A federal judge has invalidated a gaming agreement that permitted the Seminole Tribe of Florida to conduct online sports betting, thus putting an end to the activity in the state, which is one of the largest in the United States. The court concluded that the United States Interior Secretary’s August decision to enable the practice—by establishing a contract between the Tribe and the state of Florida—violated sections of the Indian Gaming Regulation Act that allow bettors to be physically situated on tribal territories. West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp., both of which run brick-and-mortar casinos in Florida.
The gaming agreement effectively gave the Tribe a monopoly on internet sports gambling in Florida. It also permitted indigenous casinos, such as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Fort Lauderdale and the other in Tampa, to increase their selection of Las Vegas-style games. However, it raised serious concerns about what it meant to bet on tribal territory in the Internet era. The agreement would have permitted internet sports gambling anywhere around the state as long as it was routed via servers physically situated on the Seminole territory.
Florida’s Gambling Future
Florida’s gaming legislation remains ambiguous, but may there be future efforts to modify this? A 2018 modification meant that gaming measures couldn’t even be submitted for a period, further stalling the process. Unfortunately, events in 2020 have misdirected authorities and politicians away from gaming, so any action on that front will be delayed.
Those who want to work in the sector still have several possibilities. As the recent Ozark season showed, gambling riverboats remain popular owing to the gray area they represent. Gambling on the water is famous for evading land-based laws throughout the Gulf Coast’s tributaries. Because land-based casinos are prohibited by law, floating casinos were created. But, as myth would have it, these riverboats hardly never left their moorings. Instead, they floated beside boardwalks and docks to avoid the land-based building requirement.
Since Hurricane Katrina destroyed numerous riverboats in 2005, legislation has been amended to enable casinos to be established in some parts of Mississippi, for example. This is an instance of legislation being altered in response to changing circumstances. It also shows that the original regulation was fairly arbitrary in the first place.
Florida is one of the world’s most popular vacation locations. However, it still lags short in other areas. While many people have discovered methods to gamble within the confines of the law, others say that there should be less. Regardless, Florida cannot continue to ignore the future of internet gambling, especially while the rest of the global profits from it.
A complex and evolving market
Online gambling in sports or casino games is a significant business in increasing states. There has been a domino effect in that one state legalizing has provided its neighbors more motivation to do the same, particularly on the east coast. After all, New Jersey was indeed the primary force behind the repeal of PASPA in 2018. Real money internet casinos are now available in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, Delaware, and Michigan, while 15 states have allowed online sportsbooks.
On the other hand, the internet has no idea of what are the state or national boundaries. Now you can play at the best online casinos at Casinofy USA. Several online casinos are available, and while they are not legally licensed to operate in Florida. However Floridian gamblers aren’t breaking any laws by utilizing them. It’s a little but significant distinction. People in Florida who wish to gamble online may discover methods to do so in this day and age. However, Florida will get no tax income because such services are technically prohibited.
At the same time, when compelled to use offshore platforms like digital wallets, VPNs, and other similar techniques to evade the system, Florida gamblers will have little protection from dishonest operators. It helps no one and explains why Governor DeSantis was so anxious to get the new agreement.