The new Gaming Compact, recently signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., is guaranteed to bring $2.5 billion in revenue sharing dollars to the State of Florida in its first five years and billions more in future years.
A new poll commissioned by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging
Association (FRLA), in cooperation with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, shows that
Florida voters overwhelmingly support the new Gaming Compact by more than 3:1,
with 62 percent in favor and only 17 percent opposed, as it nears approval by the
Florida Legislature in a Special Session beginning Monday, May 17.
“The Compact will not just benefit the Seminole Tribe and Florida’s state revenue, it will
bring a much-needed boost in Florida tourism – Florida’s economic engine – which
recorded its lowest year in more than a decade in 2020, and it will also bring thousands
of jobs for Florida’s hospitality industry,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of
FRLA.
“We believe that the new casino games will not conflict with Florida’s family-friendly image, which is especially important in Central Florida, as the new casino table
games are limited to Seminole Reservations where casino gaming already takes place.
Florida’s tourism and hospitality industry is working to rebuild after a devastating year,
and we strongly support this Gaming Compact and our friends in the Seminole Tribe
who have continued to demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of our great
state,” Dover added.
Since the beginning of COVID, more than 934,000 of Florida’s 1.5 million hospitality
workers were furloughed or laid off. More than 10,000 restaurants closed and hotels
have shuttered. Many hotels still remain on the brink of closure as business travel
remains down more than 85 percent.
The new Compact will bring jobs and provide significant economic impact to help benefit the hospitality and tourism industry as it tries to rebuild and recover from 2020.
Other key findings in the poll:
• 73 percent of respondents said they were more likely to support the Compact
when they learned that profits generated by the Seminole Tribe are invested
back into the state by creating thousands of jobs and billions more in economic
impact.
• Voters also indicated by more than a 2:1 margin that they were now more likely
to re-elect their state legislator if he or she votes to approve the compact, with 46
percent saying it would be more likely, 20 percent less likely, and 33 percent
unsure.
• Floridians are pleased with the direction of the state with 58 percent saying it is
headed in the right direction.
• 60 percent of the voters approve of the job Governor DeSantis is doing – his
highest job approval since June 2020.
About this poll: The poll was conducted by the Tyson Group from May 1st through May 5th.
37% said that they were Democrats and 40% said that they were Republicans. All voters in this survey were reached by live callers on both landlines and cell phones.
About FRLA: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier nonprofit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant
Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers.
The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.5 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected.
Sources: News release
