Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 RosicaJanuary 2, 2018

A north Florida lawmaker has filed legislation to again allow Gadsden County to hold a “countywide referendum” on authorizing slot machine gambling at a local race track. Rep. Ramon Alexander, a Democrat who represents Gadsden and part of Leon County, filed the bill (HB 1111) Tuesday for the 2018 Legislative Session starting next week. But […]

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 RosicaDecember 11, 2017

Fantasy sports advocates have said their hobby is a game of skill and shouldn’t be considered gambling. There’s one sticking point with that position in Florida: A state law prohibits betting on games of skill, making it a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail. But a state Senator backing a bill to […]

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 RosicaNovember 1, 2017

As expected, Constitution Revision Commissioner Tom Lee has filed a constitutional amendment to ban greyhound racing in Florida. Lee, a state senator from Thonotosassa and a previous Senate president, filed the 2-page proposal late Tuesday, the deadline for commissioners to submit proposed amendments for the state’s governing document. Lee last month said he had been considering filing such […]

Jim RosicaOctober 17, 2017

State Sen. Tom Lee, who also sits on the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), has been gauging support for a constitutional amendment to end greyhound racing, sources told Florida Politics on Tuesday. Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican running for state chief financial officer in 2018, has called some of the state’s dog track owners to “take their […]

Jim RosicaOctober 3, 2017

Rep. Jason Brodeur has again filed legislation to exempt fantasy sports play from state gambling regulation. The Sanford Republican filed his measure (HB 223) Tuesday. It comes less than a week after Sen. Dana Young filed her own fantasy sports bill (SB 374) for the 2018 Legislative Session. Brodeur had filed a similar bill last session. His latest bill says fantasy […]

Jim RosicaOctober 2, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at limiting gambling’s expansion in the state now has more than 600,000 signatures, its backers said Monday. Voters in Charge, the political committee behind the amendment, said it’s “over halfway towards its goal of gathering 1.1 million signatures in order to reach the required number of 766,200 valid petitions to […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 29, 2017

Sen. Dana Young has again filed a bill to exempt fantasy sports play from regulation under the state’s gambling laws. Young, a Tampa Republican, filed her measure (SB 374) Friday afternoon. She introduced similar legislation this past session. The bill for the 2018 Legislative Session would prohibit a fantasy contest operator from offering “contests based on the performances of […]

Tag: Gambling
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

All in—or out? Gambling revenue puzzles state economists

Bill would pave way for slot machines in north Florida

Ante up: State to workshop new rules for card games

Obscure Florida law prompts need for fantasy sports legislation

State proposes rule changes on controversial card games

Tom Lee files greyhound racing ban in Florida

Tom Lee may file constitutional amendment to ban dog racing

Jason Brodeur files ‘fantasy sports’ bill for 2018

Gambling amendment now has 600K signatures

Dana Young files ‘fantasy contests’ bill