Florida Gives Final Approval & Lets Donald Trump In For Casino Resort
Donald Trump and his golf resort could be a big winner in the latest compact
The State House in Florida approved the gambling compact between Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida paving the way for the tribe to operate online sports betting and expand their casino business with three new venues.
In return the Tribe will pay the state a minimum of $500 million a year, the House voted 97 to 17 in favour of the compact that was drawn up by governor Ron DeSantis and the tribe and will last for the next thirty years and offer the Tribe exclusive rights on sports betting.
Earlier in the week the Senate approved the bill 39 to 1 against, meaning now that the bill will go to the Federal Government and Federal Court for final approval and this is not a given still and everyone involved expects for legal challenges to take place, both on terms of the exclusivity for online sports betting and the permission to build another three casinos.
In a statement following the approval vote the Seminole Tribe said: “Today, all the people of Florida are winners, thanks to legislative approval of the Gaming Compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It is a historic and mutually beneficial partnership between the State and Seminole Tribe that will positively impact all Floridians for decades to come.”
However one detail from the gambling compact was overlooked by many reporting the deal between the Governor and the Seminole Tribe, that is that the tribe is not allowed to appeal any decision by state lawmakers if it were to offer a casino license to an outside operator, so long as it is fifteen miles from the Tribes current Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.
Interestingly that would allow former US President Donald Trump’s Doral Golf Resort which sits slightly outside the fifteen mile radius to eventually apply for a casino license.
Trump acquired the resort in 2012 and had spent $250 million renovating and updating the resort and only recently the son of Donald Trump, Eric Trump the executive vice president of the Trump Organization has stated the companies interest in applying for a casino license for the resort.
