Florida gambling & poker: laws, regulations and politics. - Page 3 - Poker Legislation

I added some tweets to today's daily action plan:

• Let's send the FL Senate prefilled, editable #poker tweets:
- http://spredd.it/08q85mn5
- http://spredd.it/YdUl9uta

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02-13-2014 , 04:18 AM

#53

PokerXanadu

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I am sending this letter to all the Committee members:

Quote:

Dear Senator,

It is my understanding that the Senate Gaming Committee is currently working on a legislative bill to address gambling expansion in Florida. It is my sincere hope that the Committee bill will include the licensing and regulation of online poker by Florida.

Revenues from licensed card rooms put Florida currently as the number three state for live poker in the U.S., after California and Nevada. With Florida already a leader in regulated live poker, it only makes sense for Florida to also be a leader in regulated online poker, given the symbiosis between online and live poker play.

The licensing and regulation of online poker makes perfect sense for the state of Florida and its citizens:

• Online poker can be successfully licensed and regulated, as already proven in many countries abroad, and in the emerging U.S. markets of Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware.
• Licensing online poker will bring many new jobs to Florida as the state becomes a world leader in the regulation of online poker, and thereby the home base of choice in the U.S. for online poker service providers.
• Licensed online poker will boost tourism and residency in Florida by solidifying the state as one of the top destinations in the world for poker players and their families.
• The Florida licensed card rooms will increase their revenues and foot traffic both from the conversion of current Florida online players from unregulated offshore sites to Florida-licensed sites, and from the cross-promotional nature of online and live poker play.

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02-13-2014 , 08:09 AM

#54

white_lytning

grinder

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 552

Looks good.

Senator Margolis introduced a bill regarding ADW yesterday which kind of shows that they are willing to examine new gaming issues. ADW was barely discussed at all during the public hearings and committee meetings so it was nice to see the bill hit my desk because it gives me hope that online poker can still be included. I think Senator Abruzzo might be our best hope of taking the lead on it.

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02-13-2014 , 08:58 AM

#55

PokerXanadu

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Quote:

Originally Posted by white_lytning

Maybe we can slip in an amendment to the Margolis ADW bill:

"(3)(c) Online poker."

LOL.

BTW, my letter to the Senators included an attachment with my speech (see earlier in this thread) and my Guideline for Online Poker Regulations.

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02-19-2014 , 11:03 AM

#56

PokerXanadu

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A PPA action blast is going out to the Florida PPA members by email later today.

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02-19-2014 , 09:09 PM

#57

totaltool

grinder

Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 466

Would it be possible to post the action plan here? I don't think I'm getting the PPA emails anymore..

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02-19-2014 , 10:04 PM

#58

PokerXanadu

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Quote:

Originally Posted by totaltool

Would it be possible to post the action plan here? I don't think I'm getting the PPA emails anymore..

Will do, once it goes out. Still being worked on. Might not be out until tomorrow.

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02-20-2014 , 11:49 AM

#59

PokerXanadu

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Call for action:

Quote:

On February 10th, 2014, the Florida Senate Gaming Committee met to discuss an upcoming gaming reform bill which is expected to be introduced at the beginning of this year’s legislative session in March in the state senate. Your state Senator sits on this important committee. Since this proposed legislation is still being drafted, we have a chance to include a provision allowing for licensed and regulated online poker in Florida, but you only have until February 24th to contact your senator about this important issue.

Please take 60 seconds to send your senator a pre-written, fully editable letter by clicking here . By sending your letter you’ll be letting your senator know why regulated Internet poker Florida is a smart bet.

Time is of the essence - your senator needs to hear from you this week! Please send your letter and forward this email to all you poker buddies and urge them to take action too.

Proud to play,

Donna Blevins
State Director

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02-20-2014 , 10:08 PM

#60

white_lytning

grinder

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 552

Looks good.

The bill is expected to be presented to the committee on Monday. You should still submit your comments because it is unlikely it will be the final version but time is still important.

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02-24-2014 , 07:21 PM

#61

white_lytning

grinder

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 552

As expected the Senate released their Gaming bill today. They actually released three bills. Two are very short, one dealing with public records in gaming licenses and the other is the constitutional amendment bill. The third and much larger (over 400 pages) bill is the real gaming bill.

The constitutional amendment bill (7050) will add to the state constitution and require any new form of gambling to require a vote.

The meaty bill (7052) looks like it contains most of the changes that we have been expecting. I haven't read through it yet but did scan it over and searched some key terms to see what it included. I didn't notice anything related to online or internet poker outside of strengthening the current prohibition on online wagering.

The bill will create a gaming commission and move the division of pari-mutuel wagering within the gaming commission. It consolidates all the gaming statutes other than the lottery into chapter 551. The bill also allows for the possibility of two destination casinos, one in MDC and one in Broward after several preemptive steps.

