 Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter! |
Gaming News
Florida Considers Casino Cruise Tax23 April 2003TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- As reported by the Associated Press: "A bill to ban gambling cruises led to a promise Tuesday from the industry to work with legislators on a way to tax the casino boat industry. "Sen. Mike Haridopolos admitted that his bill (SB 2800) to put the state's casino boats out of business would have a big economic effect, but he told the Senate Regulated Industries Committee that a discussion was needed on taxing and regulating the ships. "Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, later asked the committee to set the bill aside after a lobbyist for the industry promised to work with legislators over the next year to address his concerns. "...[Ralph Haben, a former House speaker who represents almost all of the casino boats], said some legislators have been afraid to regulate and tax the industry because they think Indian reservations would then be allowed to operate land-based casinos. But he said that would not be the case. "...Legislators are not able to single out gambling ships to be taxed because federal law does not allow them to be treated differently than other ships, such as charter boats or cruise ships..." |