In a surprising move, the Seminole Tribe has launched a mobile sports betting app despite ongoing legal challenges. The app, which allows users to place bets on sports events, will initially be available only to those in Florida with early access or residents of Arizona, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and New Jersey. Users from other states reported that their attempts to place bets were blocked on Tuesday.

The announcement comes just a week after the tribe revealed that in-person sports betting would resume on December 7 at all South Florida locations. However, the return of mobile sports betting was not mentioned at the time. Some have expressed confusion over why the tribe did not announce both initiatives simultaneously.

Legal experts speculate that the Seminole Tribe may have deliberately kept the launch of the app under wraps to avoid potential legal challenges. Currently, two lawsuits filed by West Flagler and Associates on behalf of pari-mutuel companies are seeking to block the gaming compact and specifically target mobile sports betting. These lawsuits could potentially force the tribe to pause the app once again.

One of the lawsuits is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that mobile sports betting goes against the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), as it doesn't necessarily occur on tribal land. However, the gaming compact asserts that the bets would comply with IGRA since the servers accepting the bets are located on Seminole Tribe land.

The other lawsuit is before the Florida Supreme Court, claiming that the law violates an amendment requiring a 60% voter approval for any expansion of gambling in the state.

Despite the legal challenges, the Seminole Tribe believes it will ultimately prevail in both cases. However, analysts are surprised by the decision to launch the app before the conclusion of all court proceedings, as it carries potential risks and could be seen as a disregard for the ongoing legal process.

Legal experts also point out that each month without mobile sports betting results in significant financial losses for the tribe, which is likely a motivating factor behind their decision to proceed with the launch.

It remains to be seen whether West Flagler will file an application for an emergency stay, which could potentially halt sports betting once again. The timeline for such action is expected to be tight, with legal experts estimating it may occur within the next two to three weeks.

A court ruling on these matters seems imminent, which could have a short-term impact on the future of online sports betting in Florida. As stakeholders await further developments, the Seminole Tribe is forging ahead, taking both business and legal risks in their pursuit of this lucrative market.