Sports Gambling News In Florida
US Federal Gambling Laws That Affect Sports Gambling In Florida. In 2018, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection act was repealed by the Supreme Court, allowing each individual state the authority to determine their own will regarding the legalization or prohibition of state-licensed sports betting within their boundaries. 1 day ago The latest attempt to legalize Florida sports betting through the lottery has been filed. Now, the countdown starts until the bill all but certainly dies. Jeff Brandes filed SB 392, which would authorize sports betting in Florida regulated by the Florida Lottery. TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate leaders are continuing to huddle on a sweeping gambling deal that could open the door to sports betting in the state, but the Seminole Tribe of Florida — a key player. December 11, 2020 — Disney unequivocally no longer anti-sports gambling as it boosts ESPN Daytona Beach News Journal December 10, 2020 — Daytona Beach Kennel Club seeks to stop plan for gambling facility near St.
Talks between Senator Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby, FL) and the Seminole Tribe could bring sports betting to Florida possibly bypassing the need of a statewide referendum. Simpson, who is lined up to be the Senate president after the 2020 elections, is negotiating a revenue-sharing compact where the tribe would pay Florida for the rights to operate specific kinds of gambling.
According to published reports, Simpson is negotiating the possibility that sports betting would be allowed at the state’s horse and dog tracks plus jai alai frontons. The Seminoles would become the conduit for sports betting, getting a portion of money bet outside their facilities while also running a sportsbook in their casinos.
However, there are hurdles to overcome before Floridians can walk up to a kiosk and place a bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Florida Panthers.
“Designated player” games offered at pari-mutuel cardrooms are important to any deal struck – they also could be problematic. Those existing games, such as blackjack, according to the tribe and a federal judge, infringe on the exclusivity promised to the Seminoles in a 2010 agreement with Florida.
In the arrangement between Florida and the tribe, which expires May 31, the Seminoles pay $350 million for enforcement on how the games are played. The Florida legislative session ends May 3.
In published reports, the tribe has requested stricter enforcement of the original agreement and state officials concur.
To appease cardrooms that will be affected by that enforcement, bingo is being offered as a bandage. It’s still up in the air as to whether bingo is the answer considering the anticipated revenue loss from the high-stakes “designated player” games.
Something pari-mutuel facilities could get behind would be allowing sports betting a dog and horse tracks and jai alai frontons. But even sports wagers with bingo likely won’t offset the loss of card games.
There is still the question of running sports betting through the tribe is enough to get around the recently enacted law that puts expansion of “games typically found in casinos” into the hands of citizens and not the Legislature.
Will Florida Legalize Sports Gambling
Simpson told CBS Media he thinks a referendum won’t be necessary.
But right now, the clock is ticking on whether an agreement can be struck before the end of the session.
Lobbyist Brian Ballard, who represents the interest of several sports leagues and pari-mutuels, thinks with time winding down it might prompt concessions.
“You have to have time pressures to make gaming deals, so three weeks left in session is beginning to put that level of pressure on. I think you need those things, otherwise the parties won’t come together,” he told Tampa Bay Business Journal.
House Speaker Jose Oliva, too, thinks there is still time for an agreement on gambling.
Sports Gambling News In Florida News
“It depends on what the nature of that agreement will be because some of that will require a lot of back-and-forth,” Oliva said. “But I think that there is still time.”