Florida sports betting clears hurdles and faces others – Floridanewstimes.com

NS. Petersburg, Florida During this NFL season, Florida sports fans may finally get the chance to legally bet on their favorite team. That may mean a big plunge in the states new income, but legal hurdles can get in the way.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl at home, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in a row, and the Tampa Bay Rays won the trip to the World Series.

Professional sports teams have nicknamed our area Champa Bay.

People are already sports betting

Sports fans like Rob Coronado are profiting from betting on their home team.

Coronado told us while watching a baseball game last afternoon at the Fergs Sports Bar in St. Petersburg.

He is far from the only one secretly betting on sports.

When we asked Rob Stammy about it, he admitted that all his friends had bet on sports.

Why do people have to go behind the scenes or all these apps to access it? Stammy asked. Therefore, legalizing betting on sports makes things easier for all of us sports enthusiasts.

Florida Senator Jeff Brandes last year sponsored a law calling for legalized sports betting, allowing the state to ultimately share some of its profits.

People are already sports betting. They have been sports betting in Florida for years. Again, we generally all have the opposite view. In contrast to todays situation, theyre just creating a legal path to do that, Brandes said.

However, Senator Brandess law, which would put sports gambling under the control of the Florida lottery, was not passed.

Compact could pay state $ 6 billion by 2030

Instead, Governor Ron DeSantis announced in April that he had reached a provisional 30-year compact with the Seminole Indian tribe that runs the Hard Rock Casino.

The transaction included offering face-to-face and online sports betting.

Related: Governor Desantis signs new game compact with Seminole

Under the agreement, the Seminoles will pay Florida up to $ 6 billion from sports betting revenue by 2030. Thats $ 277 per Florida resident.

The agreement was approved by the state legislature and was not opposed by the US Interior Ministry, which regulates Indian games.

But not everyone, including Senator Brandes, endorsed the deal.

Basically, we monopolize the Seminoles to provide sports gambling to Florida. I voted against that monopoly. I dont think thats the right way. We I think we should open it up so that the market can decide where people want to bet and not have to go through one channel, which is a Florida tribe, Brandes said. ..

Proceedings filed and referendum required

Compact is currently being challenged in federal court by two commercial gaming businesses in South Florida, stating that Compact is harmful to their business and violates the law.

The proceedings state that mobile sports betting should not have been consensually granted.

Unlike the legal fiction created by the 2021 Compact and Enforcement Act, bets are placed on both the bettor and where the casino is located, the complaint said.

It can be interpreted that sports betting can only be done on tribal property, Brandes said.

Related: Florida could become the most populous state offering mobile sports betting if lawmakers approve new rules

The state has filed a motion to dismiss, but the judge has not yet ruled it.

Other companies, including DraftKings and FanDuel, are seeking to participate in Floridas sports betting action by sponsoring a voting initiative that opens sports betting to other companies.

If it appears on the ballot next year, the expansion must be approved with a 60 percent vote.

ABC Action News was planning an interview with Hard Rock CEO Jim Allen, who helped create the Seminole Compact, but his spokesman later canceled it because he was too busy to speak.

The Seminoles have recently advertised on Florida television stations, including ABC Action News, to promote the benefits of the agreement.

People are already gambling. Would you like to make money with it? Said Mark Ferguson, owner of the Ferguson Sports Bar.

Ferguson says he doesnt care who is behind him and believes that legal sports betting is good for both Florida and business.

People want to watch 6 or 7 games at a time, and when you have 90 TVs, were the perfect place for it, he said.

If the proceedings are dismissed, sports betting may be allowed as early as next month.

If brought to court, the issue may not be resolved until next year.

If you have a story that you would like I-Team to investigate, please email us at the following address: adam@abcactionnews.com

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Florida sports betting clears hurdles and faces others - Floridanewstimes.com