Seminole Tribe shores up Florida monopoly with West Flagler concession
Hard Rock Digital to remain the sole operator in the Sunshine State after pari-mutuel parties agree to refrain from future litigation in return for addition of Jai Alai to Hard Rock Bet app
The Seminole Tribe has reinforced its sports betting monopoly in Florida after West Flagler and other pari-mutuel betting parties agreed to refrain from engaging in future litigation.
The Seminoles hold the monopoly in the Sunshine State via its Hard Rock Bet venture, with that singular market presence now seemingly ironclad after the latest agreement.
West Flagler, along with the Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation and Southwest Florida Enterprises, will not legally challenge the monopoly after years of fighting in Florida.
The Seminole Tribe said: “As part of the agreement, the West Flagler Parties have agreed not to bring or support any future legal challenge to the Seminole Tribe’s gaming operations, including mobile gaming offered by the Seminole Tribe now or in the future.”
In turn, Hard Rock Bet will now offer and promote wagering on Jai Alai, a sport where competitors bounce a ball off a walled-in space via a handheld wicker, similar to squash.
Jai Alai markets will be provided by Battle Court Jai Alai, an affiliate of West Flagler, which hosts Jai Alai tournaments in the state.
Both groups are anticipating the launch of Jai Alai markets on the Hard Rock Bet app in early 2025.
The partnership will bring an end to years of legal wrangling in Florida, which went all the way to the Supreme Court, and give Hard Rock the springboard to use a Floridian monopoly to fund its expansion across the US.
Hard Rock has held the monopoly since the brand relaunched in November 2023, with the Supreme Court denying a petition for a writ of certiorari from West Flagler in June of this year.
The Seminoles relaunched following a ruling from the DC Court of Appeals that backed the tribe’s monopoly status.
The Seminoles originally signed a state compact with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021 to give Hard Rock Digital a monopoly through to 2051.
However, West Flagler and Bonita-Fort Myers were able to challenge the compact, which led to Hard Rock shuttering operations in November 2021 for two years.
The duo had alleged the compact contravened the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, with the servers used to power the Hard Rock online sports betting operations being hosted on tribal lands.
Jim Allen, Seminole Gaming CEO, lauded the agreement as a “win-win” for both parties as he looked ahead to the future relationship.
Allen said: “This agreement establishes a relationship of collaboration among the Seminole Tribe and West Flagler in the State of Florida.
“Rather than engaging in years of additional litigation, this agreement will allow the parties to work together to promote Jai Alai, which has played an important role in Florida’s gaming landscape for nearly 100 years.”
Isadore Havenick, West Flagler Associates vice-president of political affairs, added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Seminole Tribe in support of their gaming operations in Florida and to promote Jai Alai, which has been a critical component of Florida’s gaming industry since the 1920s.
“We are proud that Jai Alai will be featured on the Hard Rock Bet app and we look forward to developing a strong partnership with the Seminole Tribe.”
Speaking at G2E this month, Allen said he was open to partnering with a commercial operator such as FanDuel or DraftKings to give the companies access to the Floridian market.