ORLANDO, Fla — There will be no statewide online gambling in Florida. Just minutes into a special session to implement a new Seminole Gaming Compact, Speaker of the Florida House Chris Sprowls made an announcement.
“The House will be considering the ratification of the Seminole Compact that contains no conversation or pathway for statewide online casino gaming in Florida,” said Sprowls, who also announced that the tribe would wait until October 15 to start any sports book.
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The change to the compact comes as lawmakers return to Tallahassee to take up the legislation needed to put the compact into place. If approved, the agreement would generate $2.5 billion dollars for the state over the next five years, and another $6 billion through 2030.
While the deal has the backing of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Senate President Wilton Simpson, its passage is far from certain. Opponents to the expansion of gambling have already started making a push to halt the deal on moral grounds.
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“South Florida is on a roll! Our great quality of life and an incredible surge of job creators to our region have put us on a path for rising income and prosperity for many more of our neighbors,” wrote former Gov. Jeb Bush in a statement. “At the time when our economy is poised for an unprecedented takeoff after taking a hit from the pandemic, now is not the time to expand casino gambling which will benefit a handful at the expense of many.”
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Even without the online gambling, the Seminole Tribe is still poised to get a significant expansion of its business. The tribe will be able to offer new table games (roulette and craps) as well as a sports book.
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Cox Media Group
