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Florida Racetracks Push for Legalized Video Gambling30 October 2002FLORIDA – As reported by the Miami Herald: "Florida's racetrack owners have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the state's two main political parties this year, in hopes that the Legislature will legalize video gambling machines at parimutuel facilities around the state next year. "The potential payoff for the state: hundreds of millions of dollars for the state treasury, money that could allow the Legislature to build more classrooms -- a pressing political need -- without raising taxes. "The odds of the Legislature legalizing video gambling machines at parimutuel facilities -- horse and dog tracks and jai alai frontons -- are much greater with Bill McBride in the governor's office than with Gov. Jeb Bush. "…Gambling interests have tried before to get voters to legalize casinos throughout Florida but each time -- 1978, 1986 and 1994 -- voters overwhelmingly said no. With casino interests having given up on that for now, the parimutuels are now attempting their own effort. "…The proposal would put as many as 2,000 video gambling machines at each parimutuel site, or 16,000 at the eight parimutuels in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. There are 19 other sites in the state. "In comparison, Florida's six Indian casinos have about 5,000 video gambling machines. "…Supporters such as state Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, say video gambling can help save the parimutuel industry in a state where residents have increasingly chosen to spend their betting dollars on the state lottery, at Indian casinos and on cruises to nowhere…" |