Fantasy sports operator FanDuel is urging Florida voters to oppose Amendment 3, titled “Voter Control of Gambling in Florida.” The proposed constitutional amendment would “ensure that Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling,” according to the ballot summary for the November 6 election.
FanDuel officials said Amendment 3 “pretends to give voters more power, but the reality is it makes it more difficult to protect your right to play fantasy sports.” Also the proposal would “make it impossible to bring sports betting to Florida. If Amendment 3 passes, the legislature will no longer have the power to authorize sports betting in Florida.”
John Sowinski, president of Voters In Charge, the political group promoting Amendment 3, said it “does not prohibit sports gambling. What it does is gives the final say on this and other casino gambling decisions to Florida voters. Likewise, it does not affect traditional fantasy sports pools.”
Sowinski recently spoke at a forum on the topic hosted by the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We don’t think casino licenses should be for sale to the highest bidder in Tallahassee. It should be an issue that’s decided by voters,” he said.
Also in attendance was Jamie Shelton, representing the Best Bet Jacksonville cardroom. “This is and should be a legislative matter and it should be dealt with by the people we elect to represent us in the state of Florida,” Shelton said.
Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce President and state Rep. Jason Brodeur noted tourism makes up a considerable portion of Florida’s revenue, so, as a lawmaker, he said he has to consider the state’s family-friendly image.
“If I believe that that equity is going to be jeopardized by changing the way we are viewed as a state that’s something I have to consider as a legislator. As an individual, I think the voters should be in charge,” Brodeur said.
The amendment has the backing of Disney Worldwide and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, who together have donated $36.3 million to Voters In Charge. According to September 28 filings with the state Division of Elections, Disney had contributed $19.6 million and the Seminole Tribe $16.7 million.
Two political action committees have been formed to oppose Amendment 3. Citizens for the Truth About Amendment 3 has raised more than $6 million and Vote NO on 3 has raised $981,832, according to the filings.
Citizens for the Truth About Amendment 3 received $500,000 from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $400,000 from Los Angeles-based Elevated LLC, $250,000 from the St. Petersburg Kennel Club and $145,000 from Cardroom Tech.
Vote NO on 3 received all of its funding from West Flagler Associates, the parent company of Miami’s Magic City Casino. The group’s chairman is Isadore “Izzy” Havenick, whose family operates Magic City and Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Racing & Poker in Bonita Springs.
Both groups claim the wording of Amendment 3 is designed to fool voters. The Citizens for Truth About Amendment 3 website states, “On its face, the amendment ballot language appears to empower voters. However, what Amendment 3 really does is cost education funding hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars. Because the referendum would be statewide, voters in one part of the state would decide whether a gaming facility can open somewhere else. This would benefit larger companies that have the resources to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures needed for a referendum.”
The PAC maintains the proposal would cost Florida schools $200 million in new tax revenue annually. In addition, the measure could remove some slot machines and designated player games, costing schools another $330 million in tax proceeds over the next 10 years.
Amendment 3 requires 60 percent voter approval to pass. However, a recent Florida Chamber of Commerce survey indicated it’s supported by 54 percent of voters, with 28 percent opposed. The issue could be determined by the 18 percent of voters who were undecided. The Chamber and the League of Women Voters support the amendment.
