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Florida Slot Bill Likely Sent to Court

"While the Florida Senate passed a bill approving Las Vegas-style machines at four pari-mutuels Friday evening, the House didn't take it up, and the legislation died as the session ended. Unless the legislation can be adopted as part of a special session, a lawsuit is virtually certain.

"Daniel Adkins, vice president of Hartman & Tyner Inc., which owns Hollywood Greyhound Track, said he planned to file suit over what he described as 'an insult to the voters.'

"…Last year, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that allowed Broward and Miami-Dade counties to hold referendums on whether to allow slots at pari-mutuels. In March Miami-Dade voters rejected the machines, but Broward voters approved them.

"It was left to the Legislature to craft regulations and set tax rates. But Gov. Jeb Bush, who had publicly opposed the slots proposals, supported high taxes and Bingo-style machines, which the pari-mutuel industry said would make it difficult to run high-quality slots establishments.

"Complicating matters for the industry, the Legislative session got bogged down this week, with long recesses so leaders of each chamber could work out deals on other bills. And the slots bills weren't a priority for them or the governor…"

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