A compact gambling dispute ends with a settlement

Seminole Hardrock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood. (Photo by Joe Raedle, Getty Images)

A long-running legal dispute over whether the Seminole Tribe of Florida should have exclusive rights to online sports betting in Florida resulted in an agreement this week that was intended to prevent future lawsuits.

The Seminoles, West Flagler Associates and the Bonita Fort Myers Corp. reached a deal that ends the legal wrangling and creates a partnership that will allow Jai Alai to play on the tribe’s Hard Rock Bet app.

“Rather than face years of additional litigation, this agreement will allow the parties to work together to promote Jai Alai, which has played an important role in Florida’s gaming landscape for nearly 100 years,” said Jim Allen, CEO from Seminole Gaming, in a statement.

The agreement comes after the U.S. Supreme Court this summer declined to consider a lawsuit from the companies challenging the gambling treaty reached in 2021 between Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and the Seminole Tribe.

The Supreme Court upheld a federal appeals court ruling that upheld the pact. A lower court judge had sided with those who challenged the pact, saying it was illegal under federal law to let the tribe operate a statewide mobile application that offered sports betting.