Historic Seminole Gambling Compact Approved By Federal Government

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The historic gaming compact between the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

This agreement, the largest gaming compact in history, will go into effect Oct. 15 and will generate a minimum of $2.5 billion in new revenue for the state over the next five years and an estimated $6 billion through 2030.

“The final approval of this historic gaming compact is a big deal for the State of Florida,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “This mutually beneficial agreement will grow our economy, expand tourism and recreation and provide billions in new revenue to benefit Floridians. I again want to thank Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls for their part in getting this done for our great state.”

“Today is a great day for the people of Florida, who will benefit not only from a $2.5 billion revenue-sharing guarantee over five years, but also from statewide sports betting and new casino games that will roll out this fall and mean more jobs for Floridians and more money invested in this state,” Osceola said.

“I thank Gov. DeSantis, House Speaker Chris Sprowls and the Seminole Tribe for their hard work and leadership to provide new opportunities for Florida’s legacy pari-mutuel industry, ensure oversight and accountability in gaming and secure billions of dollars in new revenue to invest in Florida’s future,” Simpson said.

“After years without a compact, I’m pleased the governor, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Legislature could come to an agreement," Sprowls said.

DeSantis announced the compact in April, and it was ratified by the Florida Legislature during a special legislative session in May.

Larger and more expansive than any other gaming compact in U.S. history, the agreement increases the projected revenue to the state of Florida from the Seminole Tribe to more than $6 billion over the next decade, with a guaranteed minimum of $2.5 billion dollars during the first five years.

The agreement also provides protections for pari-mutuel operations and the opportunity to participate in sports betting offered by the Tribe. By some estimates, sports betting is expected to create more than 2,200 jobs for Floridians.

The state of Florida is not currently receiving revenue from gaming activities on Tribal lands.

Nevertheless, the legislation isn't without its opponents.

Earlier this month, the owner of Miami's Magic City Casino and the Bonita Springs Poker Room, filed a suit against the state claiming the gaming compact violates the federal Indian Regulatory Gaming Act and the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act because the compact authorizes sports betting outside tribal lands.

Under the so-called “hub and spoke model” laid out in the compact, online sports betting would be allowed off tribal grounds provided the computer servers used to facilitate the bets are located on tribal lands.