A new gambling bill aimed at keeping the current gambling status quo in the state of Florida has passed a key House Ways and Means Committee voting, which approved the measure with a ratio of 11 to 7. The gambling measure, which was sponsored by the Representative Mike La Rosa, is considered to be aimed at making a new agreement with the local Seminole Tribe.
The sponsor of the new bill commented on the piece of legislation, saying that the status quo proposal of the House would be great as it would close some loopholes that have given some poker rooms the chance to run banked card games. According to Representative La Rosa, the bill annuls some old provisions that could be used for future unintended gaming expansion and it also minimises dormant parimutuel permits. The bill’s sponsor insisted that his HB 7037 provided certainty and predictability for the future, which was a matter of great importance.
Under the provisions of HB 7037, the Governor Rick Scott would be authorised to renew the already existing contract with the Florida tribes, which currently operate the Hard Rock Casinos located in Hollywood and Tampa, as well as four other casinos on the territory of Florida. The tribes will be given the opportunity to keep their exclusive rights of running the so-called “banked” card games” at five casinos of theirs. For this privilege, the Seminole Tribe would be required to pay $3 billion over a period of seven years. The money are planned to be used for education mainly.
This increases the minimum annual guarantee from about $250 million to no less than $325 million. In addition, this is also the first time when the House also the first time when the House directs the local Legislature to head the money into three specific education programs which are focused on recruiting and retaining teachers, enhancing higher education in the region and helping children in failing schools.
The bill’s future, however, is yet uncertain. Regardless of the fact that it passed the House Ways and Means Committee with a vote ratio of 11 to 7, the Democrats opposed it, and there is still no surety that the House and Senate would make a compromise. Also, it is not yet certain if the tribe would be ready to pay the state a larger guarantee in revenue sharing.
- Author
Daniel Williams