I'm planning on reading through it tonight and will try to update this tomorrow with more details.

If interested, you can find the bills here: http://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/S...?Tab=CommBills

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02-24-2014 , 07:46 PM

#62

PokerXanadu

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Thanks for the update!

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02-25-2014 , 09:03 AM

#63

PokerXanadu

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I skimmed the bill and didn't see any de-coupling of cardrooms from pari-mutuel racing. I saw it mentioned in the Miami Herald that it "reduces dog racing", but I don't see that in the bill.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/2...wo-casino.html

As far as I see, the bill (7052) does only:

1. Create the new Joint Legislative Gaming Control Oversight Committee, Department of Gaming Control and Gaming Control Board, and move all gambling statutes, except lottery, under it as the Florida Gaming
Control Act.
2. Authorizes one destination resort casino in Miami-Dade county and one in Broward county, subject to county voter referendum.
3. Authorizes the Governor to renegotiate the Seminole compact, for extension of the compact through 2030.
4. Some redefinition of amusement games, so non-gambling games are clearly legal.

All the other changes seem to just be technical rewording of the statutes to make them unambiguous.

Last edited by PokerXanadu; 02-25-2014 at 03:17 PM.

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02-25-2014 , 09:33 PM

#64

white_lytning

grinder

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 552

PX,

Yeah, I looked at a few news articles and saw a lot of them had weird information. Probably because they didn't read it well and were rushing to get something out.

I read through it a little closer today and was kind of surprised at how much of the old statutory crap they kept in it. A lot of the things people complained about when they were talking about Florida's gaming laws was included in this bill for some reason. IMO if you are going to overhaul the system you should improve things but...i'm not on the legislature. I think there will be major changes to a lot of the sections before anything happens.

It also isn't the end. This is a proposed bill and will likely be drastically changed if it does go anywhere. It is also possible a separate poker bill could be introduced at some other time.

Session begins next week and goes through May so there is still some hope, although not much.

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02-26-2014 , 07:01 AM

#65

PokerXanadu

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Yep - seems like they went simple. Keep everything the way it is, except add a couple destination resort casinos. I could see this actually passing this year, but with an amendment to take out those two new casinos from the bill, leaving any real changes to future legislation.

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03-04-2014 , 06:36 AM

#66

PokerXanadu

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House unveils its gaming bill: overhaul regulation, no new casinos

Quote:

The Florida House weighed into the gambling debate on Monday and proposed a bill that won't authorize new casinos but will overhaul the state’s gambling laws, putting all regulation of race tracks, slot machines and poker rooms under a Gaming Control Commission, similar to those in Nevada, New Jersey and other large gaming states.

Unlike a similar Senate plan, which overhauls regulation and authorizes new casino resorts in Miami Dade and Broward counties, the House plan leaves the decision to introduce mega-casinos to Florida to Gov. Rick Scott.

The governor can approve or reject the casinos when he negotiates a new gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The governor has until July 2015 to re-negotiate a portion of the 20-year gaming compact that applies to the tribe’s exclusive right to operate table games such as black jack, chemin de fer and baccarat at its South Florida casinos.

Link to the bill:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sectio...x?BillId=52692

Last edited by PokerXanadu; 03-04-2014 at 06:49 AM.

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03-04-2014 , 09:20 AM

#67

white_lytning

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Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 552

Thanks for the link and update PX.

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03-05-2014 , 05:27 AM

#68

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Governor starts negotiations with Seminole Tribe

Quote:

What the governor decides to do could determine the fate of gambling in Florida. He could renew the existing agreement and little will change. He could modify it to allow more competition for the tribe -- such as additional gambling at racinos in South Florida and the arrival of resort casinos - and accept less revenue from the tribe; or he could give the tribe additional games – such as roulette and craps – in return for higher guaranteed annual payments to the state treasury.

Scott would not give many details on the direction that he’s headed.

“We’re early, but we’re in the middle of negotiating the compact,” he said an exclusive interview with the Herald/Times on Tuesday. “I’m not going to talk about what we’re going to do in the middle of the negotiation.”

Quote:

Meanwhile, legislative leaders appear ready to put any discussion of expanded gaming on hold for a few weeks as the governor continues his talks.

The House released its gaming bill on Monday, proposing an overhaul of state regulations but refraining from authorizing any additional casinos in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

A key part of the bill was that it does not expand gambling and therefore does not violate the compact, said House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.

“Our bill is more of a contraction on gaming than any type of expansion,” he said.

The Senate, however, has proposed a similar rewrite of gaming regulations but has proposed legislation that would create two new resort casinos.

The committee does not intend to vote on its bill for another two weeks, Senate Gaming Chairman Garrett Richter, R-Naples, said on Monday.

