Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 1, 2018

Real estate billionaire Jeffrey Soffer has closed on a deal to buy South Florida’s former Mardi Gras Casino and Race Track. The closing was disclosed in a final order filed Monday and released Tuesday by the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). But the department, which regulates gambling in the state, withheld a final […]

Jim RosicaApril 18, 2018

It’s another happy day at Hard Rock. Gov. Rick Scott Wednesday announced an agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida that “extends the Tribe’s current commitment to make (gambling) revenue sharing payments to the state through May 2019.” The tribe operates Hard Rock-branded and other casinos in Florida, including the flagship Hard […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 31, 2018

As Women’s History Month drew to a close, a panel of female business leaders shared a sentiment that could help every professional: Don’t be afraid to deviate from the status quo. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation held its annual Women in Business conference in Tallahassee on Friday. It featured a guest panel […]

Jim RosicaMarch 28, 2018

Despite the end of a legal truce between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state this Saturday, don’t expect the Tribe’s gambling money to stop flowing to Florida’s coffers, its longtime outside lawyer said. That’s also despite lawmakers’ failure, once again, to pass comprehensive gambling law reform or renew the revenue sharing agreement between […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 29, 2018

Tomorrow, members of the Senate Community Affairs Committee have an important decision to make regarding the future of short-term rentals in the State of Florida. There are two introduced bills on the agenda that would impact the short-term rental industry, but only one that adequately addresses the need to establish a clear, sensible line between […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 9, 2018

A roundtable of state economists Tuesday decided to take a pass on adopting a forecast for Indian gambling dollars that flow to the state. The Seminole Tribe of Florida pays over $200 million a year into state coffers as part of a deal that guarantees it exclusivity to offer certain games, especially blackjack. And even […]

Jim RosicaDecember 22, 2017

An administrative law judge has struck down the state’s greyhound drug testing program, according to an order released Friday. Judge Lawrence P. Stevenson ruled that state regulators’ use of procedures in a “2010 Greyhound Veterinary Assistant Procedures Manual,” “even after being ordered to cease” doing so, was “invalid” and in violation of state law. The case […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2017

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has filed suit against 25 operators of what’s called “electronic gambling parlors” in the Jacksonville area, saying they violate the Tribe’s deal with the state to exclusively offer Vegas-style games. The suit was filed in Duval County Circuit Civil court last week, records show. The gambling parlors “infringe upon the […]

Jim RosicaDecember 11, 2017

Gambling regulators plan to “update and clarify existing language” in the state’s rules on card games, according to an administrative notice posted Monday. A “notice of development of rulemaking” was published in the Florida Administrative Register. An all-day workshop will be held Jan. 4, at the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering’s North Broward Regional Service Center […]

Jim RosicaNovember 6, 2017

The state’s gambling regulators propose to delegate some of the policing of a contentious card game back to the casinos that offer them. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which oversees gambling, on Monday published proposed rules on “designated player” games offered at certain pari-mutuel facilities. The games have been the […]

Tag: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
According to reviews, F1: The Movie is living up to the hype. Image via AppleTV+/Associated Press.

Jeffrey Soffer closes deal to buy South Florida’s Mardi Gras Casino

Deal ’em: Rick Scott, Seminole Tribe agree on gambling money

Women business leaders say it’s OK to break the rules — sometimes

Sure bet? Seminole gambling money will keep flowing, lawyer says

FRLA’s Carol Dover talks short-term rentals

All in—or out? Gambling revenue puzzles state economists

Judge strikes down Florida’s racing-dog drug testing program

Seminole Tribe now going after Jax ‘gambling parlors’

Ante up: State to workshop new rules for card games

State proposes rule changes on controversial card games