Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegFebruary 17, 2016

Sen. Joe Negron’s SB 832 declares that “fantasy contests” — meaning endeavors such as DraftKings and FanDuel — “involve the skill of contest participants and do not constitute gambling, gaming or games of chance.” Negron, R-Stuart and a Senate-president-to-be, would regulate this non-gambling via a newly created Office of Amusement. It’s not “gambling,” it’s an […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 17, 2016

The Alabama-based Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which approached Gov. Rick Scott in 2014 for a deal to offer gambling in Florida, essentially offered not to press for a Las Vegas-style casino with blackjack near Pensacola if the state wouldn’t fight their efforts to just open a poker-style cardroom. In return, the Poarch Creeks would […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 27, 2016

The same state agency now calling designated-player card games illegal was calling them “in compliance” with state gambling law as recently as last July, records show. What’s not clear is what caused the about-face. The enforcement is happening at the same time that lawmakers are considering whether to approve a new “compact” with the Seminole Tribe of […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 27, 2016

The head of a Jacksonville racetrack and card room says the state was unfairly targeting pari-mutuels for running illegal card games, especially when state regulators oversaw the games being set up. Howard Korman, president of Jacksonville Greyhound Racing, which does business as BestBet, spoke at a Senate Regulated Industries Committee meeting on Wednesday. The Department […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 27, 2016

State gambling regulators this week filed complaints against seven racetracks in Florida, saying they’re operating illegal card games, according to documents obtained through a public records request. The pari-mutuels targeted by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which regulates gambling, include: Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, Magic […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2016

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Jim Allen, head of the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s gambling arm, on Wednesday denied that the Seminoles have any agreement with the state’s Miccosukee Tribe to not ask for their own blackjack deal. Before a Senate workshop on the proposed Seminole Compact, which would renew the tribe’s exclusive deal to offer blackjack in Florida, lobbyists […]

Phil AmmannNovember 5, 2015

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is taking to the airwaves with a new ad urging the public to pressure Gov. Rick Scott and state legislators to “get it done” and renew the gambling agreement known as the Seminole Compact. Signed in 2010, the Compact allows the Tribe to offer blackjack and other banked card games […]

Tag: Poker

Jac VerSteeg: Fantasy sports aren’t gambling? How amusing

Poarch Creek Indians offered to give up blackjack for their own gambling compact

Emails show state’s about-face on card games enforcement

Racino executive speaks out on card-room controversy

State files gambling complaints against racetracks across Florida

Seminole Gaming CEO: No side deal with Miccosukee

Seminole Tribe ad calls Rick Scott, lawmakers to “get it done” with new Compact