The
Seminole Tribe and The Walt Disney Company have joined forces in an attempt to limit the expansion of gaming in Florida.
The two entertainment giants are financially supporting the efforts of
No Casinos initiative, according to news reports. The tribe and Disney Worldwide Services, a Disney subsidiary, recently contributed a total $700,000 to the effort in hopes of putting a state constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
The amendment would require voter approval for any new casinos in the state. It would not affect the tribe or its operations.
"Under Amendment 3, in order for a form of casino gambling to be authorized in the state, it must be approved by Florida voters through statewide voter initiative," a letter from No Casinos to key lawmakers who are considering a special session to address gaming read, Florida Politics reported.
Through its Class III gaming compact, the tribe was promised regional exclusivity for slot machines, card games and similar offerings. In exchange, the tribe agreed to share a portion of revenues with the state, an amount that reached nearly $1.7 billion last year, according to a
document posted by Florida Politics.
The tribe has continued to share revenues even though the state violated the compact by allowing an expansion of gaming at non-Indian facilities. A federal judge found that the state breached the 2010 agreement.
No Casinos has gathered enough signatures to put
Amendment 3 on the November ballot. For it to be added to the state constitution, 60 percent of voters have to vote for it.
Read More on the Story:
No Casinos on Special Session for gambling: Don’t do it
(Florida Politics April 2, 2018)
No casinos suggests special session talk is ‘fictional crisis,’ Tribe’s lawyer says no imminent halt to payments
(The Tampa Bay Times April 2, 2018)
Join the Conversation
