Florida Sports Betting Lawsuit by Magic City Jai-alai Turned Down by U.S. Supreme Court

Florida Sports Betting Lawsuit by Magic City Jai-alai Turned Down by U.S. Supreme Court

If you’re a sports fan that enjoys making sports bets legally in the state of Florida, you can relax – for now.  This is the highest court in America, and West Flagler Associates just took a punch to the gut.  The United States Supreme Court has refused to upend a 30-year deal giving the tribe total control of sports betting in the state of Florida.  America’s highest court did not give a reason for their decision – as they rarely do so – in an eleven (11) page opinion.

This is a huge decision against the company that owns three jai-alai licenses and the Bonita-Fort Myers gambling facility that was once a dog track like Flagler had in Miami.  The case dates to 2021 when the Hard Rock had been offering sprots betting for about a month, when a federal district judge halted it.  For two years, sports betting had been halted by Flagler Associates until the appeal process unfolded and sports betting has been active since late last year.      

There are other options available for them to halt the next 30 years of exclusive rights going the Hard Rock and on your mobile phone.  This is in addition to have the rights to slot machines (outside the two south Florida counties), blackjack, roulette, and craps.          

The jai-alai operator could file a state challenge in circuit court and other federal legal avenues, all which would likely take several years to pan out, and millions of more dollars in attorney fees.

The big news about this decision by the US Supreme Court could open the pathway to online gambling – such as slot machines, blackjack, craps, and roulette.  Expect that to happen by 2026.