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Casinos in Florida - It's a Dead Issue This Year
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 minutes before a scheduled vote. And now, House leaders say they won’t allow the gambling bill to be heard on the House floor this year.  Florida Gaming5/7/2013
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South Florida casino revenues increase
(Florida) -- As revenue for casinos continues to climb in Florida, one thing is clear: The gambling industry here is ripe for expansion, experts say.
5/6/2013
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South Florida casino revenues increase
(Florida) -- As revenue for casinos continues to climb in Florida, one thing is clear: The gambling industry here is ripe for expansion, experts say.
4/29/2013
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Florida gambling spots plan comeback
(Florida) -- Like most gambling arcades around the state, the Vegas Experience in Fort Myers sits dark. The arcade’s doors are closed and its 100 slots-like gaming...
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Casino opponents go on the offensive against legislative gambling contract
(Florida) -- No Casinos, the Orlando-based anti-gambling group, is launching a television and radio campaign urging House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President...
4/27/2013
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More casinos in Florida? Bet on it
(Florida) -- An old gambling joke says the difference between a prayer in church and a prayer in a casino is that, in a casino, you really mean it.
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Developer still working on gambling permits for Florida City
(Florida) -- Florida City leaders plan to extend indefinitely a deadline for a developer to get state gambling permits before building a jai-alai fronton and casino on U...
4/22/2013
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Ruth: More gambling? Report is a sure thing
(Florida) -- Here's an offer the Florida Legislature can't refuse. The Founding Moochers in Tallahassee have decided to pay $400,000 to a New Jersey company,...
4/18/2013
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Anti-Gambling Group Criticizes Fla. Gambling Study
(Florida) -- An anti-gambling group is criticizing the company chosen do a critical study on the future expansion of gambling in Florida.
4/17/2013
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Gambling opponents raise doubts about independence of company hired to write report
(Florida) -- Despite hours of testimony hearing about the state's gambling industry, and two years debating whether to open Florida to resort casinos, the Florida...
4/16/2013
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Fla. to spend nearly $400,000 on gambling study
(Florida) -- Florida is moving ahead with a critical study that could set the stage for the future expansion of gambling in the state, including whether or not Miami...
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Legislature doesn't look far for gaming expert to do study
(Florida) -- After a nationwide search, the Florida Legislature didn't end up far with its plan to hire a national gaming expert for $400,000 to write its report to...
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Legislature Selects Spectrum Gaming Group to Study Florida's Gaming Future
(Florida) -- Allison McCoy, senior vice president of marketing for Spectrum Gaming Group, described her company's mission at the Florida Gaming Congress in February...
4/13/2013
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Florida Bill Would Ban Public Assistance EBT Withdrawals at Strip Clubs, Liquor Stores, Casinos
(Florida) -- A proposed bill in the Florida state senate would ban people who receive public assistance from withdrawing money from their electronic benefits transfer...
4/10/2013
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Questions abound over impact of casino gambling
(Florida) -- With the Legislature recently outlawing Internet cafes, it underscores more then ever the need to have an objective, unbiased public debate on the true...
4/3/2013
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Las Vegas Sands pushing for Florida casino, but gaming expansion still stalled
(Florida) -- Las Vegas Sands Corp. hasn’t given up on Florida. On Tuesday, the casino company’s Florida lobbyist told state lawmakers they should “go...
4/2/2013
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Las Vegas Sands Urges Lawmakers to Let Destination Casinos 'Go Big' in Florida
(Florida) -- A Las Vegas Sands Corp. representative told Florida lawmakers they should expand gaming in the state by providing incentives for destination-resort...
3/31/2013
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Proposed Florida Gambling Bill Could Prohibit Online Poker
(Florida) -- Across the United States, there are several state legislatures that are examining the issue of online gaming and poker. In Florida, however, a proposed bill...
3/29/2013
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Miami cracking down on video gambling machines
(Florida) -- The Miami city commission wants to crack down on video gambling machines found in many Little Havana cafeterias and Flagler Street adult arcades.
