A.G. Gancarski
Looks like things are going well with bestbet’s sales pitch to the Jacksonville City Council.
Six co-sponsors are already on board with the bill, Jamie Shelton of bestbet said in a Tuesday morning meeting.
bestbet will pitch itself as a good community partner in seeking approval of the bill by the Council and in selling a November referendum to bring slot machines to Jacksonville.
There will also be a public education effort designed to address what Shelton called “addiction issues,” related to gamblers.
bestbet is uniquely positioned to get this bill through council, contributing to over half of the council members in last year’s municipal campaigns.
The Rules Committee Chair and the Finance Committee Chair both received contributions from the company during the 2015 elections from the gambling concern, as did the Council president.
What is clear: the drama of bestbet selling slots in Jacksonville will be in the referendum push to voters, not the sale to City Hall.
