Florida OKs Sports Betting Operated by Seminole Tribe

Submitted by Associated Press on

Written by :

Associated Press

Published on :

Florida OKs Sports Betting Operated by Seminole Tribe

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Seminole Tribe would be able to operate sports betting and add roulette and craps to its casinos and Florida would potentially receive $20 billion over the next 30 years, under an agreement the Legislature approved Wednesday.

The House voted 97-17 to approve a gambling compact that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the tribe signed last month. The Senate approved it Tuesday. It still needs to be approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees tribal gambling operations, and even lawmakers supporting the deal expect legal challenges.

“It is a good deal for our state,” said Republican Rep. Randy Fine. “Could we get a better deal? I don’t know. I’d like to think I could, sure. But I don’t have that choice. I have this deal and a closer path to a million and half dollars a day.”

Democrats opposing the bill argued that the compact violates Amendment 3 passed by voters in 2018. The amendment to the state constitution prevents the expansion of gambling outside of tribal lands without voter approval. Opponents questioned whether the compact will survive a legal challenge.

“What ever happened to Amendment 3?” asked Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani. “I thought that moving forward, the voters would approve any type of expansion of gambling.”

Related Content

Spree Sweepstakes Casino Reviews October 2026

Spree Sweepstakes Casino Reviews October 2026

Spree Casino is one of the most recognized names in the sweepstakes casino sector.
$15 Bet Turned Into $410,631 Pay Day at Tacoma Washington Area Casino

$15 Bet Turned Into $410,631 Pay Day at Tacoma Washington Area Casino

This occurred at Auburn's Muckleshoot Casino Resort and that venue confirmed the big win via its Facebook page. 
South Florida Casino Carjacking Suspect Captured One Month Later

South Florida Casino Carjacking Suspect Captured One Month Later

Julio Salermo, 33, was charged with robbery/carjacking on Tuesday, one month after the incident occurred at the Miccosukee Casino & Resort outside of Miami.
Vegas Casino Flamingo Theft Trial Kicks Off With Witness Testimony

Las Vegas Casino Flamingo Theft Trial Kicks Off With Witness Testimony

The trial for a Canadian tourist accused of stealing and torturing a flamingo from a casino pool began on Wednesday with a security guard on his smoke break during a graveyard shift testifying about a voice crackled over the radio, “someone took a flamingo.”