Florida sports betting case goes into overtime with deadline extension

Florida’s Supreme Court has extended the deadline given to Florida’s state authorities to file a response to a West Flagler Associates and Bonita Fort Myers Corporation petition to overturn a controversial tribal gaming compact.

In a single page order published on Friday (October 20), the Supreme Court extended the deadline, which was due to expire on November 1, for a further 30-day period until December 1.

“Multiple extensions of time for the same filing are discouraged. Absent extenuating circumstances, subsequent requests may be denied. All other times are extended accordingly,” the Florida Supreme Court wrote.

The request for an extension was filed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Renner, and Kathleen Passidomo, president of the Florida Senate, with the legislators citing a “heavy workload” for the Florida Solicitor General’s office as the reason for the request, which will pen the response to the petition.

DeSantis, Renner, and Passidomo, in their respective legislative capacities, are named as respondents to the West Flagler Associates petition, which seeks a Florida Supreme Court review of the decision to sign off a 30-year tribal gaming compact allowing the Seminole Tribe to offer sports betting in the state.

Claims made center on the unconstitutionality of the compact, which the Florida parimutuel suggests should have been put to a statewide vote rather than being approved by the legislature.

Florida-based advocacy group, No Casinos, has also filed in support of West Flagler and Bonita Fort Myers’ claims.

In its response to the initial plea for an extension submitted late on Thursday (October 19), West Flagler Associates and Bonita Fort Myers branded the attempt as “misplaced”, casting doubt on reasons made.

This included refuting petitioners’ claims of delay tactics in both waiting two years to file the petition for a Florida Supreme Court hearing and not moving to expedite proceedings to the natural conclusion.

“While there is no imminent emergency, due to recent recall and stay of the Circuit Court of Appeals’ mandate by US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Robers issued on October 12, 2023, neither petitioners nor respondents nor this court can know whether or how the US Supreme Court will proceed over the next two months – or even whether the Seminole Tribe will decide to take matters into its own hands and launch its sports betting application statewide,” West Flagler wrote in its response.

In addition, West Flagler Associates and the Bonita Fort Myers Corporation refuted any suggestions they had asked for “emergency relief” from the courts while the claims were being assessed.

However, the duo suggested that they will do so, should circumstances change in the case.

The case continues.