Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has certainly been proactive when it comes to criss-crossing the globe in his efforts to relocate businesses and resulting jobs to Florida. But because millions of taxpayer dollars are spent annually to lure various corporations to the Sunshine State through agencies such as Enterprise Florida, it’s hard to fathom why our elected […]

Guest AuthorApril 8, 2014

Florida has always been a very conservative state when it comes to gambling. Voters rejected casino gambling three time (1978, 1986 and 1994). The state aggressively challenged the Seminole Tribe when they opened a high stakes bingo parlor in 1979. Even the state lottery was not approved until 1984. Pursuant to Article X section 7 […]

Tag: decoupling
Image via Palatka Main Street.

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

Bill White: Florida could “decouple” horse racing, breeding right out of business

Jeff Kottkamp: Legislature should be wary of turning dog tracks into mini-casinos