Florida online sports betting laws

The prospects of Florida joining the ranks of states to legalize sports betting are being throttled by legal disputes and conflicting interests.

Florida has a long history of gambling on horse racing, and more recently slots and casinos. It also has a population of more than 21 million and a host of elite professional and college sports teams.

Nevertheless, progress towards Florida sports betting being legalized since the overturn of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018 has been extremely slow.

This is despite the potential riches on offer. It is estimated that the monthly sports betting handle in this wealthy state could potentially exceed $2 billion.

Florida’s legislature called a special session this spring, in which they overwhelmingly ratified CS/SB 2-A: Implementation of the 2021 Gaming Compact Between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida. The compact provides for sports betting in the state to be operated by the Seminole tribe.

The Seminole tribe owns and operates the seven casinos in the state, which is also home to more than 20 “racinos” at racetracks.

The Seminole carry plenty of political clout and it was important that the implementation of sports betting in the state include their buy-in. This is in part because their existing compact with the state stipulates that any new gaming activity should be carried out by them.

The recent proposed compact does just that. Its provisions include that the tribe would operate sports betting in the state, with mobile sports betting to be allowed through online apps managed by the Tribe as well as Florida’s existing racetracks and jai-alai frontons. Under the terms of the compact, the tribe will also be allowed to offer craps and roulette at its casinos, and to build three new casinos on their tribal land in the state.

The compact, however, although agreed to by the state legislature and signed off on by Florida’s governor, still requires federal approval. It must be signed off on by the United States Secretary of the Interior as required by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

The proposed compact is also facing legal challenges, including a lawsuit recently filed by the owners of Magic City Casino in Miami and Bonita Springs Poker Room. The suit claims that the sports betting deal violates the IGRA, because it would allow online sports bets to be placed from anywhere in the state, and so the Seminole would be operating gambling outside of their tribal lands.

Another potential legal hurdle to overcome is a 2018 Florida constitutional amendment that requires statewide voter approval of gambling expansions in the state. Under what is known as Amendment 3, expansions of gambling must be placed on the statewide ballot through the citizens’ initiative process.

It will likely take some time to deconstruct through these legal issues, meaning that sports betting in the Sunshine State could be on hold for a while longer.

In-person and online betting on horse racing are both legal in Florida. Bets can be placed in-person at any licensed racetrack, through a multitude of off-track betting locations (OTBs) or online via mobile licensed betting sites. The state has many fantastic venues and races, including Gulfstream Park, which hosts the Grade 1 Florida Derby, a key prep for the Kentucky Derby, and the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. Not forgetting Tampa Bay Downs, which is the only thoroughbred racetrack on the west coast of Florida.