Published: April 22, 2021

Florida poised to offer sports betting under major gambling deal

TALLAHASSEE — Florida is on the verge of approving a substantial gambling deal that could result in the nation’s third largest state allowing sports betting at casinos run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida as well as at smaller gambling facilities, multiple sources with knowledge of the ongoing negotiations have told POLITICO.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has been personally involved in the negotiations with the tribe during the last few weeks. If the deal goes through as anticipated — and is approved by the Florida Legislature during a yet-to-be-announced special session — it would mark a major achievement for DeSantis. His predecessor, Gov. Rick Scott, was unable to piece together a broader gaming pact.

Some sources with direct awareness of the talks contend a final deal has been reached, although one cautioned that no deal had been reached but that “it’s as close as it has ever been.” One well-informed gambling lobbyist said the deal was concluded but that DeSantis and his lawyers were carefully going over the wording before announcing it.

Meredith Beatrice, a spokesperson for DeSantis, said on Wednesday that she had no information on the topic.

For years, gambling interests in the Sunshine State have waged both a public and shadow effort to retool the state’s arcane laws and overcome decades of opposition to wide-open gambling in the tourist mecca.

The Seminoles won approval to offer blackjack and slot machines on their reservations more than a decade ago — but since that time have stopped making payments to the state amid finger-pointing about how Florida was regulating tracks that also offer limited forms of gambling.

Scott tried to negotiate a new deal on several occasions, but it fell apart amid legislative resistance. This year, Senate President Wilton Simpson took the lead on negotiations with the Seminole Tribe, but in the last several weeks DeSantis got directly involved to bring it to a conclusion.

Katie Betta, a spokesperson for Simpson, said “to our knowledge, negotiations are ongoing.”

Izzy Havenick, vice president of Magic City Casino, noting the multitude of previously doomed efforts, said he has heard rumblings that a deal was imminent but remained skeptical.

“It’s the same rumor every session. 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 broad parameters of the deal — as confirmed by multiple sources — are that the Seminole Tribe would control sports betting in the state and would offer it at their casinos, including the Hard Rock locations in Hollywood and Tampa. But sports betting would also be allowed at existing tracks and other poker rooms around the state where the tribe and other gambling operators would split the revenue generated.

The Seminoles would also be allowed to turn their properties into full-blown, Las Vegas-like casinos by offering craps and roulette. They would also be permitted to expand operations at some of the other locations and enlarge the footprint at their Hollywood site, which already features a giant hotel shaped like a guitar.

One lobbyist said that DeSantis wants to hold a special session “ASAP” to pass the agreement. House Speaker Chris Sprowls did not want to take up major gambling legislation in the waning moments of the regular 60-day session, another source close to the negotiation said.

Running parallel with a new deal between the tribe and the state is a separate bill that would let existing tracks — save those with thoroughbred racing — to be allowed to offer gambling without having to run races. And these gambling locations would be able to keep what is known as designated player games. Poker rooms use the rule to offer fast-paced poker games such as Texas hold 'em.

The negotiated deal would not automatically open the door to a casino in Miami Beach as sought after by South Florida billionaire Jeffrey Soffer. Sources said that the compact would allow an existing gambling license to be shifted to a new location — but that legislators would still need to change state law to let it happen.

https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2021/04/22/florida-poised-to-offer-sports-betting-under-major-gambling-deal-1377023

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