Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 8, 2018

A Democratic state Senator from South Florida has filed legislation expressly allowing dog trainers to give anabolic steroids to racing greyhounds. The bill (SB 1774), filed Friday afternoon by Kevin Rader of Delray Beach, is for the 2018 Legislative Session that begins Tuesday. In Florida, live dog racing is still conducted at 12 tracks. The measure […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2017

Calling it an “immediate danger” that needs “emergency action,” gambling regulators this week filed a temporary rule to allow them to keep testing racing greyhounds for drugs. The moves comes after an administrative law judge struck down the testing program, saying it was “invalid.” The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which regulates gambling in Florida, also asked Judge […]

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 […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 5, 2017

An appellate court on Tuesday unanimously reversed state regulators in favor of a ragtag north Florida horse track looking to become a “first-class (gambling) facility.” The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering last year rejected an administrative law judge’s tossing out of the state’s complaint that Hamilton Downs ran “flag drop” races contrary to […]

Jim RosicaAugust 28, 2017

Ed. Note — Story was updated Tuesday with comment from Pensacola track spokeswoman. State gambling regulators have filed administrative complaints against two racetracks in recent weeks, alleging that they’ve been offering illegal card games. One complaint was lodged Aug. 17 against Pensacola Greyhound Track & Poker Room, and another was filed last Thursday against the Sarasota Kennel […]

Jim RosicaAugust 3, 2017

State gambling regulators this week shot down a request by a South Florida gambling permitholder who wanted sell the permit and allow the next operator to build on a new location in Broward County. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Monday said both sales of permits and any relocation of gambling—both time-consuming processes—have to be OK’d […]

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 24, 2017

Horse breeders have legal standing to “challenge the annual plan for distribution of owners’ and breeders’ awards,” according to a unanimous appeals court decision Monday. In a case ultimately about who controls the money and how much goes back to horsemen and breeders, Southern Cross Farm (SCF) had appealed a ruling from state gambling regulators. The Department […]

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 […]

Tag: Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering

Kevin Rader files bill to legalize steroids in racing dogs

A ‘Red Bull rule’? State strikes back on drugs in race dogs

Ante up: State to workshop new rules for card games

State proposes rule changes on controversial card games

Court overrules regulators regarding ‘flag drop’ races

State files illegal card game complaints in Pensacola, Sarasota

Dania casino shut out in gambling permit case

Greyhound group asks state to reverse decoupling decision

Horse breeders can challenge divvying up of award money, court says

No more dog racing at South Florida casino, state says