Sports bettors in Florida will rejoice at the news that their state has become the latest to approve legislation for the expansion of its gambling practices in the very near future.
In a development that’s expected to usher in new opportunities for the betting industry, Florida lawmakers confirmed on Wednesday that an agreement has been reached with the Seminole Tribe, the group responsible for all gambling in the state.
Federal regulators have 45 days to sign off on the bill promoted by governor Ron DeSantis, but if all goes to plan, Florida will be one of the latest states to approve sports betting and mobile betting, per MSN.
Republican Representative Randy Fine, who also serves as House chair of the Selecting Committee on Gaming, said on Wednesday: “We’re going to allow the Seminole Tribe to offer sports betting where you can be sitting in your bathtub or sitting on your couch, thinking about a football game and you can make a wager, regardless of where you physically are, on your cellphone.”
Florida’s major sports franchises are hoping to build on an encouraging period in their history, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers having been crowned Super Bowl winners earlier this year.
Tom Brady won American football’s greatest prize in his first season at Raymond James Stadium, and he’s set to play another two seasons in Tampa after signing a contract extension in March.
The Miami Heat are also targeting greater things in the near future after finishing as runners-up to the Los Angeles Lakers in last season’s NBA Finals. The Heat will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round of this season’s NBA playoffs but are outsiders to muster another Finals run.
That being said, Miami could pose as a promising dark horse to challenge again for the NBA title, and Sportpickup.com provides information on how to make sports betting work for you.
Florida isn’t the only state to increase its scope for gambling and online sports betting this week. Maryland became the fifth state this year to permit the practice after Governor Larry Hogan passed an emergency bill legalising online and retail sports betting on Tuesday, with more than half the territories of the United States now signed up in one form or another.
The ‘Old Line State’ follows South Dakota, Wyoming, New York and Arizona in a growing list of those who have passed sports betting so far in 2021, with more expected to follow.
It’s but the latest sign of a booming industry in the United States, one that’s affecting betting business in other corners of the globe as well.
Caesars Entertainment completed a $3.7 billion takeover of British gambling giant William Hill in April, only for reports to emerge that the American casino titan will follow through with plans to sell their 1,400 or so betting shops in the United Kingdom and Europe.
Florida already has numerous casinos operated by the Seminole Tribe, but these recent changes are expected to mean that new competition could emerge from the private sector.
Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, is reported to be one such figure who could raise opposition in that regard, with ‘No. 45’ expected to pursue a casino license for his golf resort, Trump National Doral.
