New agreement between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and West Flagler ends ongoing litigation. The parties present plans to include Jai Alai in the Hard Rock Bet app. The launch is scheduled for 2025.
Seminole Tribe and West Flagler End Legal Dispute
The Seminole Tribe and West Flagler Associates have reached a formal agreement. The settlement effectively ends ongoing legal conflicts regarding gaming rights in Florida.
This new agreement also sets the stage for a partnership in which Jai Alai betting, managed by Battle Court Jai Alai, an affiliate of West Flagler, will be available on the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Bet app in early 2025.
Under the terms of this agreement, West Flagler commits to refrain from any future legal actions against the Seminole Tribe’s gaming operations, which include current and future mobile gaming services.
Both parties will focus on this newly created partnership to expand betting options by adding Jai Alai as a featured sport on Hard Rock Bet.
This development comes after the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in March 2024 to uphold the Seminole Tribe’s gaming agreement with the state. Thus, the tribe now has exclusive rights to online sports betting.
Impact on online gaming operations
The pact faced several challenges from West Flagler and other gaming entities. Because they argued that he granted the tribe a monopoly on sports betting and online gaming in Florida.
But despite these legal disputes, the Seminole Tribe’s online gaming operations contributed more than $120 million in state revenue in 2024. So state projections indicate potential for revenue growth in the coming years.
Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming, said, “Instead of engaging in years of litigation, this agreement will allow the parties to work together to promote Jai Alai. For the sport has played an important role in the Florida gaming landscape for nearly 100 years.”
Isadore Havenick of West Flagler added, “We are excited to partner with the Seminole Tribe. This support for gaming operations in Florida is important for the promotion of Jai Alai. Furthermore, it has been an essential component of Florida’s gaming industry since the 1920s.”
