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Jim RosicaJanuary 12, 2017

The chair of the House’s gambling policy panel Thursday made clear what the elephant in the committee room would be this legislative session. “Everything we do is connected to this gaming compact,” said state Rep. Mike La Rosa, referring to the pending renewal of an agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 12, 2017

The Senate’s gambling legislation for 2017 will be filed Thursday, according to state Sen. Bill Galvano. Bet on a lot of talk about it: The Regulated Industries Committee has set aside four hours to discuss it at its next meeting. A tentative schedule posted Wednesday on the Senate’s website shows its Jan. 25 meeting beginning at 2 p.m. […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2017

A Senate spokeswoman on Tuesday said the chamber’s legislative package on gambling should be ready for hearing later this month. A meeting of the Regulated Industries Committee, which oversees gambling policy, had been set for this Thursday but was cancelled. “Based on conservations with Sen. (Bill) Galvano, President (Joe) Negron anticipates having a bill ready to […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2017

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Eight Florida lawmakers have signed up to attend this weekend’s meeting of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States in Scottsdale, Arizona. The three-day conference, to include a keynote address from Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, is being held at the 4-star Hotel Valley Ho. On the RSVP list: — State Rep. Halsey Beshears, a Monticello Republican. […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 3, 2017

The Florida Lottery surpassed $6.2 billion in sales during 2016, setting a record and improving on the previous year’s take by more than $411 million Lottery officials announced the new benchmark in a press release. “Ending 2016 with this never before reached sales record is a tremendous accomplishment for the Florida Lottery,” Secretary Tom Delacenserie […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2016

With the Florida Supreme Court‘s opinion releases on winter break till Jan. 12, several high-profile cases will remain unresolved in 2016. Here are a few, starting with the court’s official case summary: — Debaun v. State of Florida: “This case asks whether laws governing sexually transmissible diseases apply only when the parties involved are a man and […]

Jim RosicaNovember 22, 2016

Answering a $3 billion question, Senate President Joe Negron Tuesday said he backed passage next session of a renewed gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. But Negron also said he was comfortable with related initiatives gambling opponents have said constitute an expansion of gambling in the Sunshine State. For instance, regarding counties that […]

Jim RosicaNovember 21, 2016

Florida House Speaker-designate Richard Corcoran Monday said lawmakers again will consider a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. A federal judge earlier this month ruled the tribe can continue to offer blackjack and other “banked card games” to its Hard Rock Casino customers across the state, including the Tampa location. The tribe sued the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2016

Gambling regulators have begun warning the state’s card rooms to change their games. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has started sending form letters to advise card room operators about a final agency order on designated-player games. Last week, the department adopted an administrative law judge’s findings that those games, similar to poker, were “unauthorized” […]

Jim RosicaOctober 29, 2016

A type of wildly popular poker-type card game is now banned as it is currently played in Jacksonville, according to a final decision issued this week by the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which regulates gambling. The department’s order, issued Wednesday and filed Friday with the Division of Administrative Hearings, specifically finds against designated-player games offered at […]

Tag: Gambling

Lawmakers get ready for Seminole Compact, gambling debate

Senate to set marathon 4-hour hearing on gambling bill

Senate readies this year’s gambling bill

Lawmakers heading to Arizona for gambling conference

Florida Lottery sets sales record, collecting $6.2 billion during 2016

High-profile Supreme Court cases still hanging fire at year’s end

Joe Negron will support new Seminole Compact next session

Seminole Compact still in play, Richard Corcoran says

State starts enforcing card game decision

State rules against certain poker-type card games