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Bunkley, other religious leaders announce opposition to casinos bill
The Florida Baptist Convention and other religious and anti-gambling groups said Nov. 1 they are launching an aggressive lobbying campaign to convince the Legislature to reject a plan to allow massive luxury casinos in two South Florida counties.  Florida Gaming5/19/2012
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Gambling, telecom bolster lobbying bottom line
(Florida) -- The 2012 legislative session was a good time for lobbyists to know about the rapidly changing telecommunications industry or to hook up with a casino...
5/17/2012
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BLOG: Up to $2.2 million in lobbyist spending tied to gambling debate
(Florida) -- As debate on a proposal to build three South Florida “destination resorts” heated up, both sides accused the other of spending big bucks on...
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Florida Gaming generates $14M in revenue after casino opens
(Florida) -- Florida Gaming Corp. boosted its first quarter revenue to $14.4 million following the casino opening at its Miami Jai-Alai facility, but the company...
5/16/2012
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Up to $1.9 million in lobbyist spending tied to gambling debate
(Florida) -- As debate on a proposal to build three South Florida “destination resorts” heated up, both sides accused the other of spending big bucks on...
5/14/2012
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Florida Supreme Court Denies Review in Gambling Expansion Case
(Florida) -- The Florida Supreme Court recently denied a request for it to review the Florida Court of Appeal’s determination that a Florida statute is valid even...
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Roulette is coming to Broward. Just don't call it roulette.
(Florida) -- Underneath a sign reading, "Roulette," 12 gamblers sit at a table and place their bets. Within seconds, a white ball shoots onto a spinning wheel...
5/9/2012
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Florida casino biz is up
(Florida) -- No doubt about it: South Floridians love to gamble. To prove the point, look at the just-released figures from the American Gaming Association. In South...
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Racinos up 16 percent in 2011, study says
(Florida) -- With people having more faith in the economy, more places to gamble and a greater willingness to plunk down their money and take a shot, casino gambling has...
5/7/2012
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Florida Supreme Court Ruling Unlikely to Boost Casino Effort [sub req'd]
(Florida) -- Although a recent state Supreme Court decision opens the door for mega casinos in South Florida, the state’s legislature does not appear any more...
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OP/ED: Lawmakers need to get gambling under control
(Florida) -- When it comes to gambling policy in Florida, the ball's back in the Legislature's court. In a recent ruling, the state Supreme Court declared that...
5/3/2012
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Florida Supreme Court ruling could clear way for more slot machines
(Florida) -- In a decision that adds fuel to the debate about expanded gambling, the Florida Supreme Court on April 27 upheld a lower-court ruling that says lawmakers...
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OP/ED: It's game on for lawmakers
(Florida) -- The ball's back in the Florida Legislature's court, thanks to a major court ruling. The Supreme Court last week put the onus on the state's 160...
5/1/2012
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Editorial: And the winner in the latest casino race is ...
(Florida) -- Hialeah Park, a rundown horse track once considered the "World's Greatest Race Course," beat some long odds last week when the Florida Supreme...
4/30/2012
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Palm Beach County asks judge to toss suit that would prevent slot machine vote
(Florida) -- Palm Beach County lawyers are asking a judge to toss a lawsuit challenging a November referendum about whether slots should be allowed at the Palm Beach...
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Gambling bill writers need dictionary
(Florida) -- Expansion. Say it with me now. Expaaaaaansion. It almost sounds like what it means. And here is the dictionary definition: [ik-span'-shuhn] "......
4/28/2012
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Fla. Supreme Court says Legislature can OK slots
(Florida) -- The Florida Supreme Court effectively ruled Friday that slot machines can be allowed anywhere in the state. The high court let stand a lower court ruling...
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State's top court empowers lawmakers to expand gambling anywhere in Florida
(Florida) -- Florida's highest court on Friday cleared the way for lawmakers to expand gambling anywhere in the state, whether by putting slot machines in more...
4/27/2012
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Court upholds Hialeah's slot machines, last chance blow to competitors
(Florida) -- The Florida Supreme Court on Friday quietly upheld a lower court ruling allowing Hialeah Racetrack to offer slot machines.
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Hialeah Park cleared for slots by Florida Supreme Court
(Florida) -- Hialeah Park has been cleared to install slot machines after the Florida Supreme Court dismissed a case on Friday to block slots at the track.
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Hialeah Park makes it across ‘slots’ finish line
(Florida) -- Hialeah Park’s planned resurrection as a slot machine “racino” took a giant step forward Friday after the Florida Supreme Court tossed out...
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Ruling could pave way for more slot machines
(Florida) -- In a decision that adds fuel to the debate about expanded gambling, the Florida Supreme Court on Friday upheld a lower-court ruling that says lawmakers can...
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Supreme Court declines to hear Hialeah case
(Florida) -- Hialeah Racetrack can proceed with slots, destination casino proponents still have a shot and one hurdle toward slot pandemonium across the state has been...
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All eyes now on Palm Beach County case for slot machines decision
(Florida) -- A Florida Supreme Court decision Friday to stay out of a controversial gambling debate paved the way for Palm Beach County's November slot machine...
