Florida’s Casino Future Facing Political Struggle for Power

Florida’s path toward introducing commercial casinos and sportsbooks remains fraught with political complexities and power struggles. A recent special legislative session briefly raised the prospect of closing one key avenue for gambling expansion, only to stall when lawmakers adjourned without addressing the issue.

The session, called by Governor Ron DeSantis, included a proposal that would have effectively eliminated citizen-led constitutional amendments. This mechanism has long been used by residents and advocacy groups to put gambling measures, such as casinos or mobile sports betting, directly on the ballot. Florida requires nearly 900,000 verified signatures to qualify a constitutional amendment, making citizen-driven campaigns difficult but still possible.

Although lawmakers declined to take up the proposal, it may resurface during the regular session in March. If passed, it would prohibit hiring paid signature gatherers, a common practice for collecting signatures, and could make future ballot-driven gambling initiatives nearly impossible.

Florida’s gambling landscape is shaped by:

• The Seminole Tribe’s compact, granting exclusive rights to operate the state’s only mobile sportsbook and casinos

• A 2018 constitutional amendment requiring voter approval for any gambling law changes, with a 60% approval threshold for ballot measures

Past attempts at expansion have failed. In 2022, DraftKings and FanDuel invested heavily in a petition drive to legalize mobile sportsbooks, but the campaign fell short of the required signatures. The proposed 2025 restrictions would make similar efforts even less viable, further protecting the Seminole Tribe’s monopoly.

Additional pressures and interests include:

• Florida’s status as a tourism hub and its large population, which attract commercial operators

• Interest from figures such as former President Donald Trump in opening a casino in South Florida

• The requirement that any developments receive approval from both state lawmakers and the Seminole Tribe

By avoiding ballot restrictions for now, lawmakers have preserved a narrow avenue for citizens to advocate for gambling expansion. Still, legal barriers, political resistance, and the Seminole Tribe’s influence keep the future of commercial casinos and sportsbooks in Florida highly uncertain.

Conclusion
Florida’s gambling market remains one of the most challenging in the US. Unless policymakers, voters, and the Seminole Tribe align, efforts to expand commercial casinos and sports betting are likely to remain stalled.