Florida State-Tribal Gaming Compact Receives Tacit Approval from US Department of Interior, Moving State Closer to Sports Betting Launch

On Friday, August 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior (the Department) issued a letter indicating it has declined to take action regarding Florida’s state-tribal gaming compact (the Compact) within the 45-day window prescribed by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). As a result, the Compact is deemed to have been approved, paving the way for the Seminole Tribe to officially “launch” sports betting operations on October 15, 2021.

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Washington Reaches Deal with 15 Tribes for On-Site Sports Betting

On July 12, 2021, Washington Governor Jay Inslee approved amended state-tribal gaming compacts with 15 of the state’s Indian Tribes that would allow the Tribes to offer retail and online sports betting on the premises of tribal casinos. The compacts were renegotiated pursuant to legislation enacted in March 2020, which allowed the Tribes to request that their compacts be amended to include on-premises sports betting. The newly amended compacts and forthcoming sports betting regulations will require that any vendor who provides sports betting-related goods and services to the Tribes obtain a sports wagering license.

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Florida-Seminole Sports Betting Gaming Compact Passes Legislature, but Court Challenges Are Expected

On May 19, 2021, the Florida legislature approved a 30-year deal granting the Seminole Indian Tribe (Tribe) exclusive rights to operate sports betting in the state. While the Tribal Gaming Compact received bipartisan support in the legislature and will bring considerable revenue to the state, it will most certainly face legal challenges by gambling opponents on state and federal levels. continue reading