TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Seminole Tribe’s latest attempt at online sports betting in Florida took another blow Friday night.
A Washington D.C.-based appeals court ruled last night the Tribe has not shown it will be harmed if it’s forced to shut down its new sports betting.
That decision made leaves in place a ruling from November 22 made by a federal judge that says the Seminole Tribe’s online sports betting violates federal gaming law.
What You Need To Know
- Appeals court denies Seminole Tribe request for stay in online sports betting
- Court says the Tribe has not shown it will be harmed if it’s forced to shut down its new sports betting
- Tribe has opened online sports betting in state on Nov. 1; court issued ruling to shut it down Nov. 22
- PREVIOUS STORY: Florida sports betting put on hold as federal judge blocks compact
- Seminole Tribe launches Hard Rock Sportsbook gambling app
The tribe is still trying to appeal the latest ruling.
Last night, they had asked for what’s called a stay, or a temporary halt, to that ruling while they appeal it.
But that was denied.
The move stops the sports betting the state had quietly started on Nov. 1 and also blocks the Hard Rock casinos in Tampa and Broward County from becoming full “Vegas-style” casinos.
The Seminole Tribe had quietly launched a sports betting app at the beginning of November.
That was the result of a new compact between the state of Florida and the tribe that would allow the Seminoles to control all sports betting in the state.
The Tribe did say in a statement last night that they look forward to another hearing from the appeals court.
So more back and forth in the courts over the next few months is likely.