4/25/2012
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Gaming Executives Push for Casinos in Florida
(Florida) -- This year's legislative session brought Las Vegas gaming executives to the Florida Capitol. They spent months and millions of dollars trying to convince...
4/23/2012
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Chamber vows aggressive fight against casinos
(Florida) -- The Florida Chamber of Commerce played a big role in killing the expansion of casino gambling in Florida in the last legislative session.
4/22/2012
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Overhaul of Lake Worth beach casino building nearly complete
(Florida) -- The city's casino building is "substantially" complete, creating a new look for Lake Worth Beach that catches the eyes of drivers headed east...
4/19/2012
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Gambling Proponents Plan for Referendum on Vegas-Style Casinos
(Florida) -- After striking out in the Florida Legislature this spring, gambling interests appear to be taking steps to seek direct approval from the state's voters...
4/18/2012
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Gambling's new political committee causes stir
(Florida) -- The creation of a political action committee with the goal of a ballot initiative on gaming and recent political contributions from gambling interests have...
4/17/2012
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Casino Advocates Eye Referendum In Florida [sub req'd]
(Florida) -- Despite exiting meekly in February, gambling interests in Florida are gearing up for another campaign which could include a referendum in 2014 to allow...
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Gambling proponents start to plan for referendum on Vegas-style casinos in South Florida
(Florida) -- After striking out in the Florida Legislature this spring, gambling interests appear to be taking steps to seek direct approval from the state's voters...
4/13/2012
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Casinos on the 2014 ballot? Political committee lays the groundwork
(Florida) -- After failing to persuade the Florida Legislature to pass a bill to open South Florida to mega resort casinos, gambling interests have taken the first steps...
4/12/2012
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Isle marks 5 years on Saturday
(Florida) -- Five years? Already? Well, The Isle Casino and Racing in Pompano Beach is marking its five-year anniversary this month, with a Hyundai Sonata giveaway every...
4/11/2012
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Hamilton County voters take a chance on slots
(Florida) -- Hamilton County on Tuesday became the third North Florida county to approve allowing slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities --- though it is unclear...
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State party fundraising modest, but pumped up by casino battle
(Florida) -- The Florida Republican and Democratic parties' latest reports show modest fundraising totals for the opening quarter of this presidential election year...
4/9/2012
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Voters To Decide Whether To Allow Slot Machines In Hamilton County
(Florida) -- A new horse track is under construction now, but if voters allow it, a casino will be quickly be following behind.
3/31/2012
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Editorial: Casino drive premature
(Florida) -- The people have spoken, sort of. The failure of a pro-casino group to gather enough certifiable signatures in time on a petition for a referendum on the...
3/29/2012
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Signature snag doesn't detour casino push in Lee County
(Florida) -- Backers of casino gambling in Lee County are not folding despite failing to get the required number of signatures to put the measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.
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Pro-Casino Effort Falls Short of Ballot in Lee County
(Florida) -- The political committee that wanted residents in Lee County to vote on casino gambling fell short of getting the issue on the November 6 ballot.
3/28/2012
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Lee County casino-resort petition drive fails
(Florida) -- A petition drive to get a gambling initiative on the Lee County ballot in November has failed, according to Lee County Supervisor of Elections Sharon...
3/27/2012
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Boca woman sues Palm Beach County to take slots vote off November ballot
(Florida) -- A Boca Raton woman has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to take a slot machine referendum off the November ballot in Palm Beach County because she believes it...
3/26/2012
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Slots referendum / Early voting begins March 31
(Florida) -- A special referendum election will be held in Hamilton County on April 10 asking voters to approve or reject a slot machine wagering license. All Hamilton...
3/18/2012
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Florida lawyers hit jackpot in representing gaming industry
(Florida) -- Just last month, Florida’s lawmakers put legislation to legalize destination resort gambling on hold. But even without the mega-casinos, Florida...
3/6/2012
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No referendum, no racino, Vandeveer, Dettmer insist
(Minnesota) -- There will be no local legislative support for racino at Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus unless residents of Columbus and Forest Lake vote on the...
3/1/2012
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Hialeah Park Pushes Tallahassee For Slot Machines, Thoroughbred Races
(Florida) -- Less than one month since a bill that would have paved the way for three destination casino resorts in South Florida died in Tallahasee, the owner of...
2/29/2012
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Destination casinos only a matter of time, analysts say
(Florida) -- Like it or not, destination casinos will become a reality in South Florida within the next three to five years, gambling-industry experts said Tuesday. To...
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Analysts: Destination casinos only a matter of time
(Florida) -- Like it or not, destination casinos will become a reality in South Florida within the next three to five years, gambling-industry experts said Tuesday. To...
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Experts still expect destination resorts
(Florida) -- Officials with Genting Group may have pushed too hard to get destination gambling resort legislation passed this year, but the fight is far from over,...
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Gambling leaders talk about moving forward in Florida
(Florida) -- The gambling industry needs to stop fighting among itself and join forces to get full-scale resort casinos approved in Florida.
