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Video Lottery Touted as Fund-Raiser to Florida House19 February 2003FLORIDA – As reported by the Associated Press: "Florida should take a gamble on allowing video lottery machines at its jai-alai frontons, dog tracks and horse tracks, a House panel was told Tuesday. "Tourists and residents alike already are gambling on the computerized betting machines at Indian facilities and on cruise ships, witnesses told the House subcommittee on Gaming and Pari-mutuels. "…The idea of allowing video lotteries at the state's two-dozen pari-mutuel facilities was floated by Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville, as a way of raising up to $1 billion in tax revenue. But House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, and Gov. Jeb Bush are both cool to the idea. "So Rep. Ron Greenstein, sponsor of the proposal in the House, said Tuesday he was pleased to just get a hearing. The subcommittee took no action on any legislation but listened to testimony. "…Earl Grinols, an economist from Champaign, Ill., told the panel that a cost-benefit analyst would show that the social costs of gambling came out to $190 per person, while the benefits were only $35 per person. "Other opponents included Bill Bunkley, with the Florida Baptist Convention and Tom Berlinger of the Florida Sheriffs' Association. Berlinger reminded lawmakers about the three times Floridians have killed gambling proposals on the ballot, in 1978, 1986 and 1994…" |