Florida Toys With Sports Betting Again But Without Seminole Tribe

Florida is once again looking at sports betting within the state but without having discussions with a major player in the Seminole Tribe.

Senate President Bill Galvano said house and Senate leaders are holding talks on major changes to the gambling bill in Florida but as of yet those talks are not with the Seminole Tribe.

However Galvano said that House and Senate leaders had not reached any meaningful agreement.

“It’s premature to believe that there is a negotiated deal between the chambers. That has not occurred yet,” Galvano said to a local newspaper.

Although hope remains for sports betting to one day be a reality in Florida it is highly unlikely without the Seminole Tribe as with them lawmakers are able to bypass any constitutional vote by residents on any major changes to gambling as tribal land does not cover any legislation at present that requires residents that are not so keen on expanding gambling in the state.

However it is five years now that lawmakers and the tribes have been looking at expanding on current gambling in the state but no real progress has been made.

The major sticking point is that with the gambling expansion would also mean the “designated player” card games would be expanded, this say the tribes has an exclusivity for them since a 2010 gambling agreement by lawmakers and the tribe.

Without sorting this out between both sides then seems unlikely for any expansion to take place.