Talks between Senator Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby, FL) and the Seminole Tribe could bring sports betting to Florida possibly bypassing the need of a statewide referendum. Simpson, who is lined up to be the Senate president after the 2020 elections, is negotiating a revenue-sharing compact where the tribe would pay Florida for the rights to operate specific kinds of gambling.

US Federal Gambling Laws That Affect Sports Gambling In Florida. In 2018, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection act was repealed by the Supreme Court, allowing each individual state the authority to determine their own will regarding the legalization or prohibition of state-licensed sports betting within their boundaries. January 16, 2016 – Good news for Florida fans of daily fantasy sports: this month, Florida laid the grounding framework for legalizing and regulating this form of online gambling.

According to published reports, Simpson is negotiating the possibility that sports betting would be allowed at the state’s horse and dog tracks plus jai alai frontons. The Seminoles would become the conduit for sports betting, getting a portion of money bet outside their facilities while also running a sportsbook in their casinos.

However, there are hurdles to overcome before Floridians can walk up to a kiosk and place a bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Florida Panthers.

“Designated player” games offered at pari-mutuel cardrooms are important to any deal struck – they also could be problematic. Those existing games, such as blackjack, according to the tribe and a federal judge, infringe on the exclusivity promised to the Seminoles in a 2010 agreement with Florida.

In the arrangement between Florida and the tribe, which expires May 31, the Seminoles pay $350 million for enforcement on how the games are played. The Florida legislative session ends May 3.

In published reports, the tribe has requested stricter enforcement of the original agreement and state officials concur.

To appease cardrooms that will be affected by that enforcement, bingo is being offered as a bandage. It’s still up in the air as to whether bingo is the answer considering the anticipated revenue loss from the high-stakes “designated player” games.

Something pari-mutuel facilities could get behind would be allowing sports betting a dog and horse tracks and jai alai frontons. But even sports wagers with bingo likely won’t offset the loss of card games.

There is still the question of running sports betting through the tribe is enough to get around the recently enacted law that puts expansion of “games typically found in casinos” into the hands of citizens and not the Legislature.

Simpson told CBS Media he thinks a referendum won’t be necessary.

But right now, the clock is ticking on whether an agreement can be struck before the end of the session.

Lobbyist Brian Ballard, who represents the interest of several sports leagues and pari-mutuels, thinks with time winding down it might prompt concessions.

“You have to have time pressures to make gaming deals, so three weeks left in session is beginning to put that level of pressure on. I think you need those things, otherwise the parties won’t come together,” he told Tampa Bay Business Journal.

House Speaker Jose Oliva, too, thinks there is still time for an agreement on gambling.

“It depends on what the nature of that agreement will be because some of that will require a lot of back-and-forth,” Oliva said. “But I think that there is still time.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - As many Americans prepare to finish out their fantasy football seasons this week, a state senator is hoping next year you may be able to legally play for money.

According to LegalSportsReport.com, legal sports wagering in 19 states and the District of Columbia has generated $340 million in tax revenue over the past two and a half years.

State Senator Jeff Brandes wants Florida to get in on the action. His proposal would put the Florida Department of the Lottery in charge of regulating sports betting.

“This would allow a much more legitimate way to play,” Senator Jeff Brandes said.

Florida Sports Gambling 2020

Winnings would be taxed at 15 percent. As with the lottery, revenues generated would go towards education.

FSU Sport Management Professor Dr. Jason Pappas says it could also help boost revenues for college teams, which have been hit hard by the pandemic.

“This would be another huge revenue stream that would offset some of those costs, and I truly believe over the long term would actually increase probably bigger than any other revenue source that’s out there when it comes to sport,” Pappas said .

Sports Gambling Statistics

Brandes hopes his bill can stand on its own.

“Doing it through the lottery, we’re not giving anybody anymore leverage against us in terms of withholding funds if somebody technically breaks the compact,” Brandes said.

Sports Gambling Legal States

This is the second year in a row the bill has been filed.

Last year it wasn’t heard by any committees, but there is new leadership this year deciding which bills are taken up.

Sports Gambling News In Florida Gulf Coast

The bill would permit betting on both collegiate and professional sports. Athletes, coaches, referees and management would be banned from betting.

Copyright 2020 WJHG. All rights reserved.