Florida Lawmakers To Discuss Major Gambling Expansion Next Year

Lawmakers outside of Governor Charlie Crist had been in the dark about gambling and its impact in the state up until the point where Crist negotiated a compact with the Seminole Indians back in late 2007. Since that time, lawmakers have been educated on the impact of the gambling industry in Florida.

Thanks to their new-found knowledge of the issue, lawmakers are now preparing to have discussions involving large scale gambling expansion in the state. Those discussions, however, will not revolve around the Seminole Indians.

A second compact that was negotiated this summer needed the approval of legislators. Governor Crist has been pushing for a special session to approve the compact, but lawmakers now seem intent on writing their own gambling expansion laws for the state.

"Where we're at this time around is actually recognizing what's happening in the state of Florida," said Galvano, "Last time around, it was more conceptual, negotiating parameters of a compact. When you look at it this time, you have to recognize the tribe is operating as if there was a compact. All of those ideas of equity are important now."

The equity that Galvano was speaking of was the pari-mutuel facilities in the state. The Seminoles have been pushing for exclusivity for games such as blackjack and baccarat. Now, however, the state is not willing to grant that exclusivity. If anything, lawmakers now understand how much revenue could be generated by allowing the pari-mutuels the same games as the Seminoles.

The Seminoles stance has remained the same. They are interested in finalizing the compact with the state, but are still unwilling to give up their exclusivity demands. Galvano indicted on Monday that the state would move forward with the gambling expansion talks after the new year.

"We're not just going to leave it status quo, we're going to take another endeavor at it," said Galvano. Florida currently is one of the biggest gambling states in the nation, and Galvano indicated that their gambling empire would only grown in the coming years.

December 8, 2009
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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