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Judge okays adding slots in interim

Four Broward County parimutuels can install the machines while legal appeals continue and state lawmakers discuss rules.

FORT LAUDERDALE - A Broward County judge ruled Monday that three horse tracks and a jai alai fronton can install slot machines before their legal appeals are finished or the state Legislature drafts rules on gambling.

But the owners of the four county parimutuels say they still are working with state lawmakers and Broward County commissioners to draft regulatory guidelines before the machines go in. They also expect Gov. Jeb Bush to convene a special session this fall on the issue.

Circuit Judge Leroy Moe said he appreciated efforts to settle out of court but was concerned that a voter-approved constitutional amendment wasn't being enacted. Moe said he did not want to insert himself into the process of writing regulations.

A lawyer for the county's three horse tracks and one jai alai fronton said Dec. 1 is when they hope to have slot machines running.

The four parimutuels sued in June, hoping to force someone to write regulations that would allow them to begin operations with slot machines. Their suit aimed to stop Broward State Attorney Michael Satz from prosecuting if they installed slot machines without regulations in place.

State lawmakers failed to write regulations during the legislative session after approval from Broward voters in a special March election.

Voters in November approved a statewide constitutional amendment that allowed people in Broward and Miami-Dade counties to decide whether they wanted to allow slots at existing parimutuels. Miami-Dade voters rejected slots.

[Last modified August 23, 2005, 02:45:30]