Florida legislator seeks gambling overhaul in the state

Florida Representative and House Majority Leader Dana Young filed a 332-page legislative, calling for an overhaul of the state’s gambling laws.

Young, considered as the leader of the House Republican caucus, filed the package a day before the state Legislature begins its annual session, proposing two destination resort casinos in the state, slot machines at two pari-mutuels outside South Florida, the introduction of new kinds of games, and the creation of a statewide gambling commission.

Young explained her decision to file all these bills, saying that the time is right to have this kind of conversation because “at some point, our members are going to possibly be required to make a decision on renewal or expiration of the Seminole gaming compact.”

However, at no point in Young’s legislation did she mention of the tribe, which is nearing the end of its own five-year deal with the state that gives it exclusive rights to offer card games like blackjack at its nine casinos throughout the state. If the tribe and Governor Rick Scott can’t come to an agreement on the issue, the state will lose out on its revenue-sharing deal with the Indian tribe as required by the compact.

When asked why she didn’t include them in this bill, Young said that since the tribe hasn’t come to an agreement with the state on their issues, there was no point include them, although she did say that the state is “certainly open to continuing dialogue with the Tribe as to how they fit in the larger picture.”

According to Young, the absence of this revenue sharing with the Seminole tribe is a big reason why it’s time for the state to reignite talks of allowing destination casinos in Florida. As part of her proposal, the state would open bidding for two destination resorts in the state, which would require a $2 billion investment per resort, excluding the cost of buying land, as well as approval from any host county where these resorts will rise. In return, these proposed resorts would have to pay state coffers a guaranteed amount of $175 million for each resort while also making them liable to pay state and local taxes from all operations of the resort.

Another item in Young’s proposal involves cutting slots tax for pari-mutuels from 35% to 25% should the government green light the opening of destination resorts anywhere in the state.