Federal Government Seeks Additional Delay in Florida Gambling Dispute Case

The federal government wants more time to deal with the legal issues around gambling in Florida.

The U.S. Justice Department has asked for more time in a court case about gambling in Florida. This case is about a 2021 agreement that lets the Seminole tribe have betting activities over the state through computers on their land, which the government had previously approved.

Information about the Request for More Time

• The government's response is delayed due to attorneys being preoccupied with other matters.
• A new deadline of 12 May has been proposed.
• West Flagler Associates (WFA), the opposing side in the case, does not object to this extension.

The U.S. Department of the Interior was supposed to reply by February 12, but got more time and now has until April 12 to do so. The main lawyer, Elizabeth Prelogar, said they needed the extra time because the lawyers working on it are really busy.

Background of the Case

People are questioning if the Department of the Interior and leader Deb Haaland should have allowed the agreement that lets people gamble using the Seminole tribe's Hard Rock Bet system all over Florida, as if all betting happens on the tribe's land.

Legal Hurdles and Developments

On February 8, WFA asked the Supreme Court to review the case after a lower court overturned a decision that had been in favor of the Seminole tribe running gambling operations. The main issue is whether the agreement with the tribe is lawful under Amendment 3, which since 2018 requires voters to approve any expansion of gambling.

Even though the Florida Supreme Court won't look at a similar case, the U.S. Supreme Court might still consider this argument because it affects the rights of indigenous tribes to govern themselves.

Chances of the Supreme Court Taking Action

The Supreme Court chooses to hear only a small number—about 100 to 150—out of the 7,000 cases it gets each year. It's not certain that they will take on any given case.

Next Steps in the Legal Process

After agreeing to extend the time, the Supreme Court is waiting for a reply from the Department of the Interior. Once they get that, they'll decide if they should consider the case. Meanwhile, despite the legal issues, the Seminole tribe opened its Hard Rock Bet online service on November 7, 2023.

Implications of the Case

This case's result is very important for the Seminole tribe's gambling businesses and for what will happen with gambling rules in Florida. It's mostly about how much power the state has compared to the tribe's right to govern itself.

Everyone is watching to see what the Supreme Court will say about the ongoing fight over gambling in Florida, involving the gaming businesses, native tribes, and experts in law.