The Seminole Tribe of Florida filed a lawsuit Thursday in Broward County alleging that DraftKings is running an illegal sports‑betting operation in the state. The 72‑page complaint says DraftKings’ Florida platform violates state law and the Tribe’s exclusive compact, which gives the Tribe sole rights to sports betting throughout Florida.
Compact and exclusive rights
The Tribe operates the Hard Rock Bet sportsbook under a 30‑year agreement signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and ratified by state lawmakers in 2021. That compact guarantees the Tribe’s monopoly on all sports‑betting activity in Florida and provides the state with more than $1 billion in annual revenue.
According to the lawsuit, DraftKings’ “prediction market” functions like a traditional sportsbook, accepting wagers that divert money away from the Tribe’s regulated system. The complaint cites public statements by DraftKings CEO Jason Robins describing the product as “functionally identical” to the company’s sportsbook offerings in other states.
Tribe’s claims
The filing argues that every wager taken by DraftKings “siphons away revenue that funds both the Tribe’s and Florida’s public programs and government services, diverts betting from Florida’s regulated system into an underground, unregulated, and outlawed book, and deprives the Floridian who places such a bet of the consumer protections guaranteed by Florida law.”
State economists note that the compact generated $1.04 billion for Florida in the most recent fiscal year, a figure that is projected to grow as sports betting expands.
Responses from officials
Governor DeSantis, speaking at a Miami event, said he had not read the lawsuit but believes the compact “clearly contemplated” the Tribe’s exclusive authority to run sports betting in Florida.
A DraftKings spokesperson countered that the company’s prediction‑market offering complies with the Commodity Exchange Act and is a peer‑to‑peer fantasy‑sports variant, not sports betting. The spokesperson added that DraftKings “has deep respect for Seminole Tribe’s sovereignty” and remains confident in its legal position.
Broader regulatory context
The case marks the first test in Florida of how the state will treat emerging online gambling platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, which argue that their services are more akin to markets than casinos. The Trump administration previously classified similar platforms under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a stance echoed by DraftKings.
Governor DeSantis indicated that the ultimate resolution may require federal action, saying, “The question is whether a certain regime on sports gaming applies to prediction markets, or whether they fall under a different regulatory framework. Ultimately, you are going to see federal decisions, probably at the appeals level, and then Congress may act.”
Potential impact
If the court orders DraftKings to cease operations in Florida, the Tribe could face a significant loss of exclusive revenue, which in turn would affect the billions of dollars the state receives under the compact. The lawsuit also underscores the growing tension between traditional tribal gaming operations and newer digital betting platforms.
Both sides have pledged to defend their positions vigorously as the case moves forward, setting the stage for a landmark decision on the future of online gambling in Florida.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
