The Seminole Tribe of Florida has reached agreements with six pari-mutuel facilities to market online sports betting, including two prominent Ocala-based companies.
Ocala Gainesville Poker and Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company are part of the six facilities that have entered into the new gambling deal, which was negotiated by Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this year. Lawmakers approved the measure in May and the tribe announced the partnerships this week in order provide online sports betting throughout Florida.
As a part of the deal, the tribe will market online sports betting on behalf of the organizations and then receive 60% of the profits that are generated by the marketing.
On Thursday, the tribe announced that it reached agreements with Ocala Gainesville Poker, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Palm Beach Kennel Club, Hialeah Park Casino, Tampa Bay Downs, and TGT Poker and Racebook.
The tribe expects to sign agreements with additional pari-mutuel facilities in the future.
Under the new Florida law, bettors throughout the state will be able to place sports bets on smartphones and other online devices. The bets will be processed through servers on Seminole Tribe property. The pari-mutuel facilities under contract with the tribe will help market sports betting at their locations.
Over the first five years of this deal, the tribe is expected to pay around $2.5 billion to the state. The state received the first payment from the tribe back in October, in the amount of $37 million, according to a press release from the tribe.
The starting date for statewide sports betting has yet to be determined.
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