TALLAHASSEE, FL-- The Seminole tribe is willing to pay Florida 150 million a year for gambling. But lawmakers were told the state could earn as much as a billion, or about 7 times more, if it licensed casinos in Florida. That got a legislative committee’s attention.
"You do it in a controlled fashion. You create a competitive bid process where you allow the type of facilities to come in that will ultimately allow us to bring in the convention business and make it a destination location. And do it tastefully, and do it right,” said Republican St. Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale
Even conservative lawmakers from the Panhandle blessed the idea...with a caveat.
“I don’t think we should be expanding gambling. If the community wants it, then I’m not going to fight that,” said Republican St. Rep. Marti Coley of Marianna.
The committee made it clear that the Seminole Tribe deal negotiated by the governor is all but dead. But the prospect of opening full-scale casinos is a dream most pari-mutuel operators never thought possible, until they heard the committee.
Dan Adkins, of Mardi Gras Gaming said, “We have existed gambling facilities all around this state that have been in business since the 1930s. Why not allow them the opportunity to compete and provide revenue for the state. New jobs, more revenue. I mean, far and away more money than the Tribe can ever provide.”
Unless lawmakers are bluffing to get a better deal from the Seminole Tribe, it appears voters could be asked to authorize even more gaming next November.
The Seminoles continue to operate the blackjack, poker and other games and will under federal authority, even though State Attorney General Bill McCollum and Speaker of the House Larry Cretul want them shut down now.