3/28/2013
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Miami Commission wants to confiscate ‘maquinitas,’ hire more police
(Florida) -- A week after Miami’s mayor called the video-gaming machines he once championed “illegal,’’ city commissioners directed the...
3/23/2013
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New Florida Gambling Bill Affects Online Poker
(Florida) -- A new sweepstakes bill which was recently passed 108-7 by the Florida House, could make it difficult in the future to have online poker legalized and...
3/20/2013
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Florida: a gaming market preparing for the future
(Florida) -- Lots of talk is circulating over what’s going on in Florida, the last big market in North America. As the Florida Gaming Committees in its Legislature...
3/17/2013
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Gaming committee chairman relies on flights from gaming lobbyist for travel to Tallahassee
(Florida) -- The chairman of a Florida Senate committee that oversees gambling relies on the plane owned by a gaming lobbyist for travel to Tallahassee and his Naples...
3/16/2013
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Editorial: Finally, Lake Worth makes progress on its Casino building
(Florida) -- If you remember what Lake Worth’s public beach looked like just two years ago, it’s hard not to be wowed by the place today.
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Fla. bill would ban using food stamps for stripper, casino tabs
(Florida) -- Florida’s strip clubs, liquor stores, casinos, pornographic video shops and bookstores would no longer receive food stamps and welfare money, if a...
3/12/2013
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Like Bonita Springs, other Florida tracks urging state to OK slot machines
(Florida) -- One week after Southwest Florida officials asked state lawmakers for slot machines at an area greyhound track, others are joining the chorus.
3/6/2013
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Bonita Springs leaders meet with lawmakers about slot machines
(Florida) -- Bonita Springs city leaders had their say, now state lawmakers must decide whether to pull the lever on a request for a test run on slot machines at a...
3/5/2013
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A new session, but don't bet on a new gambling fight
(Florida) -- Imagine a Florida legislator proposed a law allowing unregulated video slot machines. Mini-casinos could open anywhere. No state regulation. No tax money...
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AIF, Florida Chamber Divided on Casino Gambling, Taxes for Online Travel Companies, and Obamacare?
(Florida) -- Of Florida's 1,100 business advocacy organizations, the two largest and best-known are undoubtedly the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) and the...
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State calls for study on gambling’s economic impact
(Florida) -- The debate on gambling has, for the most part, been a battle of who said what. But lawmakers now want actual data on the impact of allowing gambling in...
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Destination Casino for South Florida? Don't Overlook the Costs
(Florida) -- With the announcement by the Genting Group and others to petition the state Legislature to allow for a broadening of gambling in South Florida, a focused...
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Genting's Goode: Las Vegas project not hedge against Miami
(Florida) -- The Genting Group’s $350 million purchase of 87 acres once home to the Stardust Resort and Casino from Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corp. will not...
3/4/2013
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House Gaming Committee Wants In-Depth Seminole Revenue Numbers
(Florida) -- With the deadline a little over two years away on a key provision of the state’s multimillion-dollar gambling compact, some lawmakers would like to...
2/28/2013
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Boyd sells Florida jai alai facility for $65.5 million
(Florida) -- Boyd Gaming Corp. agreed to sell its south Florida jai alai facility Thursday for $65.5 million in an all-cash deal with Dania Entertainment, but the...
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Dania Jai-Alai to be sold for $65.5 million
(Florida) -- The 60-year-old Dania Jai-Alai building could soon come under a new owner, Dania Entertainment. Current owners Boyd Gaming said they are selling the...
2/27/2013
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Revenues at Indian casinos up 5 percent, according to report
(Florida) -- Total gambling revenues generated by Florida's Indian tribes grew by 5 percent, to about $2.16 billion, according to an annual report prepared by an...
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Five Things That Surprised the Heck Out of Me at the Florida Gaming Congress
(Florida) -- For a roomful of people who, as former Senate President Mike Haridopolos said during his luncheon address "historically don't like each other very...
