Florida Moving Closer To New Gambling DealLegislation Would Create New Compact With Seminoles |
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A major gambling expansion bill in Florida has cleared a key hurdle in the state Senate.
According to a report from Tampabay.com, Senate Bill 8 unanimously cleared the Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Wednesday, providing real indication that the long stalemate over how to expand gambling in the Sunshine State could finally come to an end.
The Seminole Tribe, which has a blackjack monopoly in the state, is currently operating those games without a state compact. The previous one expired last year and both the tribe and the state have been trying to reach a new deal.
The complex 112-page legislation has a long list of changes to the gambling industry. Two slot casinos would be allowed in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Slot machines would also come to eight more counties across the state. The slot machine tax would be lowered from 35 to 25 percent.
Casinos in both Miami-Dade and Broward county could have 25 blackjack tables.
The Seminoles would be able to have blackjack at all their casinos in exchange for $3 billion to the state over the next seven years. The tribe hasn’t commented on the bill yet.
Florida racetracks would also be allowed to decouple their offerings and end live racing.
Daily fantasy sports regulation is another provision in the bill.
The bill’s author called the effort to appease all gaming interests as “three-dimensional chess.” The legislation comes at a time when lawmakers are also trying to sort out the state budget.
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