{"id":198117,"date":"2022-01-15T04:50:48","date_gmt":"2022-01-15T12:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=198117"},"modified":"2022-01-15T18:10:41","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T02:10:41","slug":"florida-sports-betting-measure-at-crunch-time-barstools-portnoy-backs-petition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/florida-sports-betting-measure-at-crunch-time-barstools-portnoy-backs-petition\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Sports Betting Measure at Crunch Time, Barstool’s Portnoy Backs Petition"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the clock ticking, sports betting operators have started their versions of the two-minute drill to encourage Florida\u2019s registered voters. The goal is to put a sports betting legalization measure on the November ballot. They\u2019ve apparently even called on Barstool Sports<\/em> founder Dave Portnoy to help get the initiative\u2019s petition across the goal line.<\/p>\n

\"Portnoy\"
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, seen here at an event at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, has joined the push to get a sports betting initiative on the Florida ballot for the November election. (Image: Tom Briglia\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Proponents of the measure must have 891,589 signatures from registered voters validated by Florida elections officials by Feb. 1 in order for it to qualify. That figure equals 8 percent of the votes cast in the state\u2019s last presidential election.<\/p>\n

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According to data from the Florida Division of Elections<\/a>, officials have validated 346,826 signatures. That\u2019s roughly 40 percent of the threshold. In addition to the statewide total, “Florida Education Champions,” the sponsor of the sports betting measure, must also get signatures from registered voters that equal or exceed 8 percent of the votes cast in at least 14 of the state\u2019s 27 congressional districts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“Florida Education Champions” has received $37.2 million in contributions to promote the sports betting measure across the state. According to state election finance records, nearly all of that has come from DraftKings ($22.7 million) and FanDuel ($14.5 million). There have also been 29 individual contributions, but none exceed $100.<\/p>\n

DraftKings Sweetens the Pot with a Bonus<\/h2>\n

Besides funding the political action committee sponsoring the measure, DraftKings is also willing to spend even more money to ensure the sports betting measure gets on the Florida ballot this year.<\/p>\n

On Friday, the Boston-based gaming technology company announced a campaign to get more people to sign the petition. If successful, DraftKings\u2019 Florida customers would receive $100 in site credits.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll you have to do is print, sign, and mail in yours by Jan. 19,\u201d DraftKings tweeted from its main account and its sportsbook account.<\/p>\n

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Sign the petition to add sports betting to the Florida ballot!<\/p>\n

All you have to do is print, sign, and mail in yours by Jan. 19. <\/p>\n

If we hit the signature count by Feb. 1, Florida customers will receive $100 DK dollars.<\/p>\n

More Info: https:\/\/t.co\/X52kABnUtS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Gg0Le0NdEy<\/a><\/p>\n

— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) January 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n