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Florida Slot Issue End Ups in Court

FLORIDA – As reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "The fight over slot machines in Broward County will be a courtroom showdown with dueling lawsuits at opposite ends of the state.

"The county's four pari-mutuels filed suit Tuesday asking a Broward circuit judge to rule they have the legal right to start installing slot machines immediately. The suit came a day after the anti-gambling group No Casinos sued in Leon County Circuit Court, asking a judge there to forbid slots unless the state Legislature passes regulations.

"No Casinos filed its lawsuit in Tallahassee as a pre-emptive move to block a decision about slots from being made in a Broward County courtroom, said state Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration, the group's leader.

"…The pari-mutuels, though, appear confident the legal battle will take place in Broward County.

"…Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in November allowing Broward and Miami-Dade counties to decide whether to allow slots at existing pari-mutuel sites. In March, Broward County voters approved slots at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Dania Jai-Alai, Hollywood Greyhound Track and Pompano Park Harness Track. Miami-Dade voters rejected the machines.

"The constitutional amendment called for state legislators to craft regulations and set tax rates for slot machines at the most recent legislative session. The amendment specifically called for the regulations to take effect no later than July 1.

"But the session ended three weeks ago with no agreement in place over slots.

"…Frustrated by the Legislature, the pari-mutuel industry vowed the question of whether they could have slots would be decided in the courts…"

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