The Seminole Tribe of Florida filed a 72‑page complaint Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, seeking to block DraftKings from offering its prediction‑market and Pick6 fantasy products in the state. The Tribe alleges that DraftKings is running an illegal, unlicensed sports gambling operation that sidesteps the 2021 Florida Gaming Compact.
Legal basis of the suit
Under the 2021 Compact, the Tribe holds exclusive rights to provide statewide sports wagering through its Hard Rock Bet platform until 2051. The complaint asserts that DraftKings’ prediction markets and Pick6 product bypass state‑mandated consumer protections, including strict age verification, responsible‑gaming limits, and bans on certain college‑sports player prop bets.
Responses from officials and DraftKings
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis weighed in at a Miami press conference, noting that the compact “clearly contemplated” the Tribe’s ability to run sports betting in Florida. He said he had not read the filing in detail but emphasized the agreement’s intent to protect the Tribe’s exclusive rights.
DraftKings responded that its prediction markets operate under the federal Commodity Exchange Act and that Pick6 is a peer‑to‑peer fantasy‑sports variant, not sports betting. A company spokesperson said, “We have deep respect for the Seminole Tribe’s sovereignty and remain confident in our legal position.”
What the Tribe is seeking
The Tribe is asking the court to issue a preliminary injunction that would halt DraftKings’ advertising and offering of the disputed products in Florida. It also seeks an order requiring DraftKings to turn over any profits earned from its Florida operations. Any recovered funds would be directed to problem‑gambling and consumer‑protection initiatives.
Unresolved questions
The court has not yet set a date for a preliminary ruling, and the filing does not disclose the exact amount of revenue DraftKings has generated from its Florida offerings. Both sides are expected to present additional evidence in the coming weeks.
Implications for Florida’s gambling landscape
If the Tribe prevails, DraftKings could be forced to cease its prediction‑market and Pick6 services statewide, reinforcing the Tribe’s exclusive wagering rights. The case also highlights the broader tension between private operators and tribal gaming compacts, a dynamic that could shape future regulatory approaches to online and fantasy‑sports products across the state.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
