Seminole Tribe seeks sports betting as part of compact negotiations

Tuesday, April 23, 2019  

Some details are trickling out as the Seminole Tribe continues to engage in Class III gaming compact negotiations in Florida.

A draft deal authorizes sports betting at tribal facilities, as well as at non-Indian facilities in which the tribe would at as a "hub" for such wagers, The News Service of Florida reported. It's possible that bets could even be placed at professional sports arenas while games are in progress.

The tribe also has been interested in online gaming, The News Service reported. But that item is apparently off the table after Gov. Rick DeSantis (R), who took office in January, raised objections.

DeSantis is also concerned about the overall push for an updated compact, The News Service reported. He isn't sure the deal will be completed before the end of the legislative session next week.

“There’s a lot of stuff to go through,” DeSantis said on Tuesday, The News Service reported. “I’d like to get a deal, but at the same time I’ve got to make sure that what we’re doing is right for Florida.”

Negotiations have been taking place between a tribal gaming executive and a leading lawmaker, The News Service reported. They are mindful of the end of the legislative session on May 3, as well as a separate agreement -- due to expire at the end of May -- in which the tribe has agreed to continue sharing revenues with the state..

The tribe shares between $300 million and $350 million a year with the state, according to news reports. The money has continued to flow even though a federal judge ruled that the state violated the compact by allowing non-Indian offer card games that had been promised exclusively to the tribe.

But since a final agreement isn't certain, state lawmakers aren't including the tribe's payments in their budget, The News Service reported.

The tribe and the state entered into the compact in 2010. Figures posted by Florida Politics show that the tribe has shared nearly $1.8 billion with the state so far.

The tribe operates six gaming facilities in southern Florida.

Ron DeSantis says late-Session gambling deal could be too heavy a lift (The News Service of Florida April 23, 2019)
Sports betting could be tied to Seminole Tribe (The News Service of Florida April 18, 2019)
Card games could be key in striking Florida gambling deal (The News Service of Florida April 16, 2019)

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