There are still three weeks left in the legislative session, but if I were a betting man, I'd say the chances for a major overhaul of Florida's gambling laws in the near future are nil.
Last week, the Florida Senate dropped its big gambling-reform bill. The votes weren't there to move the bill out of it's first committee. This week, House Speaker Will Weatherford slammed the door on any gambling bills coming out of the Legislature.
Somewhere Gov. Rick Scott is smiling. He wasn't thrilled about having the final say on a bill that creates a new gaming commission or allows casino-resorts set up shop in South Florida. Gambling expansion is still a dicey subject, particularly in an election year.
I've followed the many twists and turns of the state's "efforts" to better regulate a part of Florida's economy that over the years has grown — pretty much like melaleuca. Gambling creep is a reality in our family-friendly state, but our state's leaders don't seem in a hurry to find a solution.
I've sat through hours of public testimony with state senators who dutifully listened but probably wished they were somewhere else. I've watched House members set up "information-sessions" at pari-mutuels only to cancel them because of the lawmakers' lack of interest.
I've followed the many twists and turns of the state's "efforts" to better regulate a part of Florida's economy that over the years has grown — pretty much like melaleuca. Gambling creep is a reality in our family-friendly state, but our state's leaders don't seem in a hurry to find a solution.
I've sat through hours of public testimony with state senators who dutifully listened but probably wished they were somewhere else. I've watched House members set up "information-sessions" at pari-mutuels only to cancel them because of the lawmakers' lack of interest.
I've flipped through the Spectrum Gaming Group's Gambling Impact Study, the $400,000 analysis paid by Florida taxpayers that is full of interesting gambling trivia but lacking in any clear policy direction. Don't blame the authors. That's the way the lawmakers wanted it. Go figure.
[Spectrum only soaked Massachusetts taxpayers $180,000....oh...but then got paid to 'advise' the Gambling Commission.]
I also poured through Scott's "Let's Get to Work" political committee website and found thousands and thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from — and please forgive the pun — just about everyone who has a dog in that race. Gaming has been very very good to the governor.
It's been a long road, and I have the scars to prove it. So, allow me a few takeaways
•The pari-mutuels got zilch. They didn't get any of the incentives they wanted to boost gaming operations or develop their properties. Fat chance if they will do better next year in competing with the destination casinos that want in and the Seminole Tribe of Florida that's already here.
•Kiss dog racing goodbye. Over half of the nation's dog tracks are in Florida, and most of them are losing money on greyhound racing. The industry wanted lawmakers to change the law to allow them to run fewer races and keep their more lucrative cardrooms and slot machines.
Those odds are long to be polite, and next year's prospects won't be any easier, particularly if lawmakers seriously consider an idea from Sen.Tom Lee, R-Bradenton, who suggested the state simply outlaw greyhound racing and have track owners apply for new gambling licenses.
[In Massachusetts, taxpayers continue to subsidize greyhound owners for the outlawed industry.]
•The Seminole Tribe holds all the cards. Scott got in the game late in negotiating a new "table games" provision. So it'll be interesting to see if he can cut a better deal than the current one that gives the state $1 billion over a five-year period in exchange for the tribe's big competitive advantage over the pari-mutuels. Advantage: Seminoles.
•So does Central Florida. Orlando is home of one of the nation's largest convention-center venues, and they don't want to lose business to a budding gaming mecca in South Florida. By the way, guess where Andy Gardiner, the next Senate President lives? Hint: think Mickey Mouse. Steve Crisafulli, the incoming House Speaker, lives down the road in Brevard County.
Lost in all this is the simple fact that our state gambling regulations are a hot mess. For the past two years, the Legislature pondered and pontificated. With little time left in the session, state lawmakers finally rolled the dice and crapped out.
Doug Lyons can be reached at 954 356-4638 or by email at dlyons@sun-sentinel.com., or on Twitter @douginflorida
Editor's Note: A month ago, Doug Lyons appeared on WPBT-Channel 2 Issues to talk about gambling. Compare those comments with this column at Sun-Sentinel.com/Floridasgamble.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-dlcol-gambling-20140412,0,171408.column
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment