Seminole Tribe Sues DraftKings Over Florida Sports Betting

MIAMI — The Seminole Tribe of Florida sued DraftKings on Thursday, alleging the sports betting company operates an illegal sportsbook that violates the tribe's exclusive rights granted under a 2021 state compact.

The 70-plus page lawsuit claims DraftKings is circumventing state gaming laws by marketing its platform as a peer-to-peer betting or prediction market instead of a traditional sportsbook. Under the 2021 compact, the tribe secured exclusive rights to operate sportsbooks in Florida in exchange for a revenue share that funds public benefits.

The tribe argues DraftKings' operations directly infringe upon this agreement.

“They have the exclusive right under this compact for sports betting and DraftKings is doing this but calling it a different thing,” said Eric Schwartzreich, a South Florida attorney not involved in the case. “Well, wait a minute, we’re not sports betting here, this is prediction market controlled by federal law, we’re not in violation of the state compact. And that’s the betting argument that is being made here.”

A court decision in the ongoing legal battle is pending. DraftKings did not respond to requests for comment.