Gov. Desantis, Seminole Tribe Officially Sign New Gaming Compact

By Giovanni Shorter | April 23, 2021
Governor Desantis and the Seminole Tribe
  • Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a new gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe, allowing for sports betting.
  • The compact also includes offering racetracks and roulettes to the local tribes.
  • The Florida Legislature will come back for a special session in May to pass a bill authorizing the compact.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida is now closer than ever to potentially bringing legal sports betting to its lawbooks the state and Seminole Tribe came to an agreement to expand Florida gambling.

The has been signed by both the Seminole Tribe and Governor Ron DeSantis, which shows good signs for sports betting to be approved at a later session.

The compact also expands the Florida legal gambling market as a whole, offering racetracks and roulettes to tribal casinos.

Sports Betting In Florida

Florida has historically failed to pass any legislation that would bring sports betting to the state, but there is more optimism this time around.

Sources state that Gov. DeSantis personally met with the Seminole tribe and ironed out the details of a new compact that would allow for an expanded legal gambling market in Florida

“The Seminole Tribe of Florida is committed to a mutually-beneficial gaming compact with the State of Florida and looks forward to its approval by the Florida Legislature, the Seminole Tribal Council and the U.S. Department of the Interior,” said Marcellus Osceola Jr., Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman.

Gov. DeSantis has now signed the compact, and the legislature plans to vote on the bill at a May 17 special session. The Florida regular legislative session will kick off on Friday, April 30, which is only a week away. The special session will be the time that lawmakers can focus on the gambling bill.

“Once we actually get to see the words on the page, I would anticipate that there may be a special session to address those issues,” said Osceola.

While there is optimism surrounding the bill, it is still too early to say this is a guarantee. Florida has historically been opposed to any legislation to expand the gambling market.

Anti-gambling lobbyists, Disney, and city officials in multiple cities across the Sunshine State have vocally spoken out against the idea of expanding gambling in Florida, partially why any bill has been dead on arrival.

“It’s the same rumor every session,” said Izzy Havenick, Vice President of Magic City Casino.

“Until I see something, I don’t believe anyone,” said Havenick, who added his own lobbyists are split on whether a deal will actually surface. “I find it impossible to believe at this point in session that we have a deal that no one has seen.”

The bill will be fighting an uphill battle, but should it reign supreme, Florida betting fans could finally see a local betting market of their own.

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