On December 8, groups backed by the Las Vegas Sands and those supported by the Seminole Tribe of Florida expected to be in a Tallahassee courtroom over accusations of harassment. The Sands-backed groups claim the Seminole groups have resorted to strong-arm tactics over a ballot initiative related to gambling expansion, according to Florida Politics.
Florida Voters in Charge, financed by Las Vegas Sands, has asked the courts for a restraining order against the tribe’s groups, including Standing Up for Florida and Let the Voters Decide. The lawsuit claims tribe-funded groups would prevent Florida Voters in Charge from getting its initiative on the 2022 ballot.
The Sands-supported group also argues the tribe is running a fake petition-gathering effort to drain workers from its campaign to add to the state constitution a way for card rooms to become casinos.
The lawsuit also claims vendors paid petition gatherers per signature, a misdemeanor under Florida law. And tribe supporters intimidated and harassed workers for Florida Voters in Charge, including offering petition gatherers large sums of money to not collect signatures.
Florida Voters in Charge needs 700,000 more signatures by December 30 to allow supervisors time to verify the names.
In related news, federal court in November ruled that the Seminole Tribe’s compact with the state of Florida was illegal. As a result, the Hard Rock sportsbook app shut down on December 4.
What happens to the money lost by bettors while the app collected wagers? And what happens to the money made by the sportsbook? An expert told FOX 13 people who lost their wagers placed after the November 23 compact order may be due a refund.
The Seminoles have paid $75 million to the state since October.
“Presumably, the tribe would be entitled to get that money back if the entire compact is invalid. But you have to remember that the tribe and the state are working together here in lockstep in negotiating the compact. They’re on the same side of the controversy,” attorney Daniel Wallach said.
“There is no more authority of law under which these bets were being placed. And it sets up a really interesting dynamic whether the Seminole Tribe will either voluntarily refund monies to customers who requested or fight or resist those overtures. And it will lead to litigation,” Wallach said.
Florida and the tribe can draw up a new compact which permits in-person sports betting, but mobile wagers may have to wait a while.
Florida Education Champions is gathering signatures on a petition of its own. The group wants to add a measure to the 2022 ballot that would legalize sports betting statewide if approved.
“With so much dissatisfaction over losing the opportunity to bet on sports after having had it for three weeks, I think there’ll be much more incentive for Florida voters, customers, people who want to bet on sports to take advantage of this opportunity to vote in favor of it,” Wallach said.
If they get enough signatures, the measure still requires a 60 percent majority The organization Florida Education Champions still needs to collect enough signatures to have the measure added to the ballot. And then the measure requires a 60 percent majority to pass.