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New building for slots on hold at Hialeah Park
(Florida) -- Hialeah Park president John Brunetti is changing the plan to add slots at his racetrack. Hialeah Park broke ground last fall for a building to house slot...
2/24/2012
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Bill would let dog track, fronton move
(Florida) -- An amendment to a Florida House bill would allow movement of a greyhound racing permit or a dog racing permit to another county without a vote by residents.
2/22/2012
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COLUMN: No destination casinos in Florida in 2012
(Florida) -- The destination casino bill was put to rest in the Florida House of Representatives Subcommittee on Business and Consumer Affairs last month. Though a vote...
2/20/2012
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Art world speaks up against destination casinos
(Florida) -- The destination casino battle is over in Tallahassee for the year, but those speaking out against them are still rolling along. Hence, a "Make Art, Not...
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Officials: Little Crime Associated With Casinos
(Florida) -- Anti-casino groups claim casinos and crime go hand-in-hand. “Crime rates in case of communities to be 84 percent higher than the nationwide average,...
2/19/2012
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STUTZ: Supporters of Florida casino expansion promise to fight on
(Florida) -- Supporters of legislation that could land three destination-style casinos in South Florida weren't overly disappointed Feb. 3 when state lawmakers...
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Casinos at the crossroads: 7 key moments marked historic debate
(Florida) -- Colin Au paced the polished marble floors of Miami’s fanciest hotel, waiting for the go-ahead to jumpstart a lavish development plan already on a fast...
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Estimates for Lake Worth Beach work come in $2.7 million more than expected
(Florida) -- The city staff presented a $13.7 million final budget to commissioners Friday for the beach-site and casino work at Lake Worth Beach, $2.7 million more than...
2/16/2012
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Hialeah Park: Flash point for state's gambling mess
(Florida) -- Hialeah Park is reveling in its rebirth, but the racetrack with the pink flamingos has caused a mess across the state. When its quarter-horse season ends...
2/15/2012
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Companies, interests, spend $127 million to lobby lawmakers
(Florida) -- They are waging multi-year campaigns to build billion-dollar casinos, get their tax bills reduced, break into the renewable energy business, and fight over...
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Gaming Supporters, Opponents Gave $2.7 Million to Legislators
(Florida) -- Businesses, unions and professional associations that lobby state legislators spent $127 million last year, up from $116 million in 2010, according to the...
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Sands pulls back its Miami casino bid, criticizes Disney, Genting
(Florida) -- When Malaysia's Genting Group took the lead in the push to bring mega-casinos to Miami, Las Vegas Sands Corp. was in the background, planning and...
2/14/2012
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Company gathers signatures in support of Fort Myers casino
(Florida) -- A company hoping to build a casino in Fort Myers turned in 27,000 petitions today to get a gambling referendum on the ballot in Lee County in November.
2/12/2012
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Column: Council jumps at fast, fast, fast approval for slots vote
(Florida) -- Volusia County will be voting on slot machines this November. Or not. The slots will be at the Daytona Beach Kennel Club exclusively. Or maybe elsewhere.
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Youngstown aims to be Sin City
(Florida) -- On Jan. 12, I read Tom Becnel, owner of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, came out the gate with an upscale "gaming" strategy catering to fancy...
2/11/2012
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Casino bill is dealt a blow, but supporters will fight on
(Pennsylvania) -- States tend to mull over gambling bills for years. It took 15 years for slot-machine gambling to be green-lighted in Pennsylvania, with table games...
2/10/2012
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OP/ED: No casinos for now, what then?
(Florida) -- It may be more of a suspension than surrender, but at least for now the proposal for mega casinos in Florida is off the table.
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Palm Beach County rolling dice on slot referendum
(Florida) -- Crapping out in the Florida Legislature doesn't mean Palm Beach County plans to stop gambling on slot machines.
2/9/2012
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Florida Senate chief still pushing for casino vote
(Florida) -- Senate President Mike Haridopolos wants his chamber to continue considering a casino resort bill although a companion measure is stalled in the House.
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Recess bells, not slot machines, ring in Tallahassee
(Florida) -- The story below made the Miami Herald business section Monday with all of two opinions raised at this writing (http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/06/2628176...
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State Senate chief still pushing for casino vote
(Florida) -- The Florida Senate will continue to consider a casino resort bill, even though the campaign bill is stalled in the state House. Senate President Mike...
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Volusia council votes to put slots on November ballot
(Florida) -- A voter referendum on whether to allow slot machines in Volusia County is headed for the November ballot, the County Council decided in a narrow vote this...
2/8/2012
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ETG Bill Flops In Florida
(Florida) -- An effort to restrict expansion of electronic table games at Florida’s pari-mutuel facilities appears dead after a bill was rejected by a crucial...
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Hot slots issue likely delayed until April
(Florida) -- The slot-machine debate that put last week's Volusia County Council meeting into a tactical weeklong recess appears headed for another delay today -- as...
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Sen Prez: House ‘led some folks on’ in gambling debate; Internet cafe issue in question
(Florida) -- Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Wednesday that it was the House’s “choice” to kill a destination casino resort bill, but that they...
