Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonOctober 23, 2017

A proposed ballot initiative that would give Florida voters the final say in gambling expansion now has more than 300,000 valid signatures according to the Florida Division of Elections. Voter Control of Gambling in Florida now has 301,370 valid signatures and has surpassed its quota in one of Florida’s 27 congressional districts, Pinellas County-based Congressional […]

Drew WilsonOctober 11, 2017

Disney isn’t a fan of casino gambling coming to the Sunshine State, and the House of Mouse hasn’t shied away from putting its money where its mouth is with its support of the committee backing a proposed ballot initiative that would limit gaming expansion. Disney Worldwide Services contributed another $575,000 to “Voters in Charge” last […]

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 […]

Drew WilsonAugust 12, 2017

Disney doubled down on its support for a proposed ballot initiative that would limit gambling expansion in the Sunshine State. Disney cut a $500,000 check to the committee backing the amendment, “Voters in Charge,” last month. Since April the company has given $1.15 million for the cause, which accounts for more than 80 percent of […]

Jim RosicaJuly 14, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at limiting gambling’s expansion in the state is now over the 100,000 signature mark. Division of Elections records show the “Voter Control of Gambling” amendment now has 104,416 signatures toward getting on the 2018 statewide ballot. But that’s still a long way from the 766,200 signatures needed for the initiative’s ballot placement. […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2017

The state’s anti-gambling expansion group is pushing back against comments that it’s “misinformed” about casino gambling not being a “meaningful attraction for Florida tourism.” Steven Norton, a longtime gambling executive and consultant, linked to Nick Sortal‘s Friday column for the Miami Herald in Norton’s Monday email roundup of the gambling scene in the South. “As I survey the scene […]

Jim RosicaMay 19, 2017

A unanimous Florida Supreme Court has ruled against a North Florida racetrack seeking to add slot machines. The 20-page decision, released Thursday, means that gambling facilities in Gadsden County’s Gretna and in seven other counties that passed local referendums allowing slots also will not be able to offer them. In doing so, the court upheld […]

Mitch PerryMay 17, 2017

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Florida’s vicennial Constitution Revision Commission made its first stop in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday. Members of the public came before the 37-member council — organized to get together every 20 years — and were allowed only two minutes to discuss what amendments should, or should not, be placed on the 2018 ballot. The first […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

The Senate capitulated to the House on several issues Thursday as part of ongoing negotiations to strike a compromise on gambling legislation, while holding firm on others. But the latest offer includes a key provision desired by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, OK’ing up to 1,500 slots machines in “facilities in referendum counties” with a requirement […]

Peter SchorschMarch 21, 2017

It seems like every year the Florida Legislature revisits the idea of decoupling, which is not a term to describe modern romance, but rather a gaming term. It’s what happens when venues operate a casino without the requirement to also run live horse or dog racing. Seems simple enough; but every year, decoupling doesn’t pass because, inevitably, […]

Tag: No Casinos

Gambling amendment crosses 300K signatures

Disney keeps money flowing to anti-gambling amendment

Gambling amendment now has 600K signatures

Disney donates another $500K to initiative to limit gambling expansion

Gambling control amendment surpasses 100,000 signatures

No Casinos responds to criticism it’s ‘misinformed’ about casino gambling

Florida Supreme Court rules against Gretna track, slots expansion

Citizens address gamut of issues at Tampa’s meeting of Constitutional Revision Commission

Senate and House move closer to deal on gambling bill

Don’t throw decoupling out with the proverbial gaming bath water