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Florida's gambling industry: Who wants to bet it's about to expand?
(Florida) -- Florida is still trying to figure out how big a role gambling should play in its economy. Indian tribe casinos here generated a substantial $2.2 billion in...
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Black Diamond seeking casino manager to resume Port of Palm Beach gambling cruises
(Florida) -- Black Diamond Casino Cruises remains docked at the Port of Palm Beach, but there will be no more gambling cruises unless the owners find a casino manager.
2/26/2013
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Florida Panthers' Michael Yormark: Bring on a Destination Casino!
(Florida) -- One of the surprises-to-many of the opening Florida Gaming Congress session -- called "Destination Florida?" -- was Michael Yormark's strong...
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Gambling debate ratchets up again
(Florida) -- The expansion of casino gambling in Florida will not be on the agenda when the state Legislature convenes next week, but discussion about the industry...
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Legislature to stand pat on casino gambling in 2013
(Florida) -- Prospective destination casinos and local casino operators in South Florida finally agree on something: The state is correct in planning to not vote on any...
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'Yes' to Internet Gambling in New Jersey; Florida says 'Not Interested'
(Florida) -- New Jersey legislators gave the final thumbs-up Tuesday to a bill legalizing gambling over the Internet. They already sent the bill to Gov. Chris Christie....
2/25/2013
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Florida Gaming Congress Wide Open for All Stakeholders, All Ideas
(California) -- The Florida Gaming Congress now under way in Hollywood has a simple but important part to play in deciding the future of gambling in Florida.
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Gambling decision-makers set to converge
(Florida) -- Mike Haridopolos, current executive vice president of The Stronach Group and former Florida Senate president, will deliver the Keynote Luncheon Address at...
2/21/2013
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As Florida House begins gambling examination, Internet café bill looms
(Florida) -- The Florida House of Representatives opened its examination of state gambling laws Feb. 19 as a state senator gave more details on his plan for a moratorium...
2/20/2013
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Legislature invites firms to conduct gambling study
(Florida) -- The Florida Legislature released the parameters for the study of the state’s gambling economy and laws Wednesday and invited firms to conduct the...
2/19/2013
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House begins Fla. gambling law examination in meeting
(Florida) -- The House opened its examination of Florida’s gaming laws Tuesday as a state senator gave more details on his plan for a moratorium on Internet cafes.
2/18/2013
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Legislative Lobbying Tops $120 Million in 2012
(Florida) -- Lobbyists collected at least $120 million to represent businesses and other clients before the Florida Legislature in 2012, with companies such as AT&T...
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Peel Back Tallahassee's Covers: It's Still a Gambling Year
(Florida) -- Billed as an off-gambling year in Florida politics, 2013 is anything but. Too much gambling-interest money is circulating, too much strategizing is going on.
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Florida’s Social Conservatives Gear Up to Strengthen Families, Oppose Gambling, GLBT Rights
(Florida) -- Florida's Catholic and evangelical social conservatives expect the GOP-heavy Florida Legislature to sympathize with their moral concerns as the 2013...
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Gaming executives push for casinos in Florida - again
(Florida) -- Gaming executives are making yet another pitch to bring resort casinos to the Sunshine State. The executives were in Tallahassee Monday with the goal of...
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Request Pending For Florida Gambling Study [sub req'd]
(Florida) -- The impact of gambling in Florida and the effect of future changes will be the focus of a two-part study scheduled to be completed this year, the chairman...
2/15/2013
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Lobbyists’ $212 million haul ‘eye-opening’ for lawmakers
(Florida) -- Telecom companies, Malaysian casino-builder Genting, sugar concerns, and an Internet sweepstakes cafe company led the crop of corporations and interests...
2/13/2013
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Distinguished Panel to Discuss State's Gaming Public Policy at Florida Gaming Congress February 26
(Florida) -- Amid the ripening debates over pari-mutuel slots outside of South Florida, Internet sweepstakes cafes, and the legalization of destination resort casinos,...
