Tomorrow the amended Florida gambling bill sponsored by Rep Erik Fresen, R-Miami, heads for its first Committee hearing in the House. It has several major differences from the bill presented in the Senate by Sen Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale. Both bills have been revised from their original format in order to win votes but both bills are pressing for up to three destination resort casinos to be allowed in South Florida.
The Bogdanoff bill would regulate Internet cafes and allow slot machines in counties other than the present Broward and Miami-Dade. The Fresen bill would ban Internet cafes, lower pari-mutuel tax rates to the proposed 10% casino tax and delay licensing to 2017. Originally a Gambling Commission would have awarded licences before the end of 2013. Bogdanoff's bill has passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee already and will face a full Senate vote.
Meanwhile two north Florida counties have approved measures to allow their
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pari-mutuel venues to install slot machines. Voters in Washington County near Panama City and Gadsden County near Tallahassee are the first to approve slots since Broward and Miami-Dade. However, in a statement echoed by Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a legal opinion saying state law permits referendums to authorize slots only in two South Florida counties. It is likely that a court battle will be waged by the affected pari-mutuel operators. (E-02.02.12)
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