Expanded Gambling In Florida Receives High Marks From Economists

The state of Florida already has casino gambling. What lawmakers in the House and Senate are trying to do is figure out how much the gambling should be expanded in the state. There are varying opinions on this matter.

On Monday, top economists in the state gave their opinion on the amount of money that could be generated under both a House Bill and a Senate Bill that are being proposed. The figures for both Bills was in the hundreds of millions.

The Senate Bill being proposed would bring full scale casino gambling to Seminole casinos in Florida. Under the plan, pari-mutuels would also get blackjack. The Seminoles would be able to offer blackjack, baccarat, craps, and roulette.

The House plan does not go to the extent of the plan in the Senate. Under the House plan, the Seminoles would be allowed to keep Vegas style slots, but would have to stop offering blackjack and baccarat.

The state's Revenue Estimating Conference concluded that the Senate plan would bring $504 million in revenue to the state in the first year. The House plan would bring the state $257.2 million in the first year.

Whichever plan becomes law, and it could be a combination of both plans, the state would benefit greatly from expanding casino gambling, according to the economists.

April 8, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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