Florida Oral Arguments Set Stage for Sports Betting-Related Ruling in Brand-new Year
A judgment on the case that might decide the future of sports wagering in Florida is on track to show up next year after interested parties argued their positions on Wednesday before a panel of judges.
Lawyers on behalf of the U.S. federal government, the state of Florida, and two casinos appeared in front of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for oral arguments.
After an hour-and-a-half of input from the attorneys, along with questions from the bench, the judges said they would take the case under advisement. A decision on the matter will likely come at some point in the first half of 2023, according to sports betting lawyer Daniel Wallach.
Decision will likely be provided in February-April variety, with outside chance for late January. And the judgment may not even be the last word on the issue, as the non-prevailing celebration will likely look for rehearing "en banc" before complete court, with SCOTUS possibility too. https://t.co/dvPZJusE1h
The arguments made Wednesday are in connection with a federal judge's choice last year to toss out a compact agreed to in between Florida and the state's Seminole Tribe that, among other things, allowed the latter to provide retail and online sports wagering websites.
In return for the reliable monopoly on legal sports betting in the Sunshine State, the Seminole accepted make payments to the government, including $2.5 billion over the first 5 years of the 30-year gaming arrangement.
After being authorized by the Florida legislature, the compact was sent to the Department of the Interior for another approval, which was technically received after the secretary of the interior took no action on the contract.