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Florida House opposes gambling expansion

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- As reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Talk in the state Legislature about expanding gambling in Broward and Miami-Dade counties can conjure up a thrilling James Bond-like scenario:

"Gentlemen with starched cuffs finger roulette chips as they ponder their next bet. Well-coiffed ladies in daring decolletage purse their lips and elegantly blow on the dice before testing their luck at craps. Swank casinos in beachside hotels spill glamour and glitter into the night as South Florida evolves into the next Monte Carlo.

"Except it ain't gonna happen.

"'No, no and no,' said former Democratic state Sen. Steve Geller, who served 10 years as president of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States. 'No legislation has been heard in any committee of the Legislature that would do that.'

"What has been proposed in the state Senate is that the Seminole Tribe's seven casinos — Broward has three — be allowed to add craps and roulette to their gambling roster, putting them on a par with Las Vegas casinos. In return, the tribe would pay $400 million annually to the state.

"...Trouble is, the Florida House — deferring to a more conservative constituency, Geller said — is adamantly opposed to any gambling. The odds of those lawmakers agreeing to radically expand gambling in South Florida are about as good as your parakeet picking the daily trifecta at Gulfstream Park..."

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