FL H7109

Ratifies the December 7, 2015 Gaming Compact between the Seminole Tribe and the State of Florida, granting the Tribe exclusive rights to operate slot machines, banked card games (blackjack, baccarat), dice games (craps, roulette), and wheel games in specified South Florida and Tampa-area counties, with revenue-sharing payments deposited into General Revenue and $10 million annually designated for thoroughbred purse pools.

Prohibits new pari-mutuel permits after July 1, 2016, requires revocation of permits inactive for more than 24 consecutive months, bars transfer, relocation, or conversion of permits, and caps statewide slot machines at 16,000 with per-facility limits reduced from 2,000 to 1,850 machines (1,500 for new licensees).

Creates the Fantasy Contest Amusement Act (Chapter 546), declaring fantasy sports contests skill-based and not gambling, requiring operators to obtain a license (initial fee up to $500,000, renewal up to $100,000), post a $1 million surety bond, segregate participant funds, verify participants are 18+, undergo annual independent audits, and face penalties of up to $5,000 per violation ($100,000 aggregate).

Reduces slot machine tax rates from 35% to 30% effective January 1, 2017, and to 25% effective July 1, 2017 for licensees capping machines at 1,700 or licensed after the act's effective date; establishes aggregate tax payment guarantees for newly authorized counties escalating from $34.75 million (FY 2018-2019) to $121.4 million (FY 2020-2021 and beyond).

Authorizes up to 25 house banked blackjack tables per eligible pari-mutuel facility in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, with a $25 maximum initial wager, $5 maximum side bet, and a 10% tax on monthly gross blackjack receipts.

Legalizes designated player poker games at licensed cardrooms, where a designated player pays winners and collects from losers but is not required to cover all wagers; limited to 50% of a cardroom's authorized tables and prohibited if they would trigger reduced Seminole Tribe revenue-sharing payments.

Expands operating flexibility by allowing slot machine gaming areas and cardrooms to operate 24/7 year-round, removing prior 18-hour weekday restrictions; permits ATMs in slot areas, electronic payment systems for wagering, and progressive slot systems linking facilities across jurisdictions.

Creates a one-time additional slot machine license for a Miami-Dade County pari-mutuel permitholder, requiring a $2 million nonrefundable application fee, a facility costing at least $100 million to construct, and completion within 2 years, with selection criteria emphasizing tourism, job creation, and financial capacity.

Restructures pari-mutuel live racing requirements, allowing greyhound permitholders with 10+ consecutive years of full schedules to operate without live racing, reducing live greyhound racing tax from 5.5% to 1.28%, creating a thoroughbred purse supplement program funded by cardroom net proceeds, and mandating greyhound injury reporting within 7 days with public records retained at least 7 years.

Conditions all provisions (except compact ratification sections) on the December 7, 2015 Gaming Compact receiving U.S. Department of Interior approval, with an overall effective date of July 1, 2016 or upon federal approval, whichever occurs later; appropriates $150,000 in recurring funds from the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Trust Fund for state oversight.