Las Vegas Sands Files Suit in Latest Development Involving Florida Gambling Expansion Saga
The Las Vegas Sands has filed suit against a lobbying group representing the Seminoles in Florida. The suit, filed in Leon County on Wednesday, claims a “tortious interference with business relationships.”
It alleges that the lobbying group representing the Seminoles have tried to prevent Las Vegas Sands from collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to allow for expanded gambling in the Sunshine State. The Seminoles themselves are not named.
Las Vegas Sands is one of two parties pushing the petition drive. The suit claims the Seminoles are attempting to pay off rival signature gatherers through back channels.
From Yogonet:
The lawsuit contends Seminole-backed groups were making payments to rivals through a Maitland, Fla. office run by Missouri-based Only Petition Works, LLC. The money was allegedly funneled through Cornerstone Solutions, a Palm Beach County-based consulting firm. Cornerstone is also allegedly targeting petition gatherers working for a separate gaming measure backed by FanDuel and Draftkings.
Last month a federal judge ruled the Seminoles new mobile app violates Florida law which requires voters to decide any type of gambling expansion.
West Flagler Associates, parent company of Magic City Casino, filed that suit and recently submitted its official response to the Seminole Tribe’s emergency motion for a stay in its Florida mobile sports betting case.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
