Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 19, 2016

It’s not clear whether a proposed gambling-control amendment will help or hinder the state’s finances. A panel of state economists stalemated this week on the financial impact of the Voter Control of Gambling amendment. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference’s final report was hand-delivered to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Thursday. A summary reads: “The […]

Peter SchorschMay 15, 2016

As he gets ready to “go home,” as departing legislators like to say, outgoing Senate President Andy Gardiner has no regrets or hard feelings. He did have choice words regarding lobbyists for gambling concerns, however: They “just get greedy.” Gardiner, an opponent of gambling expansion, recently sat down with Capital Correspondent Jim Rosica for an “exit interview.” He leaves office later this […]

Staff ReportsMay 13, 2016

Outpaced and outfoxed, the Seminole Tribe of Florida dropped its bid to block the disclosure of financial information about its casinos. The tribe made the move Friday, shortly after POLITICO printed details of the deposition of casino executive Jim Allen. He runs the tribe’s gambling concerns. The political news website reported that Allen said the Seminoles made $2.4 billion last […]

Ryan RayMay 13, 2016

Florida’s never-ending casino wars are heating up again, in the press and in court. In a scathing op-ed in the Miami Herald, columnist Fabiola Santiago threw shade at Genting, the Malaysian casino operator, over their recent move to sue Miami-Dade County and state attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, saying the move “smacks of desperation.” “Somebody ought to tell Genting […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owner of Florida’s largest casinos, is trying to get a federal judge to block the publication of information related to a trial that could upend their businesses and to seal a key deposition until it can be redacted. Tribal attorneys this week filed an emergency motion seeking to seal a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 12, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is calling on a federal judge to block the release of records dealing with a gambling trial. Attorneys for the tribe filed an emergency motion this week asking a federal judge to seal the deposition of James F. Allen, the president and CEO of the company that runs the Seminole casinos […]

Jim RosicaMay 6, 2016

Attorney General Pam Bondi is asking the state Supreme Court to review a proposed constitutional amendment on gambling. Bondi sent a letter to the court Friday, asking it to judge the initiative’s “validity.” The request, however, is pro forma. It’s required under law when an initiative garners enough signatures. As of Friday, the Voter Control of Gambling […]

Associated PressMarch 29, 2016

A federal judge is pushing back the start of a crucial trial over the future of gambling in Florida. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle agreed Monday to delay until October a trial that will decide whether the Seminole Tribe of Florida can have blackjack tables at their casinos. The trial was initially scheduled for this […]

Jim RosicaMarch 4, 2016

Just as it always does in recent years, a legislative effort to revisit the state’s gambling laws bloated and sank in the waning days of this year’s Legislative Session. After months of negotiations a proposed new “Compact” – a gambling agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida – failed Friday when the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 4, 2016

It’s the Florida Senate’s fault that the Seminole Compact wasn’t passed this session, two House leaders said Friday afternoon. They rejected claims there weren’t enough votes in the House, saying instead there was no point in moving a bill that wasn’t going to be considered across the Capitol Rotunda. (For Friday’s background, click here.) The […]

Tag: Gambling

Economists uncertain of gambling amendment’s effect

Peter Schorsch: From the ‘gambling boys’ to (un)popularity contests

Seminole Tribe ends court fight after casino finances revealed

Herald columnist says Genting getting ‘desperate’ over Miami-Dade casino

Seminole Tribe trying to stop publication of financial info

Seminole Tribe files emergency motion to block release of records

Pam Bondi asks court to review gambling initiative

Crucial federal trial over gambling pushed back to fall

Sunshine State gambling #fails: A short history

House lays Seminole Compact failure at feet of Senate