Brandes betting legalized sports gambling will benefit schools
Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) filed a bill last Monday that would officially legalize sports betting for anyone 21 or older.
The bill, SB 968, includes guidelines for regulating sports betting and limitations on who can place a bet to avoid unfair advantages.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that sports wagering is legal. Since then 19 states have passed laws regulating sports betting.
“Sports betting is yet another area where we can enhance individual freedom,” Brandes said. “In absence of a well-regulated structure, we’ve seen a complex underground industry developed in Florida, potentially breeding habits of addiction, while robbing our government of revenue that should be collected and remitted for education.
“This Legislation creates a legal framework in which Floridians can choose how to spend their time and money, without worry of being criminalized.”
The bill offers a pathway to obtain a sports betting license through the Department of Lottery, which would allow licensees to offer betting opportunities in-person or at a betting kiosk.
The bill requires prompt notification to the Department of Lottery of any criminal action or disciplinary proceedings on the part of a licensee or its employees and of any abnormal betting activity or patterns that could threaten the integrity of a sporting event including those that could corrupt sporting event outcomes.
Brandes’ bill imposes strict limits on who, when, and where sports bets may be placed through a licensed operator. Licensees would be responsible for remitting taxes once a month to the Department of Lottery.
The legislation blocks certain people who might have an unfair advantage from betting. That includes people who have inside knowledge of a sports team because they work for the organization or who otherwise have access to information that could give them an edge in predicting outcomes. It also blocks certain people who have legal or financial stakes in sports teams.
Brandes cited economic analysis showing illegal sports betting is a $150 billion a year underground industry. Taxable revenue from making those bets legal and regulated could generate additional funds for public schools, college scholarships and educational services in Florida.
Brandes’ bill does not yet have a companion in the House.
Janelle Irwin Taylor has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in the Tampa Bay area since 2003. Most recently, Janelle reported for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. She formerly served as the sole staff reporter for WMNF News and previously covered news for Patch.com and various local neighborhood newsletters. Her work has been featured in the New York Daily News, Free Speech Radio News and Florida Public Radio and she's been interviewed by radio stations across the nation for her coverage of the 2012 Republican National Convention. Janelle is a die-hard news junkie who isn't afraid to take on big names in local politics, including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, the dirty business of trash and recycling in St. Pete and contentious issues surrounding transit. Her work as a reporter and radio host has earned her two WMNF awards including News Volunteer of the Year and Public Affairs Volunteer of the Year. Janelle is also a devoted wife and mother to three brilliant and beautiful daughters who are a constant source of inspiration and occasional blogging fodder.
get social