Federal Appeals Court Rejects Rehearing for Florida Sports Betting Case

A federal appeals court’s decision to not hear a crucial case again caused a setback for the future of legal sports betting in Florida. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied two casinos’ request for an en banc review of a June ruling that effectively upheld a gaming agreement between Florida and the Seminole Tribe for 2021.

A Defining Legal Battle

The court’s ruling, which stated, “Upon consideration of appellees’ petition for rehearing en banc, the response thereto, and the absence of a request by any member of the court for a vote, it is ORDERED that the petition be denied,” upholds the status quo in terms of the legal procedures governing the application of the gaming compact.

The gaming agreement, which gives the Seminole Tribe and its Hard Rock Bet brand an exclusive license for sports betting in Florida, is at the center of this legal dispute. However, a lower court invalidated the agreement in late 2021, which forced Hard Rock to stop operating its sports betting business in the state.

The lower court’s judgment was overturned by the D.C. appeals court in June, possibly opening the door for Florida to once again allow small-scale legal sports betting. This possibility is confirmed by Monday’s verdict, though the Supreme Court might still hear an appeal.

The Road Ahead

With the federal appeals court’s decision, Florida’s sports betting landscape remains in flux. The outcome of this legal battle will have far-reaching implications for the state’s gambling industry and the future of sports wagering within its borders.

While the rejection of the rehearing request signals a potential return to limited legal sports betting in Florida, the possibility of further legal challenges remains on the horizon. As this legal saga unfolds, the future of sports betting in the Sunshine State continues to hang in the balance.