Florida Allocates Seminole Casino Money to Environmental Management Program
On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed legislation mandating that the majority of funds obtained by the state from its Class III gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe go toward environmental projects.
In 2021, DeSantis and the influential tribe came to new agreements that increased the range of games that the Seminoles were allowed to play. These included sports betting, both online and offline, as well as the addition of roulette and craps at their tribally owned land-based casinos.
The tribe agreed to provide the state $6 billion over the course of the compact, which expires in 2030, in exchange for the exclusive right to sports betting in the Sunshine State and the addition of table games. Sen. Ron DeSantis's signing of Senate Bill 1638 on Thursday marked the precise allocation of funds from the Seminole and Hard Rock casinos.
The majority of the compact money must be used to fund initiatives aimed at improving water quality, environmental infrastructure, and the continuous acquisition and maintenance of conservation lands, according to the "Funding for Environmental Resource Management" bill.
Contribution Source
Following DeSantis' signing of Senate Bill 7080, a companion piece of legislation, on Thursday, HB 1638 became formally operative. The Indian Gaming Revenue Clearing Trust Fund is established by that Act.
Funds from the Seminole Compact for Florida will go toward the trust fund initially. The account will be managed by the Florida Department of Financial Services.
"Among Florida’s greatest assets are its natural resources,” said DeSantis. “This revenue stream will further enhance our efforts to conserve our natural resources, protect our waterways, and make our ecological infrastructure more resilient.”
The Seminole compact money is not so much a trickle as it is a financial tsunami. The tribe's six casinos are expected to bring in roughly $750 million a year for the state. 96% of that amount must go to the Indian Gaming Revenue Clearing Trust Fund, per HB 1638.
“In recent years, our state has made unprecedented investments to protect our wild spaces, improve water quality, and preserve our natural resources,” added Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “The consistent revenue stream from this legislation will allow the state to double down on its efforts to protect Florida’s natural resources for generations to come.”
DeSantis Approves Yet Another Gaming Law
DeSantis on Thursday signed legislation allowing the state to keep and sell seized gaming machines and assets linked to illegal gambling operations, in addition to the Seminole money going to environmental causes.
House Bill 5203 permits the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) to seize illicit gaming terminals and turn them into state property. The Act gives the FGCC the legal means to sell such property later and put the money it receives back into the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Trust Fund, which pays for its operational expenses.
The state can now also retain cash and "other things of value" that are gleaned via inquiries. The bill will make it more easier for the state to seize gaming devices that the FGCC believes are unlawful, especially the arcade games that persist in filling retail malls while pretending to be skill-based amusements.
Except for the state lottery, all commercial gambling in the state is regulated by the FGCC. The organization oversees cardrooms, parimutuel betting, and slot machines in the counties of Miami-Dade and Broward. Tribal gaming compacts and "other forms of gambling authorized by the State Constitution" are also under the commission's jurisdiction.