New Florida Gov. ready to expand gaming

[parisron]

Mega-casino legislation getting push back from local outfits

http://www.bradenton.com/2012/01/16/...n-getting.html

[sba9630]

I enjoy comments from the "please protect our business from outside competition" folks.

“We can’t compete against their business model,” said Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. “They can give away rooms, discount them heavily, and package them with food and drink.”

Wouldn't free rooms, food and drink packaging, and heavy discounts be a good thing for the consumer?

[PokerXanadu]

Originally Posted by sba9630

I enjoy comments from the "please protect our business from outside competition" folks.

“We can’t compete against their business model,” said Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. “They can give away rooms, discount them heavily, and package them with food and drink.”

Wouldn't free rooms, food and drink packaging, and heavy discounts be a good thing for the consumer?

It depends. If the consumer is someone who lives and works in the area, it may not be so good for them as local businesses shutter their windows.

[parisron]

Wynn, Sands and Harrah’s pitch for megacasinos in Florida

http://gamingtoday.com/industry/arti...nos_in_Florida

[PokerXanadu]

The word is that Rep. Abruzzo will be introducing his intrastate online poker bill for Florida shortly.

[TruFloridaGator]

Originally Posted by PokerXanadu

The word is that Rep. Abruzzo will be introducing his intrastate online poker bill for Florida shortly.

Wow. Anything we can do to help its direction for our cause or is it too late?

[parisron]

% chance of it happening and when would it likely be up and running if passed?

[PokerXanadu]

Originally Posted by TruFloridaGator

Wow. Anything we can do to help its direction for our cause or is it too late?

The PPA has stayed on top of being in contact with Abruzzo, as in past years. Like with any legislation, we can only present our case for player-friendly provisions. It is too early to know if we need more intensive lobbying efforts. It will depend on the actual bill language and the likelihood of advancement in the legislature. You can bet that all FL PPA members will be called to action if it's needed.

Originally Posted by parisron

% chance of it happening and when would it likely be up and running if passed?

I think the chance is still fairly slim this year. There are probably too many issues (Seminole compact, lottery concerns, vested interests, etc.) to be sorted out and too much attention on the resort casino bill. But there's always the possibility that it will get bundled in, like as a concession to mollify the pari-mutuels.

If it does pass, it will likely have a July 1 enactment date, something like 6-12 months for regulations development and then a licensing processing period.

I don't know yet if it is going to be a repeat of Abruzzo's bill last year, or if it will be something different. Just have to wait until it is released.

[dcviperboy]

Originally Posted by PokerXanadu

I don't know yet if it is going to be a repeat of Abruzzo's bill last year, or if it will be something different. Just have to wait until it is released.

I don't recall this bill in FL. Where can we find it? Was it pro player?

Btw, thanks for the continued updates.

[dcviperboy]

Found an article at gamesandcasino.com. not sure how accurate...

Under this bill, there would be up to three poker sites would have a contract with the state and serve as hubs. Then Florida’s 23 pari-mutuals’ card rooms would act as portals under the hubs. Through these portals, poker players could click through and join a pool of other Florida players. The hubs would rake the pots as in normal poker games and the state would receive 10% of that rake as it does with the current brick-and-mortar poker rooms.

[PokerXanadu]

Originally Posted by dcviperboy

I don't recall this bill in FL. Where can we find it? Was it pro player?

Btw, thanks for the continued updates.

yw.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/57...hlight=abruzzo

[Abhorson]

Florida House blocks casino bill

TALLAHASSEE --
The push to transform Florida into an east coast version of Las Vegas fell apart on Friday after state legislators rejected a plan to bring three major casinos to the state.

A House panel postponed a vote on a bill that would have granted casino licenses to major developers who pledged to spend at least $2 billion on a resort. The decision likely dooms the proposal for the year since the measure will not be considered again in the House during the 60-day session that ends in March.

Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami and sponsor of the legislation, asked for the delay after it was apparent that his fellow Republicans were likely to vote down the bill that would have also required local voters to approve the casinos....

[parisron]

Mega-casino gambling is dead – or is it?

"Immediately, casino gambling proponents and supporters vowed to re-group and return, looking to perfect their moves, deal other cards, and play another round of legislative poker, if not later in this session then in 2013."


http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/0...s-dead-or.html

[crazynip]

Lobbying money from the Seminole tribe may have magically found it's way into the bank accounts of politicians on Friday. They are very much against this, it would spell their doom.

[parisron]

Seminoles have become a force in Indian gaming

http://www.lvrj.com/business/seminol...4.html?ref=124