2/7/2012
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Senate panel rejects slot restrictions
(Florida) -- An effort to prevent the introduction of next generation slot machines – which look more like casino games - at racetracks around the state was shot...
2/6/2012
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Casino bill pulled in face of opposition
(Florida) -- A controversial bill to allow mega-resort casinos in Florida appears dead this year, after the House sponsor scrapped a vote Friday by a subcommittee that...
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COMMENTARY: Florida and Casino Gambling -- Not While Disney’s Here
(Florida) -- Another proposed casino gambling bill, this one promising 100,000 new jobs in Florida's troubling economy, failed to pass its first hurdle Friday,...
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Conservatives Warn Casino Bill Could Return in 2013
(Florida) -- Social conservatives continue to cheer the fact that Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, pulled his bill in the Florida House that would open the Sunshine State to...
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EDITORIAL: Indecision roulette
(Florida) -- Faced with a political hot potato in the form of legislation allowing Las Vegas-style casinos in Florida, lawmakers in Tallahassee did what they usually do...
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Florida Casino Bill Dead For 2012 [sub req'd]
(Florida) -- This year’s effort to legalize as many as three destination resort casinos in Florida died Friday when the chief advocate in the House sought and...
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How a dream to transform Florida into `Vegas of the East' fell apart
(Florida) -- It could be said the destination casino bill was doomed from the start. It had major opponents in the Florida Chamber and Walt Disney World. Social...
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Slots referenda approved in two counties while others set Nov. votes
(Florida) -- Voters in two north Florida counties approved measures Jan. 31 that may allow slot machine permits at pari-mutuel facilities in the counties.
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House leader says casino bill ‘dead for this year’
(Florida) -- As the Legislature moves towards its half-way point in the 60-day session, a controversial bill to permit three “destination resort” casinos...
2/5/2012
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A step-by-step guide to the surprise slots vote
(Florida) -- You may be wondering how a referendum on slot machines in Volusia County appeared out of nowhere last week and landed in front of the County Council.
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According to Professor John Kindt, It Is Destructive -- Always and WIthout Exception
(Florida) -- According to John Warren Kindt, a professor of business and legal policy at the University of Illinois, the City of Miami will experience a burst of...
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Casino Presses Ahead in Florida [sub req'd]
(Florida) -- Gambling companies hoping to crack the South Florida market are regrouping after a bill to authorize three casinos in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties...
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Rep. Aubuchon from Cape Coral helps sink casinos
(Florida) -- As chairman of the House Rules Committee, Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, is the second most powerful member of the House behind Speaker Dean Cannon.
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Florida and Casino Gambling -- Not While Disney’s Here
(Florida) -- Another proposed casino gambling bill, this one promising 100,000 new jobs in Florida's troubling economy, failed to pass its first hurdle Friday,...
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Florida Destination Casino Bill Withdrawn From House Subcommitte
(Florida) -- A piece of legislation that would authorize three new resort-style casinos in Florida has been withdrawn before a House subcommittee could hold their vote.
2/4/2012
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Casinos in Florida - It's a Dead Issue This Year
(Florida) -- The effort to bring three mega resort casinos to South Florida is dead for the 2012 legislative session. The house bill was pulled from committee just...
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Casinos in limbo, but the issue has changed landscape
(Florida) -- The bill to bring casino gambling to South Florida may be dead for now, but the issue has reshaped the region’s business landscape in ways likely to...
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Florida House blocks casino bill; Senator sponsor calls it dead
(Florida) -- A state House panel sidelined a controversial casino bill Friday, striking a blow to the gaming industry's latest efforts to build three major new...
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Florida’s Casino Bill “Dead for This Year”
(Florida) -- A controversial bill to allow mega-resort casinos in Florida appears dead this year, after the House sponsor scrapped a vote Friday by a subcommittee that...
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OP/ED: Gambling war may be over, but skirmishes linger
(Florida) -- Ever read a history of the confounding relationships, intricate strategies, shifting coalitions, mighty egos and stunning miscalculations that led to the...
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OP/ED: Urban Miami doesn’t need a casino
(Florida) -- Forty-three years ago, I started Goldman Properties in New York City with a mission to preserve and restore depressed architecturally historic communities.
2/3/2012
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As bill dies, future of mega-casinos remains uncertain
(Florida) -- A statewide television ad campaign, glitzy architectural renderings — even the promise of thousands of jobs — couldn’t change the...
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Casino Bill Dies in Florida House
(Florida) -- If you were a betting man, hopefully you were betting that a bill to bring three full-service, Las Vegas-style casinos to South Florida wouldn't pass...
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Casino Expansion Stalls in Florida House
(Florida) -- A bill (HB 487) that would have expanded casino gambling to include Vegas-style resorts stalled in committee yesterday, in a delay that will likely prevent...
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Casino gambling fizzles — dead for 2012
(Florida) -- The drive to bring resort casinos to South Florida fizzled Friday, with the House sponsor of the measure effectively abandoning the proposal for this year.
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Casinos killed on House floor
(Florida) -- A bill that would have authorized three mega-casinos in Florida and changed dozens of other gambling rules is dead. “As long as I am the chairman of...
