## National Address: Will the Highest Court Examine the Florida Wagering Case?
Greetings from iGB’s National Address, where we summarize the most significant developments in North American athletic wagering this week, and briefly discuss other news we find intriguing.
**National Address: Review of this week’s occurrences in North America**
Alex Koma, a journalist for the Washington City Paper, reported that Frank Suarez, the lottery and gaming head for the Washington, D.C. Lottery Office, has stepped down. Suarez has accepted a comparable position with the Connecticut Lottery. The OLG director has been in a difficult situation for months as the D.C. Council has been considering dissolving the region’s monopoly. Suarez has been under intense scrutiny from Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie.
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer, which oversees the lottery, told me that Suarez will be assuming the new role of Director of the Connecticut Lottery. He will officially depart D.C. on July 31st.
**The future of athletic wagering in Florida…**
Justices of the Highest Court met on Thursday (June 13th) to determine whether to hear oral arguments in the case of Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Deb Haaland, et al. This case could determine the future of legal athletic wagering in Florida. According to the Highest Court website, the results of the meeting will be announced on June 17th at 9:30 AM EST.
The core of the matter is whether the Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland, should give her stamp of approval to the 2021 pact between Florida and the Seminole Tribe. This pact permits wagers to be deemed as having been made on tribal territory.
In other words, any wager made through tribal servers in Florida is considered to be taking place on Native American land. The agreement is being contested by a racetrack, West Flagler, which claims that Haaland exceeded her authority in endorsing the deal. There are also queries regarding the agreement itself, including whether the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act encompasses off-track betting, and if the agreement contravenes the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
The champion of competitive hot dog consumption will be indulging in a Netflix special. Joey Chestnut, who appears to be absent from Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating competition, will be going head-to-head against his long-time adversary. Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi have agreed to a live Labor Day all-beef hot dog eating contest on Netflix. The contest is scheduled to air on September 2nd, according to the Associated Press.
There has been a significant amount of drama surrounding Chestnut this week, as he stated that he was prohibited from participating in the Nathan’s contest due to his signing of a deal with Impossible Foods. Major League Eating asserted that the deal conflicted with Nathan’s.
Major League Eating expressed dissatisfaction with Joey Chestnut’s decision to represent a rival brand and hopes that he will return to Nathans.
The territorial disagreement between Kansas and Missouri persists.
Earlier this week, Kansas City’s chief executive, Tyrone Garner, voiced his support for a proposal to relocate the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas Royals from Missouri to Kansas, as reported by CDC Gaming. The Chiefs are contemplating a move following the failure of a sales tax initiative aimed at modernizing Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas legislation permits the use of gambling tax revenue to entice professional teams to the state. However, the tax revenue generated solely from legalized gambling is insufficient to generate adequate funds. Lawmakers are reportedly considering issuing bonds to finance the construction of professional sports arenas.
The Kansas Legislature is scheduled to convene a special session on June 18th to focus on tax reductions.
Bernie Kosar was dismissed due to gambling and initiated legal proceedings.
Former Cleveland Browns quarterback and current NFL commentator Bernie Kosar has filed a lawsuit against BIGPLAY Media, according to Cleveland.com. Kosar alleges that company employees “coerced” him into placing a real-money wager on the day the company launched in Ohio. The bet on the Browns to triumph over the Steelers ultimately resulted in the loss of his broadcasting position with the Browns in 2023. NFL personnel are prohibited from engaging in gambling activities involving their own team or the league.
Kosar is seeking $850,000 in compensation, including $25,000 in legal fees.
The Cherokee Nation has received approval to construct a gambling establishment in Pope County.
The Arkansas Racing Commission accepted the Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s proposal to build a casino in Pope County on Wednesday, June 12th.
The suggestion encompasses a lodging establishment with two hundred sleeping quarters and a gaming hall spanning fifty thousand square feet, showcasing twelve hundred slot machines and thirty-two table games. Furthermore, there will be a cutting-edge sportsbook and a designated poker area. The ARC is required to issue the permit within thirty days.
Gulfside Casino Partners also presented a request. The panel declined to review it, citing the absence of a “letter of endorsement from the local governing body (i.e., court of record or county judge)” in the application. Due to the omission, the panel deemed the request incomplete.
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**Other News…**
Mega Millions participants will experience improved odds and larger jackpots in 2025, according to Lottery Geeks. Mega Millions previously declared it would increase the price to five dollars. Details of what’s to come were unveiled at the Montana Lottery Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 12.
Digital gaming company Greentube announced it will be entering Ontario through a collaboration with Caesars Entertainment. Players of Caesars Palace online casino and the company’s sportsbook will be able to play games like Thunder Cash and Dolphin’s Pearl, as well as other North American exclusives. Additionally, Greentube recently launched Silver Lux: Big Win Spinner.
Jefferys stock analysis firm unveiled its monthly summary of brick-and-mortar casino foot traffic on Thursday, June 13th. The report indicated that the count of physical customers in regional areas rose by 5.1% annually. Nevertheless, this figure remains beneath 2019 levels.
Hard Rock will inaugurate its permanent spot in Rockford, Illinois on August 29th. The grand unveiling will encompass a guitar-smashing event. As per the Beloit Daily News, the site will boast 1,300 slot machines, 50 table games, a poker room, and a sports wagering zone.
Daily fantasy game provider PrizePicks declared a collaboration with Kindbridge Behavioral Health. Through this partnership, PrizePicks patrons and front-line workers will gain access to complimentary gambling issue services.
News Compilation on iGB
Will Washington D.C. possess an open competitive market?
FanDuel augmented Washington D.C.’s betting volume by 450% in the initial month.
Supervisors are taking a firm stance against the illicit market.
Redistricting in the Senate could render Alabama legislators more receptive to gambling.
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