Top Three Takeaways – April 26th, 2021
- Isn’t that special? I’m referring to the forthcoming special session in Tallahassee to take on a literal game-change in Florida...or gaming change as the case may be. Rumors of a deal between Governor DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe became reality Friday afternoon as a 75-page agreement representing the greatest expansion of gaming in Florida since the creation of the Florida Lottery became a reality. And you might say that now the hard work begins. There are multiple obstacles that must be overcome. The first requires the special session. With only a week left in this year’s session and the only mandatory function of the legislature, a budget, yet to do – we'll have a special session for the specific purpose of expanding gambling in Florida. In the session, a total of four pieces of legislation will need to be signed to make it all work. This includes provisions changing state law to allow for a gaming commission and an end of “live racing” requirements for gambling operations within the state. And then of course, the ratifying of the deal itself. So, it’s not a done deal until all four of those legislative items are done deals and even then, it’s not a done deal and that’s because of...
- What you voted for. Specifically, 2018’s Amendment 3. As part of my 2018 Amendment series, I had this to say about Amendment 3 which includes a recap of what you voted for. Thoughts: I’m not big on intellectual inconsistencies. I think it’s hypocritical that we don’t consider the state lottery to be a form of gambling (nothing about this proposed amendment changes that) or that we view gaming to generally be unacceptable unless it’s on an Indian Reservation. Though I’m not a gambler, I support legalized gambling. The marketing behind Amendment 3 can make it difficult to understand what the implications of your vote would be. The reason this Amendment is being advanced is to make it more difficult to expand gaming in Florida. While I’m not happy with the way state government has handled gaming to date, there’s momentum behind legalized and expanded gaming once the Seminole compact has run its course. For these reasons I’ll be voting no on Amendment 3.
- But 71%...of Floridians, many of which I’m certain were confused, voted for this thing. So now if the new compact is to be a reality it will also have to survive legal challenges. The Seminoles are granted complete oversight of sports betting operations due to their Sovereign Immunity in the thought that it’s a work around to 2018’s Amendment 3. But the backers of Amendment 3 are already preparing to sue, if everything passes in the state session. They say it’s not constitutional because of Amendment 3. So, if all goes according to Governor DeSantis’s plan in the special session – it'll be the courts that decide if sports betting is to come to Florida. Ironic since it was the Supreme Court which cleared the way in 2018 just before Floridians unwittingly boxed themselves in with Amendment 3. Isn’t that special?
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