With the future of mobile sports betting in Florida at stake, the federal government took the first step in appealing a judge's decision that scrapped a deal that gave the Seminole Tribe control over sports wagering in the state.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees tribal gambling, filed a notice last Wednesday that it intends to appeal a ruling by Washington, D.C.-based U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich that invalidated a 30-year deal negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis and tribal leaders and ratified by state lawmakers in May. The federal agency faced a Saturday deadline to file a notice of appeal. As is typical, the notice did not provide details of arguments that will be made in the appeal.