Yes, there are voting procedures available to rush a bill to the floor for a vote without all the normal committee rigamarole. Since the parimutuel portion of SB788 has already been through the grinder, it would be simply a matter of separating that language from the bill into a stand-alone, and putting it to a vote. Don't know how likely this is, but I think it will be considered if the compact isn't a go.

What would be the benefit to the state to do this? I understand this is part of a negotiated plan to cut the parimutuels' tax burden and give them better footing against the Seminole blackjack competition. The only thing this would accomplish as far as the state is concerned is an expansion of gambling without added revenue. Why would the legislature go for that?

The state's not going to cut the parimutuels' tax burden and run with this package if they're not getting money from the Seminoles.

Because the pari-mutuels are going broke without it.

The lowering of the tax rate only applies only to the slot machine income. It lowers the tax rate for slot machines from 50% to 35%. However they still have to pay a minimum tax of what they paid at the higher tax rate. The idea is that they can compete better with the Seminoles and that they will be able to make capital improvements to have a nicer casino to attract more gross income and increase marketing. More gross income at the lower tax rate means higher net income for the state.

Also there are some pari-mutuels that have the right to slot machines but do not have them because the tax rate is so high. For example Dania Jai Alai will not put in slot machines until the tax rate is lower. Hollywood Greyhound (Mardi Gras) was originally planning to build a new casino with hotel but chose not to because the 50 % tax rate was so high.

Also having expanded hours and better poker should mean that the total tax paid by parimutuels should increase as well.

There are other goodies that will increase revenue for the state such as allowing a second card room in Palm Beach County and reinstating the Hialeah Race Track gaming license to allow slot machines, a poker room, and horse racing again.

There are many pari-mutuels across the state that are economically dying and without this bill they would have to shut their doors and hundreds of people would lose their jobs and Florida would lose the tax revenue.

By the way the pile of money we are talking about is $162 million.

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news...mises_162.html

That's a lot of cash, but still just a drop in the bucket compared to the size of the state budget. I don't think that figure alone will sway anyone involved in the decisions.

LoL at the legislature getting together to sign a bill just for poker. That will never happen because the state dont make crap on poker, neither do the casinos. Its an added bonus for us because its in the bill with BJ and slots... I think this is dead for the year. I hate the backwoods florida reps from up north and the middle of the state and their moral police mentality

They are getting closer to a deal:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...mbling/1031327

I never said that. I said the legislature may get together for a special session in October for other issues even if no compact is signed. If they do, they would likely also bring up a new bill for the changes to pari-mutuel laws, including poker.

they agreed to let them keep immokolee BJ and reduce or cease payments if gambling was expanded outside south florida. This is big. Its looking much better.

Yes, there are some shifts - more than what I would just call "technical". And it looks like the maneuvering is more about leaving the door open for the powerful legislators' home counties to expand gambling than for moral issues about limiting expanded gambling. We'll still have to wait till the special session in October to really see if it's going to fly.

Here is a summation of where the negotiations are at as of today:

Exclusivity:

Tribe wants:
Revenue-sharing cut in half if banked games start at racinos in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Revenue-sharing ceases if banked games or slots start anywhere else in state.

Galvano counters with:
Revenue-sharing reduces propotionately if tribe revenues fall below $1.37 billion and banked games start at racinos in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Revenue-sharing reduces propotionately if tribe revenues fall below $1.37 billion and banked games or slots start at racinos in Palm Beach county or North Florida counties.
Revenue-sharing ceases if banked games or slots start anywhere else in state.

Which Seminole Casinos get Banked Games:

Tribe wants:
All seven of their casinos.

Galvano counters with:
The four casinos in Hillsborough and Miaim-Dade counties (same as SB788), plus Immokalee.

getting closer. i think this should be a wrap on monday. X do you think the tribe will offer the uncapped Poker right away before the compact is ratified and etc?? i know they are suppose to but you think seminole might go ahead and start that anyways..

It's possible, but more likely that they will wait at least until the compact is ratified by legislative vote in October.

Note that the tribe moved very little from their position - really the only concession they made so far is cutting their revenue-sharing in half instead of stopping it altogether if banked games are started in Miami-Dade/Broward. They still want complete exclusivity in the rest of the state and banked games at all seven of their casinos.

Still a long ways to go to get a compact acceptable to Galvano, et al.

Really seems like Galvano is caving a lot. I just hope an agreement is reached and we can fleece these short stack cash game players from their money once we can buy in 100-200 bb's deep.