Florida's Legislative Session on Gambling Expansion Begins

Florida is being faced with some big decisions in the coming months – the legislative session period has commenced on January 9th and until March 9th, the state’s House will decide to either expand gambling regulatives significantly or maintain moderation towards new gambling options. Florida House Speaker, Richard Corocan, was not keen on making any predictions about the outcome of the legislative debate and reform suggestion, stating that the likelihood of the successful gambling legislation during 2018’s session is, “somewhere between 1% and 99%”.

Florida House will be making a decision between the opposing views, presented in the form of gambling bills. The senate’s bill is all in favor for a more radical approach, proposing a huge shift with gambling expansion. The House’s very own bill opts for a more conservative broadening of gambling options within the state.

Corocan also noted that, traditionally, the House’s lawmakers have been at odds on the question of gambling expansion and that the same scenario could repeat this year – though he did it that they “may appear on the same page all of a sudden.”

Last year, Florida came close to authorizing expansion in the state, however gambling regulations talk proved to be very divisive so no agreement was reached. Finally, last week saw the introduction of another across-the-board, all-encoming reform bill penned by the state Senate. The bill is scheduled to be introduced in the coming weeks.

This coming November, individuals will be putting their votes in favor or against the amendment that would make any gambling reform invalid before being approved at a referendum in the state.