Florida voters approve legislation to limit casinos

The voters in Florida have approved constitutional amendment legislation that limits future casinos outside Indian reservations. The amendment received 60 per cent of votes.

The supporters of the amendment include the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Disney, which have spent nearly $40 million campaigning for the change.

The amendment gives voters the exclusive right to choose whether a casino can open in the state and whether dog tracks or horse tracks can expand gaming.

Card games, casino games and slot machines are categorised as casino gambling in Florida. Amendment 3 takes this right to casino gambling decisions away from the state legislature, which has failed the past several years to reach an agreement on the issue.

Florida has not taken advantage of a US Supreme Court ruling that essentially legalises betting on sports teams. The Legislature has also not taken to pitches from large companies for “destination resorts” that include retail, lodging and gambling options that could potentially boost the state’s economy.

While the amendment, in theory, gives voters the power to expand gambling, it could actually make the process more difficult.

Opponents to the amendment—like the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, fantasy betting sites like FanDuel and DraftKings, and dog and horse tracks—have argued that it is unclear what affect the initiative would have on previously authorised gambling sites across the state.