Florida passes on gambling special session

Lawmakers in Florida decided to pass on a proposed special session to discuss gambling despite recent negotiations.

US.- For the past several weeks, Sen Bill Galvano and Rep Jose Oliva have been pushing Florida lawmakers to hold a special session to discuss gambling in the state. However, their efforts have finally proven unsuccessful as the proposed session has been rejected.

Both lawmakers were urging their peers to discuss gambling laws and get them resolved ahead of a November ballot which will have Floridians decide on whether to amend the state constitution and have a future gambling expansion depend on a 60 per cent voter approval via referendum. However, the legislature won’t discuss it, mainly due to the recent announcement by Gov Rick Scott about the extension of its casino revenue-sharing agreement with the Seminoles through May 2019.

This was the third consecutive year that Florida lawmakers failed to sort out their gambling concerns, as the House of Representatives continues to show little enthusiasm on the matter, in comparison to the Senate’s many proposals regarding DFS, racing, and other options.

The special session failed due to budget unpredictability, uncertainty regarding the potential constitutional amendment and possible challenges in its own limitation. However, gambling will probably have a second chance to be on the table at the Legislature in the near future.