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Destination casino bill is dead for this year
(Florida) -- Attempts to bring destination casinos to Florida are dead – at least for now. A House committee debate on the proposal to bring three high-end casino...
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Florida casino gambling bill 'dead for this year,' House Rules chair says
(Florida) -- The push to bring resort casinos to South Florida fizzled Friday, with the House sponsor of the measure abandoning the multibillion-dollar proposal for this...
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Florida casino gambling bill appears dead for 2012
(Florida) -- A proposal to substantially expand gambling in Florida appeared dead on Friday as the sponsor of a destination resort bill pulled the measure from...
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Florida casino gambling bill is dead for 2012
(Florida) -- A bill that would have ushered in the largest gambling expansion in Florida history was withdrawn by its legislative sponsor on Friday, killing for now the...
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Florida House blocks casino bill, delay likely dooms proposal
(Florida) -- Florida lawmakers are rejecting a plan to bring three major casinos to South Florida. A House panel on Friday postponed a vote on a bill that would have...
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Florida Mega-Casino Bill Is Withdrawn
(Florida) -- The richly financed push to bring three mega-casinos to South Florida fizzled in the Legislature on Friday, defeated for the time being by mounting...
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Gaming bill's demise isn't stopping developers of FM casino
(Florida) -- Plans to turn Florida into an East Coast gambling destination are on hold. A bill aimed at expanding gaming resorts in the state died in the House today.
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House blocks casinos bill
(Florida) -- The push to transform Florida into an East Coast version of Las Vegas fell apart on Friday after state legislators rejected a plan to bring three major...
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OP/ED: Mega-casino gambling is dead – or is it?
(Florida) -- Time to exhale, at least a little, and take down names. The powerful forces conspiring to bring large-scale casino gambling to South Florida —...
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Reactions mixed after Fla. casino bill dies
(Florida) -- The bill authorizing three destination resort casinos in South Florida abruptly died in a House of Representatives subcommittee Friday morning when the bill...
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Casino bill all but dead after House committee postpones vote
(Florida) -- Florida’s resort casino debate has folded for the session. After a lengthy debate, the House Business and Consumer Affairs and subcommittee stopped...
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Casino Opponents See Next Battle Coming over State Constitution
(Florida) -- Opponents of the effort to expand casino gaming in Florida declared victory Friday, but anticipate they will next have to fend off an effort to put gambling...
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Casinos in limbo, but the issue has changed landscape
(Florida) -- The bill to bring casino gambling to South Florida may be dead for now, but the issue has reshaped the region’s business landscape in ways likely to...
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Charles de Garmo: As Florida thinks about gambling, Pequot-Foxwoods story comes to mind
(Florida) -- All this talk about casinos in Florida got me thinking about another "can't make this up if you tried" event: creation of Foxwoods Casino and...
2/2/2012
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Casino bill appears headed for House defeat
(Florida) -- A bill that could bring three mega resort casinos to South Florida appeared doomed in the House Thursday, as backers struggled to cobble together a minimum...
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Casino opponents: Gambling would lead to more crime
(Florida) -- Allowing resort casinos in Miami-Dade County would lead to a spike in crime — from rapes to burglaries — an anti-gaming group charged on...
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Comparison of House and Senate gambling bills
(Florida) -- The House released its version of a gambling proposal, slated for its first committee vote tomorrow, that opens the door casinos in what could be a...
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Destination casino bill faces big test today
(Florida) -- Today is a do-or-die day for destination gambling in Florida. The House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee will take up the HB 487 – a...
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Do more casinos mean more crime?
(Florida) -- Local 10 already debunked the statement made by casino advocates that the jobs created through the expansion of gambling would reduce what is said to be...
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Florida House, Senate gambling bills roll the dice
(Florida) -- The House version of a gambling proposal is slated for its first committee vote Friday, opening the door to casinos in what could be a permanent game-...
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Fresen releases casino amendment for Friday show-down
(Florida) -- Casino photoIt’s D-Day on Friday for casino gambling in Florida. The bill to bring three resort casinos to South Florida gets its first – and...
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House gambling bill ditches gaming commission model
(Florida) -- A long anticipated rewrite of the House’s destination casino resort bill is out with some major changes.
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Legislative showdown set on casino plan
(Florida) -- A bill that could bring three mega resort casinos to South Florida appeared doomed in the House on Thursday as backers struggled to cobble together a...
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New bill would allow South Florida casinos, slots at dog tracks
(Florida) -- A key test for casino gambling in Florida, a House subcommittee Friday will take up a revised bill that would allow up to three resort casinos in Miami-Dade...
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OP/ED: Newest deal still a bad deal
(Florida) -- The Florida Senate might be ready to go all in on casino gambling, but the House is looking at a more cautious bet. It still would be a bad deal for the...
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Proposed Vegas-style casinos in Florida face key vote
(Florida) -- Reworked legislation that could bring three Las Vegas-style hotel-casinos to South Florida will face a crucial vote today in a state House panel that could...
