms filed a challenge to the sports betting scheme with the Supreme Court on Thursday. No Casinos, Inc. requested permission to submit a brief supporting the challenge.

According to the motion for a friend-of-the-court brief, No Casinos proposed and backed a constitutional amendment in 2018 that stated voters should have the only power to determine whether to approve casino gaming in the state.

No Casinos Group Opposed Florida Sports Betting Deal

Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. and West Flagler Associates, two pari-mutuel firms, filed a lawsuit against the state last month. According to pay per head sportsbook sources, they urged the Supreme Court to reject the sports betting scheme because it goes against Amendment 3. In 2021, Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s chairman, Marcellus Osceola, Jr., signed a contract formalizing their relationship.

According to bookie pay per head experts, the arrangement included a hub-and-spoke system that allowed the Seminoles to process sports wagers from mobile devices across the state. Mobile apps or other electronic wagers shall be handled solely by the tribe.

The group No Casinos filed the request on Thursday. Also, they cited long-standing worries that gambling will permanently alter Florida’s appearance, attitude, and ambiance, making casinos as commonplace as palm palms.

Most voters (71%) in favor of the amendment, defined “gambling” as “casino gaming” and “Class III” under federal law. However, a provision was made allowing gaming on tribal territories.

This amendment does not limit the ability of Native American tribes or the state to negotiate gaming compacts under the IGRA. Also, it would not affect any gambling on tribal lands in accordance with compacts executed by the state and Native American tribes. Regarding tribal gaming concerns across the country, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) is essential, according to a political news forum.