Gambling gold rush: FL OKs two more constitutional amendment drives for 2022 ballot
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Florida’s race to cash in on gambling super-heated this week, with two more constitutional amendments now proposed for the 2022 general ballots — bankrolled by millions in out-of-state campaign donations.
The proposed amendments, both aiming to establish new casinos, are titled “Authorizes a Limited Number of New Casinos” and “Limited Authorization of Casino Gaming.”
The Florida Division of Elections approved the start of petition drives for the two campaigns, both sponsored by the political action committee Florida Voters In Charge, which received a $17 million campaign contribution from Las Vegas Sands Corp., as reported Monday.
Las Vegas Sands is a multibillion-dollar resort and casino company built and run by the late Sheldon Adelson, a Republican donor and Trump patron who died in January, according to a report by CNN Business.
The PAC’s chairperson is listed as William Spicola, at an address in Jacksonville Beach.
The Division’s website reports it approved the two petition drives sometime Thursday.
Here is the summary of the first of the two, listed as 21-15: “Authorizes three new casinos to conduct casino gaming. Directs the Florida Gaming Control Commission to license casinos based upon the merits of applications, and also taking into consideration job creation, location, and capital investment. Imposes limitations on location of casinos. Defines “casino” and “casino gaming.” Allows taxation and regulation of casino gaming consistent with the amendment.
The second of them, listed as 21-16, is summarized this way: Authorizes businesses with active cardroom licenses as of January 1, 2022, to offer casino gaming if they meet location limitations and make minimum capital investment towards new development and construction. Authorizes such businesses to relocate within the same county prior to December 31, 2025. Defines “casino gaming.” Allows taxation and regulation of casino gaming consistent with the amendment.
These are the second and third proposed constitutional amendments for the 2022 ballot unveiled in recent weeks.
On June 24, a sports-betting PAC titled Florida Education Champions was approved to begin a petition drive, titled 21-13, to legalize mobile sports betting statewide, regardless of a proposed 30-year compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida granting the tribe exclusive control of sports betting.
Florida Education Champions is bankrolled by sports-betting titans FanDuel and DraftKings, which gave $10 million each to that campaign.
In addition, a PAC titled People Against Regulatory Legislation Addressing You (PARLAY) reported a $15 million donation from West Flagler Associates, affiliated with Magic City Casino. That casino and an affiliated pari-mutuel facility have filed a lawsuit challenging provisions that grant the tribe control over which pari-mutuel facilities can host sports betting.
And, a PAC titled Voters In Control reported a $10 million contribution from Seminole Gaming.
