Florida’s long-shot hopes for its first-ever commercial sportsbooks and casinos dodged a potentially fatal legislative blow after state lawmakers quickly adjourned a special session Monday.
Lawmakers were set to discuss a bill that would have ended citizen-initiated constitutional ballot measure changes. If passed, it would have effectively erased any hope for new gaming options in the nation’s third-most populated state.
Overview of sportsbooks and casinos in Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had called for a special session this week to consider roughly a dozen bills, including the ballot measure proposal. Instead, the legislature adjourned immediately after beginning the session, ending any chance to address the bills.
The legislature then reconvened for its own special session. The new session did not include the ballot measure bill.
Lawmakers are still set to return to the regular session in March. The ballot measure bill could be discussed then.
DeSantis had reportedly defended the bill arguing it allowed out-of-state interests to change Florida law. He also said it would address election integrity concerns.
---BIG Update---: lawmakers have just canceled the special session, which was ostensibly to discuss immigration-related issues; Gov. Ron DeSantis could try to call another session, though the legislature clearly has no interest; regular session set for March https://t.co/pRrxFdrhnf
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) January 27, 2025
Florida is among states that allow citizen-led changes to the state constitution by placing referendum questions on election ballots. In Florida, this requires about 900,000 resident signatures, verified by state officials.
This has been a tool in other states to expand gambling, most recently in Missouri.
DraftKings and FanDuel led an unsuccessful 2022 push to approve commercial mobile sportsbooks through this ballot petition process. The campaign did not collect enough valid signatures to make the ballot.
Had the 2025 bill proposed in the special session passed, there would be essentially no way for a similar Florida sports betting change – or any other measure – to make the ballot. Proponents of the measure would not be able to hire or appoint signature gathers, which would make reaching the signature threshold effectively impossible.
Florida sports betting and casino challenges remain
This canceled special session keeps the signature gathering avenue to change the state constitution alive. It doesn’t make legalizing commercial casinos or sportsbooks much easier.
The state’s lone mobile sportsbook is Hard Rock Bet. It is managed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which through a deal struck with the state legislature and DeSantis gives them a de facto monopoly on not just mobile betting but casino gambling. There are no commercial casinos in the state.
The Seminole Tribe previously backed a 2018 constitutional amendment that prohibits lawmakers from considering changes to state gambling laws without enacting another gambling ballot measure that must be approved by voters before it can take effect. This has essentially prohibited legislators from altering gambling law without also earning approval from voters.
Complicating matters further is Florida’s unusual 60% ballot measure threshold. Even if a measure makes the ballot, it must be approved by more than 60% of votes, instead of the 50% level in most other states.
The compact between the Seminoles and Florida allows the tribe to partner with third-party commercial operators, but they must do so on the tribe’s financial terms. No commercial sportsbook has made such a deal.
Florida, one of the nation’s most populated and visited states, has long been a target for commercial gaming interests. Among those pursuing commercial gambling in the Sunshine State is President Donald Trump, who has pushed for a casino in South Florida.
By rejecting the ballot measure collection bill, state policymakers have kept those slim hopes alive. For even the president, Florida commercial gambling expansion is an arduous task.
