Seminole Tribe of Florida Announced Addition of Craps, Roulette and Sports Betting at All Six Casinos
By: Kristen Hernandez
Broward County, FL – Residents will now have access to new gaming options at all three South Florida Seminole casinos, including craps, roulette, and in-person sports betting beginning on Thursday, December 7th, 2023. Throughout the month, the Seminole Tribe of Florida will celebrate “A New Era in Florida Gaming” loaded with star-studded events, firmly cementing the Seminoles’ dominance over Florida’s casino industry.
It’s no secret that craps and black Americans have had a long love affair reaching back to the 1900’s. Craps was used as a past-time for slaves taking a break from working in the fields. It’s also known as a side hustle in urban areas and ghettos across the nation. Florida residents will now have access to a legalized form of the popular game.
The deal, known as a Compact, was signed initially in 2021 by Governor Ron DeSantis and Seminole Tribe Chairperson, Marcellus Osceola Jr., which would allow for state-wide sports betting at all Seminole Casinos. However, the Compact was challenged in court by para-mutuel companies, West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. They argued that the sports-betting provision violated the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act if gambling off tribal lands was authorized.
The Compact has been tied up in court since 2021, however the Supreme Court recently refused to block the Compact, which allowed the Seminole Tribe to move forward with a scaled-down version, allowing in-person sports betting at their six casinos. The Compact will also allow for three additional casinos on tribal land in Broward County, which could potentially lead to one in Pompano Beach.
“The Seminole Tribe thanks the State of Florida, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Justice for defending our Compact,” Osceola Jr. said. “By working together, the Tribe, the State and the federal government achieved a historic legal victory.”
Although the Tribe did achieve a legal victory, an additional lawsuit remains pending at Florida Supreme Court that challenges the broader online sports betting portion of the Compact. The para-mutuel companies alleged it violates a 2018 constitutional amendment prohibiting the expansion of casino-style gambling without voter approval. A representative of the companies wouldn’t comment on the Seminole’s announcement due to pending litigation.
The Compact does allow for sports betting state-wide, but the Seminole tribe hasn’t detailed when that would happen.
“The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s new initiative will create jobs, increase tourism, and provide billions in added revenue for our state,” Desantis said in a statement. “I was proud to work with the Tribe on our historic Gaming Compact and I look forward to its full implementation.”
In exchange for allowing the Seminoles to add new gaming and the addition of three more casinos in Broward County, the tribe has agreed to pay the state at least $2.5 billion over the first five years, and potentially billions more throughout the three-decade pact.
In a phased roll-out, the remaining three Seminole locations will unveil craps, roulette, and in-person sports betting on Monday, December 11th, 2023. The exciting announcement will give visitors and residents of all colors the chance to always bet on black.
