Indian Gaming

Florida lawmakers don't think they will be taking up an expansion of non-Indian gaming this year:

The prospect of a major overhaul of Florida's tangled web of gambling laws or the approval of Las Vegas-style casinos this legislative session faces growing odds despite promises from GOP legislative leaders as late as last fall that the gambling issue was a priority.

House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, appeared ready Wednesday to punt on the gambling issue to their successors and ignored gambling in their list of legislative priorities presented to editors and reporters at The Associated Press's annual pre-session gathering in the Capitol.

While acknowledging that Florida gambling law has "more loopholes than I could count," Weatherford specifically scuttled the possibility that his chamber will act without an accompanying constitutional amendment proposal letting voters weigh in on any possible expansion, an idea first reported by The News Service of Florida last year.

"Unless we can do that, I don’t think you'll see us take up gaming in the House," Weatherford told reporters.

Get the Story:
Odds Dim For Passage of State Gambling Bill (The News Service of Florida 1/29)