Meanwhile, Weatherford has said the House will not support additional gaming unless the governor completes a compact and voters approve a constitutional amendment in November. The amendment would require statewide voter approval for future gambling expansion.

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03-14-2014 , 03:00 PM

#69

Thanksforthechips

stranger

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 1

Hey everyone!

Can anyone give me an update about online poker coming back ... to Florida possibly? Does anyone know when it may happen?

Thanks!

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03-15-2014 , 11:11 AM

#70

schlucky1

veteran

Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,925

Seems like Scott is buddies with Adelson. Looks like Scott may have to go before we have any chance.

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03-17-2014 , 04:28 PM

#71

PokerXanadu

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House panel considers bill to create gambling commission, end betting on barrel racing

Quote:

A Florida House committee took a first glance Thursday at a gambling plan that would create a gaming commission, do away with inactive pari-mutuel permits and rein in barrel racing and other types of horse racing that one Republican lawmaker called “sham” activities.

The Florida Select Committee on Gaming debated the 411-page plan and a proposed constitutional amendment that would give voters the power to decide whether gambling should be expanded in the future. The proposed amendment would have no impact on whatever lawmakers approve this year, including whether to authorize Las Vegas-style casino resorts that are part of a Senate proposal.

Quote:

House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, has said his chamber will not pass any gambling legislation without the accompanying constitutional amendment, which would require 60 percent approval by voters if lawmakers put it on the November ballot. Weatherford also said he wants Gov. Rick Scott to wrap up negotiations with the Seminole Tribe of Florida regarding a deal slated to sunset in mid-2015 giving the tribe the exclusive rights to certain games in exchange for $1 billion.

Quote:

Chairman Rob Schenck, the sponsor of the gambling bill that includes a rewrite of the state’s pari-mutuel laws, said he will make changes to the bill over the next few days, and a vote could come at the committee’s next meeting on Wednesday.

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03-18-2014 , 07:40 AM

#72

white_lytning

grinder

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 552

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanksforthechips

Hey everyone!

Can anyone give me an update about online poker coming back ... to Florida possibly? Does anyone know when it may happen?

Thanks!

It probably won't.

The Senate and House have both drafted very long, expansive bills that will create major changes in Florida gaming law and neither of them includes online poker. Still not sure if either of them will get passed but with both sides considering similar things its looking good for parts of these bills. Session goes until the first week in May and an online only poker bill may be introduced separately before it ends but with all this effort on such a massive bill it is unlikely another gaming bill will happen.

If it doesn't go through when these bills go through it probably won't for years.

The one creative approach I had thought about that probably isn't being discussed is if the Seminoles could negotiate to operate online poker when they renew the compact. It could be something they are given exclusive rights to the way they have Class III gaming now. Tribes have been interested in getting involved in online poker and many are worried about being left out as states legalize, this could be something the Seminoles could try to take advantage of.

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03-19-2014 , 07:54 PM

#73

PokerXanadu

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House committee advances expanded gambling bill

Quote:

Under a proposed constitutional amendment passed by a House committee Wednesday, Florida voters would get to decide if lawmakers should have the ability to expand gaming after 2014.

In recent years, Republican leaders have opposed any gaming expansion. This year, though, they have thawed to the idea in return for a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide on future expansion.

The legislation, which passed the House Select Committee on Gaming on a 15-6 vote, creates a proposed constitutional amendment that would be placed on the ballot in November. If it passes the Legislature, 60 percent of voters would have to sign-off in order for the language to be added to the constitution.

Quote:

The amendment vote came after the committee voted in favor of the omnibus reform bill that is carrying the House’s changes to the industry.

The bill, among other things, creates a Department of Gaming Control, which would regulate all aspects of the gaming industry. Unlike the Senate’s plan, the House bill does not include provisions allowing for the construction of Las Vegas-style casinos in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

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03-23-2014 , 03:44 AM

#74

PokerXanadu

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Gov. Scott slows casino drive; Florida gambling agency created

Quote:

As a Florida House committee voted Wednesday to create a new state agency to regulate gambling, Gov. Rick Scott asked the Senate to put the brakes on its proposal to bring two resort casinos to South Florida so legislation would not interfere with his gambling negotiations with the Seminole Tribe.

As a result, Senate Gaming Committee Chairman Garrett Richter abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting Monday to take up the Senate's gambling bills.

"The governor's office called me and asked if wewould slow down the process until we know what the terms of a potential deal with the tribe is,'' Richter told the Herald/Times late Wednesday. He said that he expects the vote to be delayed for at least another week and that he is optimistic the governor will resolve the gaming compact before the legislative session ends in May.

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03-23-2014 , 09:48 AM

#75

totaltool

grinder

Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 466

As mentioned a couple posts earlier, do you think there's any chance that online gambling (or at least online poker) could get negotiated in new compact with the Seminoles for 2015 and beyond?

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