2/12/2013
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Casino Miami Jai-Alai Made At Least $17 Million Last Year, Lawsuit Claims
(Florida) -- Adding a state-of-the-art casino with 1,035 slot machines has turned one of Miami's oldest parimutuel sites into an enormous money maker.
2/6/2013
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Hialeah Park Casino to Open Summer 2013
(Florida) -- Construction of a new casino at Hialeah Park is nearing completion, with the expected opening date sometime in June or July. Hialeah, which concludes its...
2/4/2013
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Greyhound Advocates: Remove Dog Racing Requirement From Fla. Law
(Florida) -- Advocates for the humane treatment of greyhounds are asking Florida lawmakers once again to remove a state law tying dog racing to gambling licenses.
1/29/2013
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House also creates gaming committee, puts Schenck in charge
(Florida) -- House Speaker Will Weatherford on Monday followed the lead of the Senate and announced the creation of a Select Committee on Gaming to study the path of the...
1/26/2013
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Gaetz: Gaming bill unlikely in ’13
(Florida) -- No one will be hitting triple sevens on a Ebro Greyhound Park slot machine this year if the Senate Gaming Committee plods its current course.
1/25/2013
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Florida needs ‘bright lines’ to limit gambling, opponent tells Senate panel
(Florida) -- Lessons learned from Florida’s history of incremental escalation of gambling should instruct the Legislature as it considers future gambling policy, a...
1/23/2013
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Richter's Florida gaming committee gathers pro, con testimony on gambling
(Florida) -- A committee that's looking at the state's gaming industry heard conflicting testimony Tuesday about how the state Legislature should proceed when it...
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Senate weighs expanded gaming in Florida
(Florida) -- Florida’s state Senate Gaming Committee held a hearing Tuesday where witnesses testified in favor of and against expanding gambling in the state.
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State Lawmakers Hear From Gaming Industry
(Florida) -- The state legislature has vowed to take a year off from passing any major gambling legislation. But, even though they are not planning to pass any bills in...
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Senate Gambling Committee Sets Glacier Pace For New Casino Legislation
(Florida) -- Florida's gambling future won’t be settled in the 2013 session of the Florida Legislature -- and maybe not even in the one after that.
1/22/2013
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Casinos in for long wait on state gambling plans
(Florida) -- Las Vegas and international gambling executives will be in for a long wait in their quest to get Florida lawmakers to open the doors for glitzy resort...
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Florida Casinos Clock Dialed for 2014 Session
(Florida) -- The clock will continue to slowly tick on the future of gambling in Florida, with the deadline now apparently set for the 2014 legislative session.
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Senate and House agree to one more study to determine fate of treacherous gaming policy
(Florida) -- The Florida Senate Committee on Gaming continued to do what its chairman said was to “creating the foundation of understanding” for a sweeping...
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State lawmakers explore gaming in Florida
(Florida) -- Representatives from some of the world's largest casinos are pushing Florida lawmakers for a gaming expansion, but lawmakers are vowing to move slowly...
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Casino Foes Vocal In Florida Gaming Hearing [sub req'd]
(Florida) -- Casino critics dominated Tuesday’s hearing of the new Florida Senate Committee on Gaming, with one of the committee’s Democratic members leading...
1/21/2013
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Gambling Issue Continues to Hover in Legislature
(Florida) -- If there is any indication that the gambling barbarians remain at the gates of Florida, one has to look no further than the Senate Gaming Committee meeting...
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SMITH: Why Not Casinos?
(Florida) -- It's time for Florida to re-examine its fear of gambling and put it where it can do the state some good -- in smart, high-class state-of-the-art casinos.
1/20/2013
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Schultz commentary: Florida bought a ticket to casinos 25 years ago
(Florida) -- One of the worst things to happen in Florida happened 25 years ago yesterday. The Florida Lottery began operating. With the Save Our Homes Act (messed up...
