Florida Gaming Compact to Expand Gambling Passes

On Wednesday, the Florida House of Representatives followed the Senate’s lead and adopted a gaming agreement that would expand gambling in the Sunshine State. The Florida Senate approved the 30-year gaming compact on Tuesday.  The approval came followed by a 38-1 vote.  The only opposing party in the approval was Sen. Jeff Brandes, the Republican member who is also a part of Pinellas County.  The compact was also approved by the Florida House Representatives.

Significance of the agreement

The pact was drawn between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida and was passed with a 97-17 vote in the House.  The approval of the drafted gaming compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida is a victory for all the people of Florida, according to the chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Marcellus Osceola Jr. A statement was issued by him after the voting at The House. He further added that it was a momentous and en masse favorable agreement that will have positive effects for Florida residents in the prolonged future.

The agreement now awaits federal approval, followed by which the Seminole Tribe will be permitted to operate online sports betting, roulettes and craps.  The gaming compact is estimated to draw in $2.5 billion revenue for the state of Florida during its initial five years of implementation. According to Sen. Anette Taddeo, D-Miami, the huge sum of money involved in the pact cannot be ignored regardless of the deal’s credibility.  For some senators like Sen. Janet Cruz, the approval of this bill might open up legal trials in court, as expressed by her to 8 On Your Side.

Opposition to the gaming compact

Concerns are rising among some people if such a deal is legally permissible. Voters were decided whether gambling should be legalized in Florida through amendment 3 that was signed in 2018.  However, the agreement has faced some opposition, as a group of adversaries gathered in Tallahassee, showing their disagreement with the proposed bill.  As stated by the president of No Casino’s Incorporated, the voters in Florida hold the authority to decide the fate of gambling in the state and not senators and the assemblypersons.