News Service of Florida Continuing to move forward with a major gambling deal with the state, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has reached agreements with five pari-mutuel facilities to help market sports betting.
The gambling deal, which was negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis this spring and approved by lawmakers during a May special session, allows the tribe to operate online sports betting that will be available to people throughout the state.
But part of the deal also called for the tribe to negotiate agreements with pari-mutuel facilities that would market sports betting and get a 60% cut of profits generated by the marketing.
The tribe announced Thursday that it reached agreements with: The Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Hialeah Park Casino.
Ocala Gainesville Poker and Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.
Tampa Bay Downs.
TGT Poker & Racebook in Tampa.
The tribe, which said it expects to sign agreements with other pari-mutuels, has not announced when sports betting will start. Earlier coverage from the USA TODAY Network-Florida: “Today’s announcement follows through on the tribe’s commitment to include pari-mutuel marketing partners in Florida sports betting,” Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and chairman of Hard Rock International, which is owned by the Seminole Tribe, said in a statement.“They are an important component for the coming launch of sports betting throughout the state of Florida.”Sports betting was banned in most of the country until the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a federal law in a New Jersey case. Since then, many states have started allowing betting on sporting events, at least in part as a way to bring in tax dollars.The new Florida law will allow gamblers anywhere in the state to place sports bets on smartphones or other online devices, with the bets run through servers on Seminole Tribe property. Pari-mutuels that enter contracts with the tribe will market sports betting at their facilities.Under the deal, known as a compact, the tribe is expected to pay $2.5 billion to the state over the first five years. That is in exchange for being allowed to operate sports betting and offer games such as craps and […]
Click here to view original web page at www.tallahassee.com
