Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 21, 2017

An Aug. 31 deadline looms for the House of Representatives and Florida Lottery to turn in a “status report” on their efforts to settle a lawsuit over a $700 million contract for new equipment. House spokesman Fred Piccolo on Friday said there had been no resolution, and that “negotiations continue.” Barry Richard, outside counsel for the […]

Jim RosicaJuly 17, 2017

A Tallahassee judge sided with life insurance companies Monday, restricting preliminary information-gathering by the state in defense of a new law requiring insurers to track down beneficiaries. The outside lawyer for the Department of Financial Services, which advocated for the measure, said he plans to appeal the decision that allows only limited discovery. “We believe, respectfully, […]

Jim RosicaJuly 17, 2017

Life insurers will be in court Monday in their lawsuit against the Department of Financial Services over a law requiring them to track down insurance beneficiaries. Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is set to hear argument in the Leon County Courthouse about their request to cancel planned depositions of their employees, which they call “burdensome, harassing and irrelevant.” The […]

Jim RosicaJuly 12, 2017

As expected, a Tallahassee judge has entered a written order following his decision last month that he had gotten it “wrong the first time” and said games known as “pre-reveal” are in fact illegal slot machines. Circuit Judge John Cooper this week filed a “final declaratory judgment,” which allows Gator Coin II—the Jacksonville company that distributes the games—to now appeal to […]

Jim RosicaJune 19, 2017

Lawyers for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and companies behind what are known as “pre-reveal” games—a name they apparently disdain—will appear Monday afternoon in a Tallahassee courtroom. Circuit Judge John Cooper agreed to hear argument on why he should reconsider his previous ruling that the stand-alone consoles aren’t illegal slot machines. The devices in question use a specific software known as “Version 67.” The […]

Jim RosicaJune 12, 2017

The companies behind what are known as “pre-reveal” games say they’re “losing money every day” even after a Tallahassee judge ruled the stand-alone consoles aren’t illegal slot machines. Gator Coin II and Blue Sky Games are asking Circuit Judge John Cooper to lift an automatic stay of his March decision. Cooper, however, already has agreed to reconsider the ruling, setting […]

Jim RosicaMay 3, 2017

A Tallahassee judge has agreed to hear arguments on why he should reconsider his ruling that stand-alone consoles known as “pre-reveal” games are not illegal slot machines. Judge John Cooper set a hearing for June 19 in the Leon County Courthouse, court dockets show, after the Seminole Tribe of Florida asked to intervene. The move also puts a […]

Jim RosicaMay 2, 2017

The Seminole Tribe of Florida “will react accordingly” to the demise of a gambling bill this Legislative Session, the Tribe’s top outside lawyer said Tuesday. Chief negotiators for the House and Senate said earlier Tuesday they wouldn’t resolve their differences over the legislation before the scheduled end of the 2017 Legislative Session on Friday. When asked whether the Tribe plans […]

Jim RosicaMarch 28, 2017

If it looks like a slot machine, and plays like a slot machine, it’s a slot machine, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is telling state leaders. An order by a Tallahassee judge, first reported by FloridaPolitics.com, declared that certain slot machine-style entertainment devices aren’t slot machines under state law. The Tribe disagreed. It now says those games violate […]

Jim RosicaMarch 20, 2017

A recent ruling by a Tallahassee judge could result in Florida being inundated by a slot machine-style entertainment device in bars, arcades and even dog and horse tracks. It’s also not yet clear whether the decision could trigger a violation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s exclusivity rights in its gambling “compact” with the state. That […]

Tag: Barry Richard
Dave Barfield

Clock ticks toward deadline to resolve Lottery lawsuit

CFO’s office largely loses fight to get info from insurance companies

CFO’s office back in court over insurance benefits case

Judge files order after ruling ‘pre-reveal’ games are illegal slots

Lawyers to face off in hearing over ‘pre-reveal’ games

Pre-reveal game makers bemoan state’s ‘heavy-handed tactics’

Jackpot? Judge could reconsider ‘pre-reveal’ slot machine ruling

Lawyer: Seminole Tribe ‘will react accordingly’ to gambling bill’s death

Seminole Tribe: Judge’s slots ruling could cost state ‘multi-billions of dollars’

Rise of the (pre-reveal) machines: The coming battle in Florida gambling?