Florida approves sports betting deal with Seminole Tribe

Florida’s House of Representatives has approved an agreement that allows the Seminole Tribe to operate sports betting in the state.

US.- The Florida House has approved a gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that would allow sports betting in the state.

After opposition from Democrats, the House voted to greenlight the agreement, which would allow the Seminole Tribe to operate sports betting and add roulette and craps to its casinos.

As part of the agreement, Florida would potentially receive $20bn over the next 30 years.

However, the compact still needs to be approved by the US Department of the Interior, which oversees tribal gambling operations, and lawmakers supporting the deal expect legal challenges.

Republican Rep. Randy Fine said: “It is a good deal for our state. 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 claimed 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.

If the agreement gets the final approval, the Seminoles could begin offering sports betting from October 15.

The Legislature has also sent Governor DeSantis a bill that would create a gaming commission to regulate pari-mutuels and investigate illegal gambling in the state.