From David Volz
The Seminole Gaming Compact has been passed by the Florida Legislature. Now the deal must receive approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior which oversees tribal gambling. If it is approved sports gambling including online sports gambling could begin on October 15.
Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola, Jr. said in a statement, “It is a historic and mutually-beneficial partnership between the State and the Seminole Tribe that will positively impact all Floridians for decades to come.”
Florida’s original compact with the Seminoles gave the tribe exclusive rights to slot machines and blackjack. In exchange, the tribe paid the state several billion dollars. But this revenue essentially stopped when the deal expired in 2015.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said, “With this new compact, the state will now see a large stream of reoccurring revenue to the tun of billions of dollars over the new few years. The deal will also create over 2,000 jobs.”
There may be some legal challenges. There is a group known as No Casinos that is opposed to this deal. No Casinos sponsored a 2018 constitutional amendment that would require future gaming casinos to be approved by voters. No Casinos believes the hub and spoke model for sports betting which means the Seminole Tribe is the hub and the pari-mutuels are the spokes is a violation because the gamblers are not on tribal grounds.
No Casinos President has said the fight is just beginning and that the organization is committed to ensuring that the will of the people who voted to give Florida voters the right to authorize casino gambling in Florida will be respected.