1/15/2013
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Naples representative to ask for bids on study of state's gambling industry
(Florida) -- The head of the Senate Gaming Committee said Monday he hopes to work toward asking for bids on a study of the state's gambling industry in the next...
1/14/2013
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Florida Begins Gambling Policy Review
(Florida) -- After hearing presentations on diverse aspects of Florida’s gambling industry, the chairman of a new state Senate committee on Monday compared his...
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Gaming committee chairman wants study soon
(Florida) -- The head of the Senate Gaming Committee said Monday he hopes to work toward asking for bids on a study of the state's gambling industry in the next...
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Sen. Richter: Data to drive gaming decisions
(Florida) -- Florida’s gambling decisions historically have been compulsive, but will now be based on numbers, data and reason, Sen. Garrett Richter, chairman of...
1/8/2013
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Voters approved slot machines, but will they get them?
(Florida) -- Slot machine referendums hit the jackpot in every county they played in last year but so far the state of Florida is refusing to pay out.
1/3/2013
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Commissioners betting against casinos in Cocoa Beach
(Florida) -- Could casinos be coming to Cocoa Beach? The city commission is hedging their bets to make sure that doesn’t happen. They will vote on banning casinos...
12/31/2012
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Florida Legislature's top priorities in 2013
(Florida) -- Elections. Ethics. Higher education. These issues are just part of an ever-growing legislative agenda, which also includes gambling and healthcare reform,...
12/30/2012
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Hoteliers making their list, checking it twice
(Florida) -- With the start of a new year, Central Florida's hospitality industry is crafting a 2013 wish list: What it wants from this year's session of the...
12/26/2012
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More casinos may not have expected financial results, study finds
(Florida) -- If all you wanted for Christmas as a gambling operator was to add more one-armed bandits to your casino floor, or to expand the menu to include more horse...
12/25/2012
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Florida Economy Displayed Life in 2012 without Addition of New Casinos
(Florida) -- The economy showed more life than it has in years, with unemployment hitting its lowest mark since December 2008.
12/22/2012
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LETTER: Lake Wales Casino
(Florida) -- I have been informed of the strong possibility of a casino being opened in the Grand Hotel in Lake Wales. I have called the mayor and each commissioner to...
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Williams council OKs ordinance banning gambling in parks
(Florida) -- Public parks are for family picnics and children to play in — not gambling. The Williams City Council made that point clear on Wednesday when it...
12/16/2012
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Editorial: First things first on gambling
(Florida) -- Florida legislators are calling for a comprehensive study of gambling in the state. They want to bring the current crazy-quilt landscape of a little bit of...
12/15/2012
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Florida gambling study may take time
(Florida) -- The head of a new Senate gaming committee said Friday his panel wants to study the future of Florida gambling for up to two years before holding public...
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Sen. Richter tells Estero group he remains undecided on Bonita slots
(Florida) -- Sen. Garrett Richter says he was caught off-guard when he was asked to chair the state Senate Gaming Committee, which begins meeting in mid-January.
12/6/2012
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Gaming Today: Florida Is ‘Gaming Run Amok’
(Florida) -- Casinos may have lost in the 2012 legislative session and there isn’t much call for revisiting the issue in 2013. But perhaps the premier organ of the...
12/4/2012
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Florida is the fourth largest grossing gambling state
(Florida) -- As the holidays approach, so does the legislative session scheduled to begin March 5 in Tallahassee. The annual two month wrangling and haggling process...
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LETTER: Gambling drains society
(Florida) -- The Lotto, Powerball and other gambling games have become pandemic in the United States. Not that long ago, lotteries such as Bolita were promulgated by...
11/30/2012
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New Senate Gaming Committee plays the long game
(Florida) -- A bill to bring large casinos to South Florida drew the glitzy and glamorous headlines this year, but ultimately went bust under the weight of heavy...
11/29/2012
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Naples Sen. Richter: Gambling committee will closely examine gaming issue
(Florida) -- The head of a new committee in the Senate set to focus on gaming issues says he expects the panel to conduct a thorough study of gambling in Florida instead...
