Advertisement

Gaming debate continues for Day 3 in Florida Legislature

 
Published April 28, 2017

TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers continued to move forward on gambling legislation Thursday, debating whether to renew a compact with the Seminole Tribe, which could produce as much as $300 million in annual revenue, or to expand slot machines and other gaming operations elsewhere.

House gambling negotiators broke a years-long impasse Wednesday and agreed to open the door for competitive bids for a slots casino based in Miami-Dade County, rejecting a Senate plan that would have allowed two casinos, one each in Miami-Dade and Broward. But the Senate countered Thursday, proposing two casinos again but making concessions to the Seminole Tribe.

Although most of the focus of the recent negotiations has been on expanding slot machines in South Florida and the eight counties where voters have approved slot machines at their parimutuels, the Senate showed it was ready to deal with the tribe, which is determined to protect its prime Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa from competition.

Both the House and Senate have agreed to allow the tribe to add craps and roulette to its casino games, but the Senate backed off a requirement that the tribe guarantee $3 billion in payments in exchange for the exclusive operation of craps and roulette in Florida.

The shift opens the door for the tribe to negotiate a sliding scale of payments to the state based on its revenues, in light of what the Senate hopes will be an expansion of gambling at parimutuels and in South Florida and an increase in the tribe's competition.

"I'm excited about the direction this is going," said Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami, He and Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, are the chief negotiators.

How Tampa Bay Downs will be treated in the compact negotiations is still an open question. Galvano said the Senate has agreed to reduce a purse supplement that would have gone to thoroughbred racing tracks without slot machines, like Tampa Bay Downs to make it more competitive while operating in the shadows of the Seminole Hard Rock Casino.

The Senate had wanted to divide $20 million among three tracks around the state but guarantee $10 million for Tampa Bay Downs because it has no slots and is competing against one of the nation's largest casinos.

But now, the Senate is prepared to take just $10 million in total for all 3 thoroughbred facilities. Galvano said he's not sure if he'll press for all $10 million to be dedicated to Tampa Bay Downs, or if it would be a situation where the downs would have access to a guarantee of $5 million and would have to compete for the remaining amount based on the number of races run each year.

Contact Mary Ellen Klas at meklas@miamiherald.com. Follow @MaryEllenKlas