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Florida

Florida is probably still a long way off from legalizing online casinos but has become a focus for gambling operators and media due to its unique model for online sports betting and the legal battle that has ensued.

The Sunshine State has a constitutional prohibition on gambling. So, conventional sports betting legislation would have required a referendum. Instead, Gov. Ron DeSantis authorized an online sports betting monopoly for the Seminole Tribe through a compact.

Making the Seminoles’ Hard Rock Bet available statewide required interpreting a bet “made on tribal land” to mean “received by gaming servers located on tribal land.”

Local retail gambling operator West Flagler Associates embarked on a multi-year legal battle to prevent the monopoly, so far without success. This has involved cases in both federal court and Florida state court.