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Miami, Fort Pierce Jai-Alai Sale Brings New Casino Operator into Florida Market
(Florida) -- With the Senate’s new Gaming Committee set to hold its first meeting Monday, another player in the casino world may be moving into the Sunshine State.
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Bettor Golf: The sun is shining on the Florida golf and gambling scene
(Florida) -- If you like to wager on and off the golf course, you're in luck in Florida, which is brimming with opportunities. The gaming menu in the Sunshine State...
11/28/2012
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Florida Gaming selling Miami Jai-Alai for $115M
(Florida) -- Florida Gaming Corp. is selling Miami Jai-Alai and Fort Pierce Jai-Alai to Silvermark LLC
11/27/2012
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Panthers Owners Look To Add Casino To Area Surrounding BB&T Center
(Florida) -- The Florida Panthers may not sell out every game and they may not be the most popular franchise in the NHL, but they do have a savvy ownership group keen on...
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Gulfstream Casino: Why No One Cares About Horseracing Anymore (It's Boring, and Jockeys Are Creepy)
(Florida) -- On Saturday, something seemingly wrought from a time forgotten will emerge and rumble down the track at Gulfstream Casino to the delight of almost no one.
11/26/2012
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Why 2013 Florida Legislature Will Hear No Casino Bills
(Florida) -- The proposal to build mega-casinos in South Florida never made it to a final vote in the last session of the Florida Legislature. Now it looks like the...
11/22/2012
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From Slapshots To Slots: Florida Panthers Make Bold Bid To Diversify Into Gaming
(Las Vegas) -- How do Las Vegas casinos make their money? From thousands of blinking slot machines? Massive poker rooms? Exclusive high-roller areas?
11/19/2012
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New gambling committee included in Senate set-up
(Florida) -- The Senate, by vote tomorrow, will create a new gambling committee that will take a two-year, comprehensive review of the Seminole Compact, destination...
11/18/2012
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Guest column: Gambling good for Fla.
(Florida) -- Local voters recently approved slot machine gambling in Brevard County, a move that will hopefully be the foot-in-the-door for future gaming venues.
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State's hand may be forced on gambling regulations
(Florida) -- World-class casinos. Strip-mall storefronts billed as "Internet cafés." Slot machines and poker rooms at local racetracks, where traditionalists...
11/17/2012
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Timeline of gambling in Florida
(Florida) -- Leaders in the state Legislature want a comprehensive look at gambling in Florida. One has complained the state allowed expansion of gaming by "fits and...
11/16/2012
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Florida Gaming revenue drops as foreclosure on Miami Jai-Alai looms
(Florida) -- Florida Gaming Corp. reported lower revenue from its casino in the third quarter, as the company deals with a foreclosure lawsuit on Miami Jai-Alai.
11/15/2012
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Lobbyists file 3rd quarter compensation reports
(Florida) -- It's been a comparatively slow quarter for major lobbying firms in Tallahassee, as House and Senate members turned their attention to seeking re-...
11/13/2012
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Without getting political, here’s our numbers
(Florida) -- The strong turnout for the presidential election spilled over into the county initiatives and provided a very strong public opinion about local slots.
11/12/2012
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Precinct analysis shows Bonita residents solidly behind slot machine proposal
(Florida) -- Bonita Springs voters supported allowing slot machines at the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track at a greater rate than the rest of Lee County voters, a...
11/8/2012
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Black Diamond casino cruise ship expected to officially start service Wednesday night
(Florida) -- Launch day is finally here for the Black Diamond casino cruise ship, which is expected to officially start service Wednesday at 7 p.m. from the Port of Palm...
11/7/2012
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Slots fight goes to Tallahassee
(Florida) -- A day after convincing Lee County voters to pass a referendum allowing Las Vegas-style slot machines at their facility, Bonita Springs dog track owners...
