Gambling deal reached in Florida Legislature
By Msry Ellen Klas
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
© 2009 Miami Herald
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
In a dramatic end to one of the toughest negotiations of the legislative session, House and Senate leaders agreed to a gambling compromise late Wednesday that allows the Seminole Tribe to keep the games they are are playing and helps its competitors better compete against them.
Legislators agreed to almost of the provisions sought by the anti-gambling House, including a plan to allow slot machines at the Seminole casinos outside of Miami-Dade and Broward and the exclusive right to banked card games at its Hard Rock complexes in Broward and Hillsborough counties.
The proposal reduces the tax rate on the seven parimutuel casinos in South Florida and opens the door to additional games for them only through legislative approval and a local referendum.
But in a major win for the now-closed Hialeah race track, lawmakers agreed to allow it to reopen with card rooms and quarter horse racing and within two years get Class III slot machines.
''This is a victory for the children of Florida and education,'' said Gov. Charlie Crist, in a reference to future proceeds going into the state education fund. ``And I couldn't be more pleased.''
Will the Seminole Tribe accept it? ''There's a great possibility of that,'' he said. ``I mean I want to be respectful of their opportunity to have a chance to talk to their members. But it looks like the parameters -- from what I've heard -- are very good.''
Seminole gambling deal reached By Josh Hafenbrack
Tallahassee Bureau
© 2009 South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
May 06, 2009
TALLAHASSEE: Legislative leaders struck an 11th-hour accord on Seminole gambling Tuesday that would authorize table games at Hard Rock in Hollywood and generate $150 million a year for Florida schools.
The gambling deal, hatched after a week of negotiations between the House and Senate, would ratify blackjack, baccarat and other games at the tribe's two franchise Hard Rock casinos, in Broward and Tampa.
Outside those two areas, the Seminoles would be limited to Vegas-style slot machines. The tribe has two reservations in southwest Florida and a third on the northwest rim of Lake Okeechobee.
Pari-mutuel racetracks and jai-alai frontons, which are struggling in Florida's competitive gambling market, also won concessions: a lower tax rate on South Florida slot machines, no-limit poker and nighttime thoroughbred racing. The new rate would be 35 percent, down from 50 percent.
The deal includes no expansion of slots or electronic gambling outside South Florida, a victory for House conservatives.
Final gambling deal: Seminoles get blackjack
in Broward and Hillsborough
by Dara Kam
Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
© 2009 Palm Beach Post
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Seminoles could have blackjack and other banked card games in Broward and Hillsborough counties but only slot machines at their remaining three facilities and leaves the door open for full-fledged slots in Palm Beach County.
House and Senate gambling negotiators struck a deal late this evening as Gov. Charlie Crist and some tribal members looked on, finishing in time for lawmakers to take a full vote on the gambling package before the Senate is scheduled to end on Friday.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Crist said. “This is a victory for the children of Florida and for education.”
Under the final deal, lawmakers could give permission to voters in any county to approve full-fledged slot machines at pari-mutuels that have held live racing for at least two years, like the Palm Beach Kennel Club. But that would require legislation authorizing the referendum.
In exchange for blackjack at four of their seven casinos, the Seminoles would pay at least $150 million per year plus 12 percent of their earnings up to $2.5 billion. The state share could be as high as 25 percent of the tribe’s net win over $4.5 billion.
“We think it’s important to have these resources to help us get through the next year and couple years,” said Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander, who also led the gambling talks.
House chief negotiator Bill Galvano had said earlier that allowing blackjack in Broward alone would “push the House to the brink” and conceded that the final deal allowing blackjack there and in Tampa Bay “was still a heavy lift.”
Lawmakers will revisit the types of gambling allowed in the state in five years.
Earlier in the day, an agreement seemed unlikely when Galvano accused the Senate of moving backwards with a bid this morning that included a broader proposal for Indian card games than previously proposed.
“Mr. Chairman, I appreciate your offer but I will say that it appears the Senate, with all due respect and notwithstanding your brief explanation, is moving backwards. Backwards from where we want to go in an expansion standpoint. Backwards from where the House is heading. And I’ll look at your offer and we will let you know if it’s necessary to meet further,” Galvano, R-Bradenton, said.