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The Seminole Tribe of Florida sued DraftKings this month, accusing the company of operating an illegal sportsbook in a state where the tribe controls sports betting.
The Seminoles have the exclusive right to offer sports betting in Florida per a 2021 gaming compact which statewide mobile wagering via the Hard Rock Bet platform. In return, the Seminole Tribe shares revenue with the state. Florida received $1.04 billion under the compact in the fiscal year that ended June 30.
In a 72-page legal complaint filed Oct. 8 in Broward County Circuit Court, the Seminoles name DraftKings and its CEO, Jason Robins, as defendants. The tribe contends that they “openly advertise that they offer a sportsbook throughout Florida” but “they hide from the public that their sportsbook is illegal.”
Legal claims include unfair competition accusations
DraftKings offers Pick6, which it describes as peer-to-peer fantasy sports, in the state. Customers can also access DraftKings Predictions via the company’s Super App, which also includes a sportsbook, an online casino and lottery offerings, although those products are unavailable within the state.
The Seminole Tribe argues that both products amount to sports betting. The complaint includes side-by-side screenshots showing that the Florida interface of the Super App looks almost identical to DraftKings’ licensed sportsbook in New Jersey, including point spreads and parlays. It also says Robins has denied that there is any difference between the sports prediction markets DraftKings offers in Florida and those it offers in states where sports betting is legal.
The complaint also accuses DraftKings of bypassing Florida-mandated safeguards. It alleges that the company accepts customers as young as 18, below Florida’s minimum betting age of 21, and offers college player props that the compact prohibits.
In addition, the Seminole tribe alleges that DraftKings is engaged in unfair competition and violates the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act:
“Defendants market Pick6 and sports wagers on the Super App sportsbook to Florida consumers as lawful, when those products in fact violate Florida law and the Compact and expose Florida consumers to criminal liability.”
A separate count accuses Robins of violating Florida’s racketeering law through his control of the companies. The complaint states that “Robins conducts the affairs of two enterprises within the meaning of the Florida RICO Act.”
The tribe asked the court to bar DraftKings from offering or advertising the products in Florida and to order the company to surrender its Florida profits. It also seeks a ruling that both products constitute illegal gambling.
DraftKings and the governor react
A DraftKings spokesperson said its prediction markets comply with the federal framework under the Commodity Exchange Act and that Pick6 does not qualify as sports betting, according to the Tampa Bay Tribune. The company said it respects the tribe’s sovereignty and remains “confident in our legal position.” DraftKings entered the prediction markets business in December 2025.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke to reporters about the case on Oct. 8, saying the compact gave the tribe authority over sports betting. The lawsuit comes as DraftKings’ prediction markets business continues to grow. When the company reported second-quarter results in August, Robins said the business was “growing faster than we anticipated.”
