Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Deal on slots law still elusive

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida House and Senate are near a compromise on regulating South Florida slot machines, but not close enough to call a special session on the issue, the House Business Regulation Committee chairman said Tuesday.

The main sticking points are how much to tax slot machine profits and whether the machines will be traditional Las Vegas-style slots or the bingo-style machines now seen in Florida's Indian casinos.

"I feel no compulsion to push this into a special session," said Rep. Frank Attkisson, R-Kissimmee, as his committee got an update on slots proposals.

A constitutional amendment passed in November 2004 gave voters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties the right to decide whether parimutuels can have slot machines. Miami-Dade said no but Broward said yes, requiring the Legislature to pass a law to regulate the machines.

But the Legislature failed to reach an agreement during its 2005 regular session, and a judge ruled that Broward parimutuels could start bringing in slots because of that failure.

Despite the ruling, the industry has promised not to begin operating the machines until the Legislature passes a law - if it doesn't drag it out too long.

Gov. Jeb Bush joined Broward State Attorney Michael Satz Tuesday in appealing Circuit Judge Leroy Moethe's decision that the county's four parimutuel facilities could install slots. Bush is concerned the ruling could affect negotiations the state is having with Indian tribes.

[Last modified September 14, 2005, 02:15:34]