The drawn-out battle over the future of Florida sports betting has, unsurprisingly, gotten a bit longer.
Late Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a request from West Flagler Associates to extend a deadline to file a petition for writ of certiorari. That deadline, previously this coming Sunday (Dec. 10), has been moved to Feb. 8, 2024.
What does this decision mean?
Essentially, it gives West Flagler more time to put together its case ahead of a review by the highest court in the country. West Flagler argued it needed this time due to the flurry of Florida sports betting activity that’s happened in the final few months of 2023.
After the D.C. Court of Appeals reinstated the Florida gaming compact, the Seminole Tribe announced its plans to relaunch Florida sports betting. Several sportsbooks will open at Florida casinos this week, and Hard Rock Bet has relaunched to customers who used the Florida sports betting app during its brief legal window in 2021.
Gov. DeSantis fires back at West Flagler
One of the key participants in this case is Gov. Ron DeSantis, who came to terms with the Seminole Tribe on the 20-year gaming compact. Gov. DeSantis, who is currently pursuing the Republican Party’s presidential nomination ahead of the 2024 election, filed a response to West Flagler’s lawsuit over the weekend.
Among other barbs was one citing the length of time between the compact’s approval and the lawsuit:
“First, the Court should decline to entertain the petition for discretionary reasons. Petitioners’ delay in filing this action—two and a half years from the compact taking effect—is unjustifiable.”
The response adds that West Flagler’s suit fails on its merits, as well, arguing that sports betting does not fall under “casino gambling” as defined in the Florida Constitution. It concludes with asking the court to dismiss or deny West Flagler’s petition.
Is there a timetable for the Florida sports betting case?
Once the petition is filed, West Flagler’s legal opponents will have a 30-day window in which to respond. That response deadline is March 11, 2024, and West Flagler’s reply brief must be filed two weeks after that.
The Supreme Court will then decide whether or not to take the case. A final decision on that matter may not come until the summer.
In the meantime, Florida sports betting options are about to become available. Retail sportsbooks are set to open at six Florida casinos operated by the Seminole Tribe. Additionally, further expansion of the Hard Rock Bet platform isn’t out of the question.
