Voters approved 2004 referendum to allow slot machines in Broward and Dade county betting facilities.Poker betting raised to $2, with maximum three-raise limit, in 2003.Poker legalized at pari-mutuel facilities (places where betting is happening on racing & Jai-alai) in 1996 (same pot limit).Florida legalized penny-ante poker (pot cannot exceed $10) at private homes in 1989.However, slots only survived for two years, being repealed in 1937 as a conservative push-back began.In 1935, slot machines and betting on Jai-alai (a popular sport in South Florida).The legislature passed horse and dog racing in 1931, overriding the veto of then-Governor Carlton.Gambling in the Seminole Reservations will be covered in a separate section.

This is gambling ONLY related to legislative action. I’ll offer this following summary as well. A fun timeline of the issue can be found here and here. Gambling in Florida has been around (legally) since the Great Depression era.

With the lobbying and voting all wrapped up, I decided to take a look at the history of gambling in Florida.

Last week, the Florida legislature signed off on a massive gambling compact worked out between Governor Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida which will result in a massive expansion of legalized gambling in the state.

Florida casinos