Florida Amendment 3 Comes Through for Disney, Seminoles

Florida voters have stripped the state Legislature's power to authorize most casino gambling.

Voters on Tuesday approved Amendment 3, heavily backed by unlikely bed fellows Disney and the Seminoles.

The initiative only allows gambling expansion through a statewide initiative placed on the ballot by citizen petition. Exceptions were made for casinos on Indian reservations.

Disney backed the measure to prevent gambling expansion in the Sunshine State while the Seminoles, which run Hard Rock Casinos in both South Florida and the Tampa area, look to protect their monopoly.   As a result, legalized sports betting will not come to Florida without a ballot initiative.

Opponents included some horse and dog track operators. They accused Disney and the Seminoles of not wanting competition for tourist dollars. They said the decision on whether to allow casinos should be left to each county's voters.

Dog racing will no longer be allowed in the state.

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com