Within days of Broward County approving slot machines at four racetrack/jai-alai venues, the Seminole Tribe approached Governor Jeb Bush about exchanging its Class II electronic bingo games for Class III gambling machines at its casinos, including Tampa and Hollywood. The Miccosukee Tribe, with a casino west of Miami, started lobbying back in November, after voters approved the gambling referendum. A federal law grants the right for tribal casinos to have Class III machines if they are allowed anywhere else in the state.

It might appear fairly straightforward in Florida since voters on 8 March gave the go-ahead for slot machines at Broward’s pari-mutuel venues. Not so, however, for now the wrangling starts. Apart from issues such as regulation, hours of operation, numbers and taxation that will exercise the lawmakers, there is now to be discussion over whether the measure approved by voters can be said to relate to Class II machines, and not Las Vegas style machines. Opinion is divided.

Jeb Bush, avidly anti-gambling except when it comes to the growth of lottery products and profits in Florida, is likely to do all he can to press for Class II machines and to minimise numbers and operating hours, whilst maximizing taxation levels. It has been reported that some in the pari-mutuel industry may be willing to settle for the lower profits from Class II machines so long as they get a good deal on the other issues and can develop entertainment complexes at the four locations.

It may be a while yet before people play on slot machines at a racetrack or jai-alai fronton in Florida. It will be a while longer before state education can start to benefit from those revenues. (E-03.23.05)

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