Florida Supreme Court to hear arguments on gambling expansion

The Court will hear arguments on a proposed ballot initiative to make it harder to expand gambling in the state, whilst pari-mutuel facilities contend that the measure should be kept off the 2018 ballot.

US.- A proposed ballot initiative that aims to make it harder to expand gambling in the state have reached the Florida Supreme Court. The court issued an order Friday scheduling the arguments to hear both side of the story, as pari-mutuel facilities contend that the measure should be kept off the 2018 ballot.

It is important to outline that justices do not rule on the merits of the proposed constitutional amendments but must sign off on the ballot wording.

The proposal is known as “Voter Control of Gambling in Florida” and it would require future statewide votes to authorise casino-style games including blackjack, craps and roulette.

The amendment, which has received financial backing from the group No Casinos Inc., would override the Legislature’s ability to approve casinos in Florida but would leave tribal casino operations unaffected, which are regulated by federal law.