Florida’s commercial casino prospects survive legislative hurdle

Florida’s long-shot hopes for commercial casinos and mobile sportsbooks remained intact after state lawmakers adjourned a special legislative session on Monday without discussing a bill that could have effectively blocked future gambling expansion efforts.  

However, the proposal, which would have eliminated citizen-initiated ballot measures, could resurface in the regular legislative session in March. If enacted, it would make it nearly impossible to place gambling-related initiatives on the ballot, further complicating the path for commercial gaming interests in the state.  

Florida allows citizens to propose constitutional amendments via ballot initiatives, a process requiring nearly 900,000 verified resident signatures. This mechanism has been used in other states, including Missouri, to expand gambling.  

Governor Ron DeSantis had previously backed the proposal to limit ballot measures, arguing it would prevent “out-of-state interests” from influencing Florida’s laws and would help address election integrity concerns.  

Florida’s gambling market is dominated by the Seminole Tribe, which operates Hard Rock Bet, the state’s only legal mobile sportsbook, under an exclusive gaming compact with the government. The tribe also played an important role in passing a 2018 constitutional amendment requiring voter approval for any gambling expansion, making legislative efforts to introduce commercial casinos even more challenging.  

If the proposed ballot measure bill is revived and passed in 2025, it would ban hiring signature gatherers, making it extremely difficult to meet the state’s signature threshold for constitutional amendments. 

Even if a gambling-related measure does make it onto the ballot, Florida requires a supermajority vote of 60%—a higher threshold than the 50% required in most states.  

Despite these obstacles, Florida remains a key target for commercial gaming operators, given its large population and status as a major tourist destination.  

President Donald Trump has expressed interest in bringing a casino to South Florida, adding to speculation about potential commercial gaming expansion.