Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 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 RosicaJuly 17, 2017

A Tallahassee attorney who fronted “large sums of money” to a professional poker player is suing after the player lost over $22,000 of that bankroll in unauthorized side gambling, according to a lawsuit filed last week. Hal Lewis is a name partner in the Fonvielle Lewis Messer & McConnaughhay personal-injury law firm and a poker […]

Jim RosicaMarch 20, 2017

The House of Representatives’ omnibus gambling bill will again be heard this week, records show. The bill (HB 7037) is on the agenda for the Ways & Means Committee, chaired by Bradenton Republican Jim Boyd, on Tuesday. Though it includes a renewed blackjack agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the legislation overall […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 23, 2017

With its chair saying he wants to “freeze” gambling in the state, a House gambling panel on Thursday cleared that chamber’s overhaul bill, including a renewed blackjack agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Tourism and Gaming Control Subcommittee OK’d the measure (PCB TGC 17-01) on a 10-5 party-line vote. But […]

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 […]

Jim RosicaAugust 22, 2016

Florida gambling regulators have objected to parts of an administrative law judge’s ruling on poker-style card games being run at a Jacksonville card room. The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, part of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, filed exceptions last week to Judge Suzanne Van Wyk‘s Aug. 1. order. Specifically, it disagrees with her decision to dismiss part […]

Jim RosicaAugust 2, 2016

A Jacksonville pari-mutuel is breaking the state’s ban on blackjack-style card games, an administrative law judge said Monday. In what is considered a test case on wildly popular poker-type games, Judge Suzanne Van Wyk determined Jacksonville Kennel Club, operating as the bestbet Jacksonville poker room, was “conducting unauthorized card games” and recommended a $4,500 fine. Though such games reportedly bring in […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2016

A business that calls itself a “designated player services company” is suing the state over its crackdown of poker-style card games at several of Florida’s horse and dog racetracks. Elevated LLC, based in Tallahassee, sued in Leon County Circuit Civil court last week seeking an injunction against the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering “from prosecuting or […]

Tag: Poker
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State proposes rule changes on controversial card games

State files illegal card game complaints in Pensacola, Sarasota

‘Busted’: Lawyer, poker player at odds over ‘staking’ deal

House gambling bill set for Ways & Means this week

House gambling bill gets thumbs up on first look

State starts enforcing card game decision

State rules against certain poker-type card games

State files exceptions to card game ruling

Judge rules poker-style card games break state law

State’s card game enforcement brings first lawsuit