Florida Senate and House start gambling debate.

The House and Senate each rolled out their gambling proposals and they couldnt be more different. The House bill would strip the tribe of its existing blackjack and banked card games allowing only slot machines on their seven properties, while the Senate's version proposes "a virtual no-holds-barred gambling expansion" that includes more Vegas-style games for the tribe and more options for horse and dog tracks and jai alai frontons.

 

 

As reported in the Miami Herald, "the Senate plan would produce $1 billion a year in annual revenue dedicated to education, including $400 million in yearly payments from the tribe. The House plan, by contrast, would require the tribe to pay $100 million a year because it would continue to allow it exclusive use of Class III, Vegas-style slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties."  The state is facing a $6 billion budget deficit.

 

We will keep you posted on the progress, if any.    

 

You can find further information at sun-sentinal.com and naplesnews.com 

 

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