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South Florida gambling plans head for trouble
(Florida) -- A controversial plan to massively expand gambling in South Florida appears headed for more trouble as the House and Senate move in opposite directions.
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TRUJILLO: Why I will vote against casinos
(Florida) -- Ten years ago, few could have predicted that Midtown Miami would be home to some of finest restaurants in the United States, that the Design District would...
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Bruno calls long recess as Volusia mulls slot-machine debate
(Florida) -- The Volusia County Council took the unorthodox step of declaring a weeklong recess at today's meeting in an effort to prolong a discussion on whether...
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Volusia council takes 'time-out' on slots referendum decision
(Florida) -- Faced with the prospect of a sudden vote on a gambling debate, Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno skirted the deadline in a new state Senate proposal Thursday...
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Volusia County officials delay decision on slot machine vote
(Florida) -- The Volusia County Council decided to hold off on deciding if they want a referendum on the question of slot machines in county pari-mutuels, places where...
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Casino debate continues in light of $150M expansion
(Florida) -- One local casino is expecting its multimillion-dollar expansion to be a huge success, while other South Florida communities consider taking a gamble on...
2/1/2012
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Anti-Casino Group Study: Mega Casinos Will Cause Crime Spike
(Florida) -- If craps tables and roulette wheels come to South Florida crime will spin out of control. That was the claim of casino opponents who released a scientific...
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LETTER: Casinos create positives with many economic factors
(Florida) -- In answer to Jody Boden’s Jan. 20 letter about Reno casinos and her comments on them causing problem, etc. I lived near Atlantic City, New Jersey, for...
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My Word: By any other name, it's still gambling
(Florida) -- Imagine that you are a member of the Florida Legislature. Representatives of a powerful special-interest group want you to vote for an idea that would allow...
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New Poll Finds Floridians Split on Expanded Gambling
(Florida) -- A new public opinion survey by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times finds Florida voters are divided on whether they want full-service, Las Vegas style,...
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Would Casinos Hurt Miami's Art Scene?
(Florida) -- Like a handful of similarly cash-strapped states, Florida is currently considering legislation to greatly expand gambling there. In part thanks to...
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Magic City Casino tops $1 billion a year in slots play
(Florida) -- It's about 2 p.m. on a Friday. For much of Miami, the work week is winding down. But it feels like the weekend is already getting started at Magic City...
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Obstacles remain before Ebro gets slots
(Florida) -- The owner of Ebro Greyhound Park won the support of Washington County voters for the addition of slot machines at the pari-mutuel wagering facility, but now...
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North Florida counties approve slots but court battle awaits
(Florida) -- Voters in the rural counties of Gadsden and Washington became the first in the state to agree to install slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward on...
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Voters Approve Slots in Washington and Gadsden Counties
(Florida) -- For the first time a majority of voters here in the panhandle have approved what most consider a form of casino gambling. Voters in two counties passed...
1/31/2012
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Letter: Ridiculous arguments used to limit casino gambling in Florida
(Florida) -- My response to Helga Swanson's Jan. 18 letter is, "So what?" Legalizing casinos will not make more "addicts," and banning them will...
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Hialeah Park, Florida's greatest racetrack, battles mega-casinos and lawsuits
(Florida) -- The sky is a surreal blend of purple and orange as dusk settles over Hialeah Park. Pink flamingos, forever memorialized in the opening credits of Miami Vice...
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Volusia County Council to consider slot-machine vote
(Florida) -- A countywide vote on slot machines could be in Volusia's future this year, thanks to a recent change in a Senate proposal that's pushing counties to...
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Voters approve slot machines in two rural counties, but legal battle looms
(Florida) -- Voters in the rural counties of Gadsden and Washington became the first in the state Tuesday to agree to install slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and...
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Voters in Gadsden County weighing in on slot machines today
(Florida) -- No matter what happens in Gadsden and Washington County today, Gov. Rick Scott said today the state won't issue slot machine licenses for casinos in...
1/30/2012
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Florida voters want to decide future of casinos, Times/Herald/Bay News 9 Poll shows
(Florida) -- Florida voters aren't sure if they want Las Vegas-style casinos in the state, but they are certain they don't want Tallahassee to make the decision...
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Panhandle counties vote if slot machine referendums go on ballot
(Florida) -- Two Florida Panhandle counties are voting on whether to permit slot machines as part of Tuesday's presidential primary ballot. A Tampa Bay Times and...
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Poll: Floridians want referendum to decide on Las Vegas-style casino bill
(Florida) -- Floridians are divided on a GOP-sponsored bill that would expand gambling to allow Las Vegas-style casinos or destination resorts in South Florida, but most...
1/29/2012
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Florida Decides Poll: Voters want say in expanding gambling
(Florida) -- The battle over expanding Las Vegas style casino gambling in Florida is up for debate again, and according to a Florida Decides poll, voters say they want...
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Poll: Let voters — not lawmakers —decide future of casinos in Florida
(Florida) -- Florida voters aren’t sure if they want Las Vegas-style casinos in the state, but they are certain they don’t want Tallahassee to make the...
