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Florida Legislature To Discuss Casino And Gaming Expansion Compact Today

The Florida Legislation will debate over the expansion of casinos and gaming in the state today. The deal is anticipated to be the largest expansion of gaming in the state in over a decade.

A new compact has been signed by Governor Ron DeSantis with Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., and the Seminole Indians of Florida. The compact was signed in the end of April, which compelled a special legislature session to ratify the document. 

If the document is approved in the session to be held today, it would bring radical change in the game offerings in the state and will also have a long-time impact on the comprehensive gaming activities. The Seminoles would be permitted to offer sports gambling at their casinos located in South Florida and near Tampa. They will also be permitted to bring in craps and roulette at its existing seven casinos, including the popular Hard Rock near Fort Lauderdale.

The compact by DeSantis and Osceola is for a time period of 30 years. There was a compact prior to this between the parties which lasted for about 15 years. The previous compact was considered to be too lengthy considering the evolving world of casino games. The new compact states that the Seminole Indians would pay the Florida state minimum $500 million per year and these payments would increase if the revenues increase. This would give the state at least $2.5 billion during the first five years and nearly $6 billion from the Tribe by the year 2030. Officials say the deal would create 2,200 new jobs in the state.

Osceola believes that the agreement would change the lives of their tribe as well as those not directly involved with their tribe. The casinos run by the Seminoles employ about 20,000 people in the state of Florida. During the announcement, DeSantis also acknowledged that there is a lot of gaming prevalent  in the gray area. He stated, “We just trust the Tribe to be the ones doing it rather than stuff that is offshore.”

The compact is facing opposition from some business communities and legislative conservatives over moral grounds. Miami billionaire Norman Braman said if the compact is approved in the legislature, he would challenge it in court. Hence, the fate of the compact is uncertain. 

 

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