The state of Florida has given the green light to two more campaigns seeking constitutional amendments to be included in the 2022 general ballot. The proposed amendment motions are named “Limited Authorization of Casino Gaming” and “Authorizes a Limited Number of New Casinos”.
The two of them, along with another campaign that was officially announced in late June, are seeking to eliminate the obstacles to gambling expansion in the state that have occurred by the gambling compact agreed by local officials and the Seminole Tribe of Florida and a constitutional ban that was imposed in 2018 thanks to Amendment 3, Voter Control of Gambling.
In order to be allowed to become part of the 2022 ballot, the aforementioned campaigns are required to gather 891,589 local voter signatures.
The beginning of the two petition drives for the new campaigns has been approved by the Florida Division of Electronics. Both campaigns are sponsored by Florida Voters in Charge, a political action committee, which received a massive monetary contribution of $17 million from the casino and resort operator Las Vegas Sands Corp.
As mentioned above, the latest proposals are the second and third constitutional amendments that are seeking to be included on the 2022 ballot.
Seminole Tribe of Florida Given Exclusive Control over Sports Betting Services
The first of the two abovementioned campaigns is listed as 21-15. Under the amendment, up to three new casinos are set to be allowed on the territory of Florida, as long as they are situated at least 100 miles away from tribal gambling venues. The movement also seeks to make gambling licenses subject to a bidding process, with applicants required to pledge to make an investment of at least $500 million in the casino facilities’ development.
The second amendment, which is listed as 21-16, seeks to allow casino expansion at up to 3 licensed cardrooms across the state, as long as they are situated no less than 130 miles away from tribal casinos. Applicants are also required to promise to spend at least $250 million on the facilities’ development.
As mentioned above, on June 23rd, a sports betting campaign called “Florida Education Champions” was given the green light to start a petition motion, titled 21-13. The campaign, which received $10-million funding from both DraftKings and FanDuel, seeks to make mobile sports betting legal across the state, although the Seminole Tribe of Florida was given exclusive control of sports betting thanks to the proposed 30-year agreement with the state.
Reportedly, a $15-million donation was made by West Flagler Associates, affiliated with Magic City Casino. The casino and an affiliated pari-mutuel facility joined forces to file legal action against the provisions seeking to grant the local Indian tribe exclusive control over sports betting at pari-mutuel facilities. Furthermore, a $10-million donation was made by Seminole Gaming, as reported by a PAC named “Voters in Control”.
As CasinoGamesPro already reported, in the middle of May, the Florida Legislature gave its approval to a compact that had been negotiated by the Seminole Tribe and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The agreement, however, is subject to federal review and approval, with the decision expected to be officially announced by August 5th.