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Slots get support in Palm Beach County
(Florida) -- With almost all the results in, 56 percent of voters in Palm Beach County said they support slot machines at parimutuels in the county.
10/29/2012
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Florida may gamble on online gaming
(Florida) -- Lisa Metzler knows more about online casino games than she ever cared to learn. She's in therapy now. She had been shut in her Apollo Beach home since...
10/26/2012
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Palm Beach County voters to decide whether to support slot machine push
(Florida) -- On Election Day, Palm Beach County voters decide whether to bet on slot machines or try to shut the door on expanded local gambling. Backers of the Nov. 6...
10/24/2012
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Casino lobbyist helping Soto by attacking McBride in Senate race
(Florida) -- A new political group set up by a lobbyist representing casino giant Genting Malaysia is lending Democratic state Rep. Darren Soto a hand in his state...
10/23/2012
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EDITORIAL: We recommend: School sales tax, gaming proposals win our confidence
(Florida) -- Slot machines: YES: A “yes” vote for slot machines at Melbourne Greyhound Park would be a precursor to construction of a large new casino and...
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Gambling Study Proposed For Florida [sub req'd]
(Florida) -- Weary of rancorous and inconclusive debates about gambling in the Florida legislature, House and Senate leaders in Tallahassee are proposing a study to...
10/20/2012
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Owners want to replicate success of Miami casino
(Florida) -- A large mural of a young couple riding in a convertible with a blizzard of cash flying in the air greets customers at the entrance of the casino near Little...
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Slots could bring jobs, but are they legal?
(Florida) -- A few times a year, Janice Sidwa of Orlando drives to Tampa or Hollywood to play slot machines and stay a couple of nights at the Hard Rock Hotel and...
10/17/2012
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Slots or not? Estero Council of Community Leaders hears both sides
(Florida) -- It's an emotionally charged issue with strong supporters on both sides. Representatives from Lee Says No and Lee Says Yes faced off at the Estero...
10/9/2012
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Vote YES for Slot Machines campaign releases TV commercial
(Florida) -- In November, voters in Florida will be given the option of adding another county to the list of approved locations for casino gambling in the state. The...
10/6/2012
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Editorial: Important for voters to decide slots
(Florida) -- It is the last item on the Nov. 6 election ballot for Lee County voters, but it has the muscle to create a lasting impact on a community in need of job...
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The future of gambling in Bonita
(Florida) -- In November, Lee County voters will decide whether slot machines will fill parts of the Naples-Fort Myers Dog Track. If passed, 40-percent of the new jobs...
10/3/2012
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Mega-casino battle stays under cover
(Florida) -- Watching and waiting. That's what opponents of bringing casino resorts to Miami are doing as casino operators strategize, spend money and lobby for what...
9/30/2012
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Disney World 'flexing its bicep' in Florida elections
(Florida) -- Walt Disney World has spent nearly $2.5 million on political candidates and causes in Florida so far this election cycle, according to an Orlando Sentinel...
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Endorsement Editorial: Slot Machines at Bonita dog rack
(Florida) -- We can let gambling continue piecemeal, unregulated, at those storefront gaming arcades saturating Southwest Florida. Or we can let it expand modestly,...
9/28/2012
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Disney World 'flexing its bicep' in Florida elections
(Florida) -- Walt Disney World has spent nearly $2.5 million on political candidates and causes in Florida so far this election cycle, according to an Orlando Sentinel...
9/27/2012
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Political Notebook: Florida legislative leaders may want 'time out' on gambling
(Florida) -- Lee County voters are scheduled to decide in November if slot machines are OK, with the dog track in Bonita Springs a potential site.
9/26/2012
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Legislative leaders call for comprehensive gambling review
(Florida) -- Florida needs a new gambling policy that covers racinos, Seminole casinos, Internet betting parlors and proposals for huge Las Vegas-style casinos,...
9/24/2012
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Boyd casino plans in Florida may face competition from an indoor ski resort complex
(Florida) -- Plans by Boyd Gaming Corp. to put a casino next to a sports arena in southern Florida may have some competition. The Sun Sentinel reported a group of...
