The history of gaming in Florida goes back to the late 1970’s when the Seminole tribes started running bingo games. For Native American gaming, this was a big step for their tribes to get a piece of the gaming pie in the United States. Today, this imprint can still be seen at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino which is a key landmark in Florida gambling. In addition to this tribal casino, Florida allows retail sports betting along with betting at racetracks. For right now though, with a federal appeal court blocking an agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe, online gambling remains shut down in the Sunshine State according to BayNews9.
Below, SBS will detail some recent gaming developments, what it means for the state and how gamblers then can plan ahead.
In recent years, Floridians were hopeful that online sports gambling would become legalized and allow citizens across the state to place bets on any sport. However, it would appear that sports gaming will be unlikely in Florida until at least the 2024 Olympic Games. According to a recent update in Gaming Today, the state has not yet come to an agreement with the Seminole Tribe in exchange for exclusive rights to sports betting. So, without a big reversal from the courts, there will be no online sports betting in the state until at least 2024 or maybe 2025.
In the same piece, it would appear that the only wild card here would be if the Florida Legislature emulates an approach taken by other states (Arizona, Michigan) that authorizes sports gaming outside of this agreement. An attorney familiar with the case said there is also no rush for this case to move faster as well since there is no hearing date set and neither side has asked for an expedited consideration schedule.
Florida law states that any gambling outside of the tribal lands first must be approved by the voters. So when this new legislation regarding online sports betting came around, it hoped to address this by having the main servers located on tribal property. What’s interesting is that this is also a significant piece of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act which “requires all Native gambling activities to take place on “Indian Lands.’”
So what does this mean for the future of online sports wagering in the Sunshine State? Well sources close to the new referendum say that there probably won’t be any movement anytime soon. In fact, supporters of a November election referendum on sports wagering in the state failed to achieve enough signatures on a form to put the issue in front of voters. If this would have succeeded, then sports betting would have become legal outside of tribal lands in the state.
While sports gaming in Florida might have had a couple bumps in the road in terms of legalizing sports betting across the state, there are still multiple legal avenues to get your wagers in.
When it comes to Florida Sports Betting Sites, it is always a great idea to have all your options laid out right in front of you. Another great service to make a note of is where you can find all the best bonuses at your fingertips. As you are making your way through these choices, always be on the lookout for how can find the biggest return on your investment and also access free tokens and money if certain conditions are met.
Also make sure to check out SBS’ different payment methods page too. Understanding what is accepted at each different website allows you to plan ahead with your money and bets. Just like playing the sport, having a plan of attack before you place your wagers is always an excellent idea.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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