Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 1, 2017

As promised, the Florida Greyhound Association is asking state gambling regulators to “reconsider” their decision to allow Miami’s Magic City Casino to discontinue live dog racing. The association filed a “motion to intervene” Tuesday. Ending racing there “will put (its) members … out of business,” the motion says. “The purpose … is to forever end greyhound racing at the track. […]

Jim RosicaJuly 21, 2017

In a decision sure to ripple through the state’s gambling interests, the Havenick family has won its years-long fight to drop dog racing at its Magic City Casino in Miami. A spokesman for the state’s greyhound breeders on Friday said they’re already working on a legal challenge to the decision, which has been long awaited by […]

Peter SchorschMarch 21, 2017

It seems like every year the Florida Legislature revisits the idea of decoupling, which is not a term to describe modern romance, but rather a gaming term. It’s what happens when venues operate a casino without the requirement to also run live horse or dog racing. Seems simple enough; but every year, decoupling doesn’t pass because, inevitably, […]

Scott PowersFebruary 10, 2017

Decrying that racing dog owners are “doping greyhounds,” state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith joined state Rep. Alexandra Miller and Dana Young Friday in another effort to tighten regulation of dog racing in Florida, with a bill explicitly banning the use of steroids. Smith, the Orlando Democrat, and Miller, the Sarasota Republican, introduced House Bill 743 […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

The United Florida Horsemen said they were “relieved” the 2016 Legislative Session ended without lawmakers’ approval of decoupling for Florida pari-mutuels. “Even though decoupling as part of the Seminole Gaming Compact legislation was declared ‘dead’ last Friday, March 4, a hostile decoupling amendment had been quietly filed the same day to HB 1187 and later […]

Jim RosicaMarch 8, 2016

A bipartisan, last-ditch effort to pass a “decoupling” measure this Legislative Session took the form of an amendment tacked on to a deregulation bill late Tuesday. Two South Florida senators – Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican, and Joe Abruzzo, a Boynton Beach Democrat – filed the amendment to a Department of Business and Professional Regulation […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

The Florida Senate and House of Representatives on Friday filed their gambling legislation for the 2016 Legislative Session, including the $3 billion Seminole Compact, a proposed “voter control of gambling expansion” amendment and two different rewrites of the state’s gambling code. The Senate’s version, posted at 4:29 p.m., is 81 pages and the House’s is 102 pages. There […]

Peter SchorschOctober 26, 2015

It doesn’t take much horse sense to know decoupling is a bad idea, say Florida Thoroughbred trainers. On Monday, Kevin McKathan and his brothers – the family who brought up Triple Crown winner American Pharoah — stepped forward to condemn the latest attempt at gambling expansion. Lawmakers are once again considering decoupling – removing the […]

Phil AmmannOctober 19, 2015

Florida racehorse owners are facing what could become an industry game changer as lawmakers consider “decoupling” horse racing to allow card rooms or slot machines. Decoupling removes Florida’s requirement that pari-mutuel facilities must offer live horse racing, dog racing or jai alai games to allow card rooms and/or slot machines. Many major media outlets are reporting […]

Staff ReportsOctober 14, 2015

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Before he started training Thoroughbred racehorses in Florida five years ago, Reid Nagle had spent more than 30 years in the world of high finance. In 1987, he founded SNL Financial, the premier multi-industry business intelligence service that caters to Wall Street and public companies worldwide. Starting with four employees and a small office in […]

Tag: decoupling

Greyhound group asks state to reverse decoupling decision

No more dog racing at South Florida casino, state says

Don’t throw decoupling out with the proverbial gaming bath water

Carlos Smith, Alexandra Miller, Dana Young push new greyhound bill, banning steroids

United Florida Horsemen “relieved” Session ends without decoupling

Decoupling measure quietly filed in Senate

Legislature files gambling bills, including Seminole Compact

American Pharoah trainers say decoupling could ‘ruin’ horse racing in Florida

Florida Horsemen launch new website to oppose decoupling

Financier Reid Nagle voices opposition to Florida horse race decoupling