A recent report suggests that a new set of reforms pushed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis could hamper Trump’s ambitions of a retail casino in the state and instead consolidate the Seminole Tribe’s gaming monopoly. Moreover, the article notes that Florida’s casino landscape could face a significant shake-up as DeSantis pushes for legislative reforms to overhaul the state’s ballot initiative process. However, the legislation will likely have wide-ranging implications for gambling industry stakeholders, including President Donald Trump. Cited in a national report (CNN), DeSantis has called for stringent restrictions on citizen-led constitutional amendments, which allow voters to bypass legislative gridlock and have a more proactive role in shaping state policy. Floridians can propose amendments to the state constitution by gathering enough petition signatures to qualify for a referendum. Notably, this process has been used to decide contentious issues including gambling expansion.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the Sunshine State and also share some more thoughts from SBS and beyond.
According to the same article, the proposed changes, which will be debated during a special legislative session, would make it significantly harder for such initiatives to succeed. This bill classifies collecting signatures as a third-degree felony, practically outlawing organized petition drives. Additionally, critics argue this change would undermine democratic principles and leave critical decisions out of the hands of the people. Also, the report notes, “DeSantis’ ambitions will directly impact the casino sector, making it almost impossible for voters to mount successful campaigns for ballot initiatives.” Since Florida’s constitution requires voter approval for any gambling expansion, the measure will further cement the Seminole Tribe’s dominant position in the state’s gaming market for the foreseeable future.
President Trump, who remains a “significant stakeholder” within the U.S. gambling industry, has made it no secret he wants to bring Las Vegas-style gaming to Miami. The 2018 constitutional amendment posed a substantial hurdle to this plan, while DeSantis’ proposal will further dampen any ambitions for a Trump casino in Florida. While probably unintentional, such a development could cause a rift between the two. With the ballot initiative no longer an option, the President would have to rely on state lawmakers to approve casino expansion. However, the Seminole Tribe’s substantial influence means any such attempt will face significant pushback. This bill could be welcome news for the tribe, solidifying their position on the casino and sports betting industries and discouraging would-be competitors.
While DeSantis’ proposed reforms will consolidate Florida’s gambling sector, they do not appear to answer rising concerns about the proliferation of black market operators. Stakeholders have warned without additional reforms to combat illegal entities, Florida risks losing potential revenue and jobs to unregulated competitors. However, such improvements will likely have to wait until the current situation is resolved.
In other news, non-tribal casinos in Florida reported a monthly increase of 2.98%. Recently, the Florida Gaming Control Commission has reported that slot revenues reached $58.1m in December. That’s a monthly increase of 2.98% and a 0.2% decrease year-over-year with tax revenue totaled at $20.3 million. Of the eight non-tribal casinos, Magic City Casino led the market with a net revenue of $11.1m, up 2.04% month-over-month. They were followed by Pompano Park, with a revenue of $11m, up 8.7%. Meanwhile, Hialeah Park Casino reported $8 million, Calder Race Course came in at $7.7 million, and Casino Miami was $7.3 million.
Additionally, there were some other casinos cited in the report with revenue earnings. Those included Gulfstream Park which generated $4.9m, Park Casino at $4.2m, and the Big Easy Casino at $3.6m. Most casinos reported increased revenues compared to November but only three saw an increase year-over-year. Big Easy Casino’s revenue increased by 17.09%, Magic City Casino’s by 5.95%, and Dania Entertainment’s by 7.29%. Moreover, in December, Miccosukee Casino and Resort in Miami, Florida, opened a new high-limit slots and VIP Lounge. The VIP Lounge is reserved for the top tiers of the firm’s loyalty program, M Sphere Rewards the article notes.
Of course, with these new revenue increases, it will be interesting to see how the new political legislation might play out in the Sunshine State. A long-time battleground state between the native tribes and the non-native groups, this new development could potentially set back the chances of widespread gaming legalization. However, like with much news relating to gaming legalization in these “battleground” states, there are definitely more chips that will need to fall to get some clarity.
After you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gambling news and updates coming from the state of Florida, make sure to peruse the excellent array of info for you only at SBS. Of course, for even more information on the topic covered here, the Florida sports betting guide has you covered with all of the latest gaming updates from the Sunshine State. On a separate note, the best betting apps rundown is an excellent page that goes over the nuances of mobile betting for qualified customers and helps keep you on top of the action. Finally, for those looking for some higher stakes wagering, the VIP sports betting sites breakdown is a must-read page for eligible customers who are looking for some high-end wagering options.
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 and basketball across the country. 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. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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