Time for real casinos in Florida

© Ft. Myers News-Press
Friday, November 13, 2009

It’s time for Florida to face a fundamental fact: We’re a gambling state; have been for years.

So why shouldn’t racetracks be allowed to offer full-scale casino gambling, and local voters have the power to permit casinos elsewhere, if that’s what they want.

They should, and guess what? For the first time, it appears broad casino legislation has a chance of passing the Legislature, because of the apparent collapse of efforts to pass an Indian casino pact.

Seminole tribe leaders got greedy. They wanted exclusive rights statewide to Las Vegas-style games at their casinos, including Immokalee.

The exception would be in Miami/Dade and Broward counties, where slot machines are already approved by voters under a state constitutional amendment. Gov. Charlie Crist agreed to it, saying the state would get a $6 billion share of Seminole revenues over 20 years.

Fortunately, the state’s ailing racetrack industry raised a ruckus, and legislators listened. Racetracks need expanded casino gambling to stay alive, and they deserve the right to offer it.

Furthermore, if local voters in a county want to permit casinos, they should have that power. At least give voters statewide and locally the chance to authorize casinos. Let the Seminoles do as they wish and keep their $20 million. The state’s take stands to be much higher from expanded casinos.

Urge our leaders in Tallahassee to let the racetracks offer casino gambling. And let voters choose whether to permit other casinos, especially in the big coastal counties like Miami/Dade and Broward, where an Atlantic City-like development might work best.

This is the approach of freedom and choice — and probably the most lucrative for the state.