U.S. Supreme Court won't hear Florida sports betting case

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case that challenged the Seminole Tribe's exclusive rights to online sports betting in Florida .

Why it matters: The decision all but guarantees that Florida sports fans can continue to place online bets for the foreseeable future, the Associated Press reports.

Catch up quick: The Seminole Tribe of Florida launched sports betting at its casinos and on the Hard Rock Bet mobile app late last year after a two-year delay due to legal challenges.

• Casino operators West Flagler Associates and the Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. have argued in a series of lawsuits that a 2021 deal the Seminole Tribe struck with Florida violated federal law.
• The deal hinges on the idea that online bets take place on tribal land if that's where the servers are stationed, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel .

The big picture: Opponents of the gaming deal can still file another challenge over equal protection, but that wouldn't stop online betting in the short term, per the Sentinel.

What they're saying: "The Seminole Tribe of Florida applauds today's decision," a spokesperson for the Tribe said in a statement.

Zoom out: The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal could encourage states like New Mexico, Washington and others to model Florida's deal and allow tribes to accept online bets.

• The decision could also "open the door for iGaming, or online casinos, in a number of states," the Sentinel writes.

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