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Voters to decide Ebro slots' fate
(Florida) -- When they go to the polls, Washington County voters will be asked to decide whether they support allowing slot machines at Ebro Greyhound Park. But, those...
1/28/2012
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New Bill Could Change Greyhound Racing in FL
(Florida) -- Greyhounds have raced along these tracks at Jefferson County Kennel Club for over 50 years. But new bills moving through the Florida legislature may change...
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Sandestin casino plan: Know when to fold ‘em …
(Florida) -- Just because Sandestin has put its casino on hold, don’t bet the ranch on its demise. Proponents claim we will hit the trifecta: Increased jobs,...
1/27/2012
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Hispanic Chamber endorses casino resorts
(Florida) -- The South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced conditional support of bringing casino resorts to Miami-Dade County.
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Would casino mega resort hurt existing Miami restaurants and shops? Opinion is split
(Florida) -- Joe’s Stone Crab owner Steve Sawitz distinctly recalls his grandfather’s admonitions decades ago against bring casino gambling to Miami. The...
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Sandestin's Casino Concept Put on Hold
(Florida) -- Due to a lack of support by Sandestin homeowners, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort owner Tom Becnel is no longer moving forward with conceptual plans for a...
1/26/2012
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Scott Maxwell: Ben Stein's casino ad treats voters like chumps
(Florida) -- We're kicking off today's Friday Files with a look at the new TV ad from the pro-casino folks. Gambling's newest ally is actor, comedian and...
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Senate committee votes to tighten parimutuel loopholes and free the racing dogs
(Florida) -- For the second year in a row, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee narrowly approved a bill to allow Florida's 16 remaining dog tracks to stop...
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Slots Vote Could Influence the Legislature's Expanded Gaming Decision
(Florida) -- In addition to picking a Presidential candidate next Tuesday, voters in two northwest Florida counties will vote on whether to allow slot machines at dog...
1/25/2012
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Chamber launches new anti-gambling ad, mocking pro-casino's Ben Stein
(Florida) -- Pivoting off the pro-casino ad featuring actor and businessman Ben Stein, the Florida Chamber-backed Coalition to Stop the Bad Bet for Florida unveiled a...
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Miami lawmaker gets spoofed into calls on casino bill
(Florida) -- A pro-casino group called hundreds of constituents of Miami Rep. Carlos Trujillo last week using the caller ID of of the Miami Republican's Tallahassee...
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$87M Casino Miami Jai-Alai opens late today, offers 350 jobs
(Florida) -- Casino Miami Jai-Alai, an $87 million casino expansion of Miami Jai-Alai, is slated to open to the public late Wednesday afternoon, after a ribbon cutting.
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Casino Miami grand opening is today
(Florida) -- The $87 million expansion to Miami Jai-Alai is complete, and the grand opening is today. It will be called Casino Miami Jai-Alai and include 1,050 slot...
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Casino Miami Jai-Alai gets rolling
(Florida) -- An $87 million finance deal and a seven-month rush project has brought another 1,050 slot machines inMiami-Dade County— and hope for what some...
1/24/2012
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Commissioners take a gamble on slot machines
(Florida) -- Lee County residents may have a say regarding slot machines in November. Lee County Commissioners are moving forward with plans to have the issue on...
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Ebro Greyhound Park Pledges Schools a Share of Potential Slots Revenue
(Florida) -- Ebro Greyhound Park has delivered a letter of intent to Washington County Schools, promising the schools a share of revenue should voters approve slot...
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Local Ministers Take a Stand Against Gambling
(Florida) -- This time next week voters in Gadsden county will be heading to the polls to decide if they want slot machines in their county, but there is opposition to...
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Miami-Dade Voters Divided Over Vegas Style Casino Gambling
(Florida) -- As the bill to expand casino gambling in Florida continues its uphill climb in the state Legislature, a new poll shows Miami-Dade voters sharply divided...
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Slots or not? Ballot to survey Brevard
(Florida) -- Melbourne Greyhound Park officials are gambling that a November countywide voter referendum may eventually allow Las Vegas-style slot machines at their...
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Vote OKs referendum on slots in Brevard County
(Florida) -- The Brevard County Commission has decided to place a referendum on the November general election ballot that could — eventually — authorize slot...
1/23/2012
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LV Sands: Fresen's proposed amendments make casino bill 'less appealing'
(Florida) -- The effort to find a politically palatable compromise that will get a destination resort casino bill through the House may have found its first casualty:...
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Miami-Dade Voters Divided Over Vegas Style Casino Gambling
(Florida) -- As the bill to expand casino gambling in Florida continues its uphill climb in the state Legislature, a new poll shows Miami-Dade voters sharply divided...
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Poll: Miami-Dade On The Fence For Gambling, Gloomy About The Economy
(Florida) -- South Florida voters are sitting straight on the fence on the issue of resort casino gambling, and is gloomy about the local economy, according to a poll...
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Sandestin Residents Vote Against Proposed Casino Plans
(Florida) -- Panhandle communities are taking sides on the destination resort casino bill that would create three 'super casinos' in South Florida. Last week,...
