Comments on: Major Gambling Proposal Emerges In Florida Senate

By: Redman

Redman — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 00:58:40 +0000

Let porch creek build a wind creek type casino in Greta.

By: terry yaple

terry yaple — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 16:21:29 +0000

When the Seminoles first opened,they had 6 deck blackjack &95% payout on their slots -now they’re turning to fake blacjack & WHO KNOWS WHAT! the slot payout is now. They don’t have to answer to anybody but themselves, so as a result , the florida residents & tourists are being being ripped off.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 00:44:33 +0000

It is time for the state to negotiate a compact with the porch Creek’s. This is ridiculous. They are leaving a lot of revenue on the table by not doing this. I hear that they are trying, but that is not enough. There are too many people around here who need the jobs.

By: Frank Williams

Frank Williams — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 14:14:00 +0000

The state of Florida needs to wake up and understand that money is flowing like a river out of the state as people will find a place to gamble regardless (that includes Tribal casinos in the state as they are controlled by Federal Laws and not state. I grew up in Pensacola and watched as there was no lottery in the state so we made trips across state lines to buy tickets and then Florida got its own lottery and I saw other states flowing in with their money to buy Florida Lottery tickets. People act as if the casino has to be placed in the middle of the city, look around, most of the places are far removed from the heart of downtown and it is guaranteed that where ever they are built will grow a town, housing, jobs, a bigger tax base and less dependency we have on a foreign “Sovereign Government” that lives within the state. I have 23 years worth of experience on both sides of that and YOU, non-tribal, citizens are at a tremendous business disadvantage.

How much are the Seminole’s making vs what they are giving to you? (compact fee)
What would a competitive non-tribal casino pay in taxes to the state? vs a heavily discounted fee that is renegotiated every few years?
With all the money the tribe is making how many federal grants are they still getting to supplement them?

Please wake up, this is a win/win to allow gaming in counties that want it vs. an exclusive deal to 1 tribe in the ENTIRE state of Florida that you have to negotiate with and them to agree how much they want to give you.

Go Aggies!

By: Bill Barry

Bill Barry — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 22:06:56 +0000

I have worked in the Casino Industry for over 35 years, in Atlantic City and Las Vegas and Fair isn’t what it used to be!
I have watched the Gaming Industry try and compete, in a lot of cases against themselves by expanding into other counties and states and it’s time to put a stop to this nonsense! Gaming should be allowed in the areas it is in Only! When gaming was in Las Vegas and Atlantic City it was a Destination Industry and a Proud one! Some things had to, and should have been tweaked but be that as it may if you allow this to happen in Florida the wheels will start coming off and Florida and it’s residents and business partners will suffer and be left holding the “proverbial bag”!
The Seminole’s have been guided in the right direction and the Great State of Florida has Benefited Immensely.
If It Ain’t Broke …….Don’t Try and Fix It!

By: Steven Norton

Steven Norton — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 21:25:57 +0000

Once dog and horse tracks are no longer required to have live racing, it would seem the State could bring the slot tax rate back to the 50% level; that was only reduced to underwrite live racing. Whether tracks can keep their Black Jack, should be dealt with in the Seminole Compact negotiations. The good news for Florida tourism is the probable inclusion of the game of Craps and Roulette in the Seminole negotiations; which would put the Tribal casinos on equal footing with other resort destinations; the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Biloxi and many other Island and Central American casinos.
I still believe it would be wrong to allow the horse tracks to stop racing, as they are part of the Florida tourism package, but they would need a lower tax than free standing slot casinos; and of course Tampa Bay Downs, needs a subsidy, absent other forms of gaming.
It might also be wise to consider moving some the dog track casino licenses to more suitable locations; more convenient to the visitor population.

By: Make Florida Fair Again

Make Florida Fair Again — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 15:55:05 +0000

Finally a voice of reason that sees the value of expanding gaming on a level and fair playing field that will benefit many more people than what has occurred with the Seminole’s monopoly. Jobs, development and more tax revenue have all been held hostage by the unfair treatment of the Seminole Tribe’s compact that only yielded the state a measly 8% effective tax rate while the Tribe enjoyed over $2 BILLION in gaming revenue per year? It’s time to make Florida Fair Again!!