Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 30, 2018

If a video game looks, plays and pays out like a slot machine, it’s a slot machine — even if you know whether you’re going to win or lose, an appellate court ruled Thursday. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal found that what’s known as pre-reveal games, specifically the kind […]

Jim RosicaMay 15, 2018

In another gambling case that could reach the state Supreme Court, a Jacksonville casino is appealing the state’s ending of its quest for a slot machine license. Jacksonville Kennel Club, which does business as bestbet, filed a notice of appeal to the 1st District Court of Appeal on Tuesday after the Department of Business and […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 12, 2018

The Senate made some big moves Friday in the annual legislative dance that is the negotiation for an omnibus gambling bill. The biggest move: The chamber now includes a renewed 20-year deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida for $3 billion in revenue over seven years in return for exclusive rights to blackjack and slot […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 8, 2018

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As owners of the state’s dog and horse tracks fret over a legislative deal this year, House Speaker Richard Corcoran on Thursday didn’t back down from his position that there be “an absolute contraction” of gambling in the state. But he also didn’t make clear what a “contraction” actually looks like, and whether that could […]

Jim RosicaMarch 30, 2017

As expected, the Senate on Thursday passed its gambling overhaul for this year, including a renewal of exclusive rights to blackjack games for the Seminole Tribe. Sen. Bill Galvano, the chamber’s shepherd of this year’s legislation, told fellow lawmakers he couldn’t promise that “we’ll reach a state of resolution” this session. That said, he expects the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 8, 2016

Jacksonville looks poised to have more gaming options available, as a referendum to approve slot machines at bestbet Jacksonville was approved Tuesday night. With 410,879 votes counted, the measure was ahead 222,085 to 188,794 — a margin of 54 to 46 percent. The effort behind the referendum, funded by Jacksonville Greyhound Racing, had over $2 million […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 12, 2016

Some things don’t change in Jacksonville. Just as was the case before August’s County Referendum 1, an overwhelmingly approved vote that allows the city to extend a current half-cent sales tax to address the unfunded pension liability, there is a November County Referendum 1 also. The first mailer selling the slots vote looks just like the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 21, 2016

The proposed referendum allowing local gambling magnate bestbet to bring 2,000 slots, if approved by voters in a November vote, to their Arlington location, cleared the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee Monday. Tuesday, it was the Rules committee’s turn to push their green buttons in support. In a unanimous Tuesday afternoon vote that had about as much drama […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 19, 2016

When FloridaPolitics.com asked Jacksonville City Councilman Aaron Bowman why he introduced a bill to bring slots to Jacksonville via the politically connected bestbet, Bowman’s answer was pragmatic. “It’s about jobs” and the city’s “financial well being,” Bowman said, noting that jobs are created on both the operations side and the maintenance side for the machines. The city will get […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 18, 2016

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State Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, the Florida House of Representatives’ point man on gambling, said Thursday said the Senate’s current version of the Seminole Compact and accompanying gambling overhaul is “too much” for his tastes – and that of his membership. “There’s a lot of extra slot parlors in the Senate bill,” said Diaz, the […]

Tag: slots

Court says ‘pre-reveal’ games that play like slots are illegal

Spin ’em: Jacksonville race track appeals slot machine denial

Ante up: Senate files new 90-page gambling bill

On Richard Corcoran, gambling and third-graders

Senate passes 2017 gambling bill

Jackpot for Jacksonville slots referendum

Pro-slots political committee gears up in Jacksonville

Slots bill scores with final Jax Council committee

Jacksonville pols grapple with slots referendum legislation

Jose Felix Diaz says House would “riot” over Senate gambling legislation