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Two legislators unite to control gambling
(Florida) -- The two lawmakers pushing a game-changing gambling bill — which one critic calls the "biggest expansion of gambling in state history"...
1/22/2012
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Editorial: Senate gambling bill not remotely acceptable
(Florida) -- The Florida Legislature’s evolving measures on gambling grew into an even more unacceptable monster this month in the Senate version.
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LETTER: Expansion of gambling in Florida will bring problems
(Florida) -- The State of Florida is getting ready to make a bad bet if they approve the expansion of casino gambling. The short-term revenues hide a long-term cost that...
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OP/ED: Byron Dobson: Pastors see high cost in gambling
(Florida) -- For the sliver of a town that Gretna is in nearby Gadsden County, it's certainly getting its share of attention. That spotlight is not necessarily aimed...
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Poll: Miami-Dade voters evenly split on casinos, but opposition growing
(Florida) -- Miami-Dade voters are evenly divided on whether to allow casino gambling in South Florida, but opposition appears to be growing even as the Legislature...
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Lee commissioners to weigh Bonita council's request for slots referendum
(Florida) -- The city of Bonita Springs has an interest in seeing slot machines added to the gambling repertoire at the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track.
1/21/2012
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Slots in Bonita?
(Florida) -- Lee County commissioners are expected to start discussing the possibility of holding a November referendum that would allow Las Vegas-style slot machines at...
1/20/2012
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Proposed changes in State House Casino Bill to Reduce Gambling
(Florida) -- A Florida House sponsored bill that proposes to allow into the state three major resort casinos has been revealed through a series of amendments this week...
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South Florida Tea Party announces support for GOP casino bill
(Florida) -- Everett Wilkinson, chairman of the South Florida Tea Party and state coordinator for the Florida Tea Party, this week announced his support for the casino...
1/19/2012
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Christians put pressure on Florida pols to reject casino bill
(Florida) -- A contentious battle for the soul of Florida is being waged in Tallahassee over the controversial senate bill 710. The bill proposes to allow extended...
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Editorial: Slow it down
(Florida) -- Reconciling Senate and House versions of the casino bill in the Legislature just became harder. Maybe impossible. The once-matching bills have been amended...
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Guest editorial: Casino bill not right for Florida
(Florida) -- This session, there will be many issues discussed by the Florida Legislature, and while reapportionment and the budget will undoubtedly be the two most...
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No Casinos group launches latest TV spot
(Florida) -- Anti gambling group No Casinos launched its latest ad slamming the destination casino proposal. The ad points out Nevada's high rates of crime, divorce...
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VIDEO: Casino debate rages in Legislature, on TV
(Florida) -- The South Florida casino bill that passed its first vote in the Florida House of Representative last week has prompted bills that regulate other gaming...
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Ebro Slot Supporters Present County an Incentive Deal
(Florida) -- Ebro owners called a new conference Thursday to announce an agreement with the county over sharing revenue from slot machines granted they pass in a...
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Lake Worth approves casino leases, then rescinds two of them in early-morning vote
(Florida) -- After approving three leases for the casino building at Lake Worth Beach on Tuesday night, then rescinding two of them early Wednesday, commissioners are...
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NEWELL: Sandestin casino: Development gone haywire
(Florida) -- Speaking as a young person, I am extremely appalled at even the thought of establishing a resort casino in our town. What have we come to when we don’...
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Opponents to Expanded Gambling Speak
(Florida) -- Opponents to expanded gambling at Ebro Greyhound Park tried to rally support Thursday against a public referendum coming up in less than two weeks. They say...
1/18/2012
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Fla. could soon have more casinos
(Florida) -- Expanding gambling is one of the biggest controversies of this election year and it's playing out right here in Florida. Right now there are several...
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Fort Lauderdale says no to casinos
(Florida) -- The city of Fort Lauderdale does not want to gamble on destination casinos. Mayor Jack Seiler and city commissioners voted Tuesday night to unanimously pass...
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House casino bill sponsor proposes changes to reduce gambling options
(Florida) -- The House sponsor of the bill to bring three mega-resort casinos to Florida unveiled a series of amendments Wednesday to make the measure more palatable to...
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OP/ED: Florida Casino Bill: Gambling Grabs For More
(Florida) -- There is one sure bet about gambling in Florida: The house always wants more. The latest example involves a bill that initially called for allowing the...
1/17/2012
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OP/ED: Safe bet on gambling
(Florida) -- There is one sure bet about gambling in Florida: The house always wants more. The latest example involves a bill that initially called for allowing the...
1/16/2012
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Casino bill is not just about South Florida
(Florida) -- Backers of a controversial plan to bring high-end destination-casino resorts to Florida initially billed it as a way to limit gambling in the state. But the...
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Hotel CEO says Miami mega-casino plan's a bad idea
(Florida) -- If a developer succeeds in building a massive, Las Vegas style casino resort in Miami, it would spell trouble for Miami's existing hotels, the Miami...
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Mega-casino legislation getting push back from local outfits
(Florida) -- Political discussions about expanding casinos in Florida are being met with opposition from local dog tracks and slot arcades that fear a big player would...
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