It’s another false start for Hard Rock Bet, the sports betting platform of Hard Rock International and the Seminole Tribe, as reported by Sports Handle.
John Roberts, the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, issued an order last week that requires a response from the Seminoles by October 18. The order is a response to a request filed by West Flagler and Associates (WFA) to stay the launch of the Hard Rock platform while WFA appeals the verdict that would allow the launch.
WFA, the former owners of the Mardi Gras casino in Miami, sued the state in 2021 to stop the monopoly granted to the Seminoles in a compact negotiated with Governor Ron DeSantis. In June, the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on the case, which seemed to clear the way for Hard Rock Bet to get started.
But WFA sued to stop it while the larger issue is unresolved, and filed a separate suit against DeSantis, which is winding its way to the state Supreme Court.
Although the Seminoles haven’t commented on the case, it’s expected that they won’t launch until all the legal challenges have been resolved.
Florida is now in the minority of states that have yet to launch sports betting, but it’s expected to be one of the biggest markets if and when it does get underway.
