DeSantis’ move not a gamble at all
Florida governor signs landmark deal that could be a sports-betting breakthrough
In his iconic song — “The Gambler” — Kenny Rogers wisely advises:
With this insightful lyric in mind, I have a question for our state’s own version of The Gambler.
I’m talking about Gov. Ron DeSantis: Hey, Gambling Guv, when exactly can we Floridians start counting our money?
In case you missed it, DeSantis signed a landmark gambling deal Friday with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that could and should bring legalized sports betting to Florida and generate countless billions of dollars in revenue for our state. Of course, the deal still needs to be passed by the Florida Legislature, which will take up the issue in a special session that starts May 17.
I realize our state politicians historically do stupid stuff (see Cross Florida Barge Canal), but not even they would be ignorant enough to vote against this legislation.
As far as bets go, DeSantis’ gambling deal is the biggest sure thing this side of Joel Greenberg getting jail time.
In fact, the only criticism I have about sports betting coming to Florida is this: What took so freaking long? Sports betting will obviously help the state during this unprecedented and ongoing financial crisis caused by the pandemic. It would be insane and irresponsible for the Florida Legislature to continue our state’s historic opposition to gambling and not tap into this lucrative revenue source when so many other states already have.
In all, 21 states currently have sports betting, six more have approved it and another 13 are considering it.
“Sports betting in Florida is inevitable,” says Fred Guzman, who is the president and general manager of the Daytona Beach and Orange City Racing and Card Clubs — two Central Florida poker rooms and parimutuel betting establishments that are destined to become full-service sportsbooks if the Florida Legislature ratifies DeSantis’s plan.
“It’s about time this happened.” Many experts believe that Florida, because of our geography and demography, could easily become the sports betting capital of the country.
“If sports betting were to become legal in Florida, you’re looking at one of the most desirable markets in the country for operators,” says Daniel Wallach, a nationally renowned sports gaming attorney based in Hallandale Beach.
“Florida is the third-largest state in the country. You have the population, you have the tourism industry, you have the warm weather, you have so many professional sports teams. Florida would become a destination for sports betting in many ways similar to Las Vegas.”
Wallach, however, questions whether DeSantis’ compact with the Seminole Tribe will hold up in federal court, but that’s another column for another day. The point of today’s column is to celebrate this potential windfall of revenue in which the state will capitalize on something many of our residents are already doing.
It’s no secret that gamblers in our state already are making sports bets via illegal offshore online websites that are operating with impunity and without paying taxes. These websites are so brazen that they even publicly advertise. Now that our state is on the verge of entering the sports-betting business, maybe we can figure out a way to finally crack down on these offshore sites that may soon become our corporate competitors.
Of course, there are other competitors as well, such as the many stern, stilted detractors who still believe the government shouldn’t be in the betting business because gambling is evil and will lead our state straight into the ninth circle of Dante’s hell.
Betting legally takes place every day and in every state in this country. It’s called the stock market.
I’m not a sports bettor, but I do bet almost every day when I log onto my day-trading account and buy stocks that sometimes are a worse investment than betting on the Orlando Magic. Some days I lose on these stocks; some days I win. Just like sports betting.
Besides, Florida has been in the state-sponsored gambling business for more than three decades, ever since the state instituted the Florida Lottery in 1988. I don’t know the percentages, but you probably have a better chance of winning money betting on the Jaguars than you do buying a Joker’s Wild scratch-off at your local 7-Eleven.
By the way, professional sports teams and leagues in our state, whether or not they admit it publicly, are also rooting for DeSantis to get sports betting through the legislature. Let’s not forget, it was years ago when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver became the first head honcho in American sports history to support legalized gambling when he wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled: “Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting.”
It’s pretty easy to figure out why the NBA, NFL and other sports leagues are lobbying to legalize sports betting: because they want their teams to open up their own sportsbooks in their own stadiums and arenas so they can get their own slice of the betting pie. They also stand to make a ton of money on gambling sponsorships. Moreover, all you have to do is look at the immense popularity of fantasy football to know that gambling brings a higher level of passion and engagement with fans.
Sports betting is a win-win for everybody — except, of course, the bettors themselves.
Not even Disney, which has contributed millions to the longtime lobbying efforts to keep casinos from being built in Florida, can look itself in the mirror and be against sports betting. After all, Disney owns ESPN, which has partnered with sports-betting companies such as DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment. If you look on ESPN.com and the ESPN app you will see link integrations to these betting sites.
I’m not saying Cinderella Castle is going to have its own betting parlor anytime soon, but would anybody be surprised if Disney someday operated a sportsbook out of ESPN’s Wide World of Sports?
Don’t kid yourself, sports betting is
to coming to Florida. Hallelujah!
But, wait, let’s not celebrate just yet.
There’ll be time enough for countin’ when this deal gets done.