9/23/2012
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Dueling projects face big hurdles
(Florida) -- Suburban South Florida stands to become a major tourism destination that would rival bustling beach areas if two huge projects are built near popular...
9/21/2012
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Gambling giant spends more than $900,000 on pro-casino PAC
(Florida) -- Malaysian-based gambling giant Genting has pumped $936,500 since April into a political action committee designed to sell the concept of Las Vegas-style...
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Gambling on casino ends in foreclosure lawsuit for Miami Jai-Alai
(Florida) -- Less than nine months after opening its casino, Miami Jai-Alai has been hit with a foreclosure lawsuit by the lenders that financed its construction.
9/20/2012
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Bonita Springs council moves forward on slot machine agreement
(Florida) -- Bonita Springs officials continue to hammer out an agreement with the owners of the dog track that could bring millions of dollars to the city while...
9/19/2012
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Bonita Springs council moves forward on slot machine referendum
(Florida) -- Bonita Springs officials continue to hammer out an agreement with the owners of the dog track that could bring millions of dollars to the city while...
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Palm Beach Kennel Club revs up slot campaign
(Florida) -- Slot-machine proponents in Palm Beach County are ready for their spin with voters, and they hope their referendum will come up a winner.
9/18/2012
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Group backs slot machines in Palm Beach County
(Florida) -- Should Palm Beach County allow slot machines? You will get a chance to decide during the November election, one group is pushing hard to convince you to say...
9/17/2012
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OP/ED; A roulette wheel that pretends it isn’t
(Florida) -- Players hover around the table, regarding a small metal ball as it dances around the circumference of a spinning roulette wheel that isn’t a roulette...
9/6/2012
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Slots referendum could mean windfall for Bonita Springs
(Florida) -- Officials in Bonita Springs are doing what they can to ensure the city will get a cut of an expected cash windfall that passage of a referendum on slot...
9/5/2012
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City Council, dog track work on management agreement if slots come to Bonita
(Florida) -- The city of Bonita Springs may win a new jackpot from the greyhound track's slot machine revenue, if a countywide referendum passes in November.
9/1/2012
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Some cheer idea of casino in Sunrise, but it's not a sure bet
(Florida) -- The prospect of a casino resort and hotel coming to Sunrise has both supporters and critics wondering about the consequences on the city and surrounding...
8/27/2012
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Florida City could get jai-alai or horse racing, plus a casino
(Florida) -- Hungry for economic development and jobs, Florida City is ready to embrace parimutuel gambling. That could come in the form of a quarter horse racetrack,...
8/21/2012
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Daytona International Speedway proposes big changes
(Florida) -- The Daytona International Speedway is looking to revamp its track and transform the land just north of International Speedway Boulevard in the coming years...
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Daytona Speedway plans major changes
(Florida) -- Large hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, nightclubs and shops could all spring up at Daytona International Speedway and on a large swath of property north...
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The Daytona Speedway and Slots?
(Florida) -- Changes, potentially including legalized gambling, may not be idle talk for the future of Daytona Speedway.
8/20/2012
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Fla. gambling picture continues to cloud with industry rumors
(Florida) -- The Florida gambling picture continues to cloud. Noises coming from different factions in Tallahassee suggest the legislature will pass legislation to...
8/16/2012
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Slot machines at Greyhound Track comes to voters
(Florida) -- In November, Lee County voters will decide whether they want to allow slot machines at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track in Bonita Springs.
8/13/2012
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Romanik Wants to Open Jai Alai; Casino in 2013
(Florida) -- With news of a casino and Jai Alai fronton coming to Florida City, many residents are curious about the circumstances surrounding its approval.
8/11/2012
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Downs eyes Florida competition
(Kentucky) -- Churchill Downs Inc. officials are watching emerging competition bite into revenues at the company’s South Florida casino, but they don’t plan...
8/7/2012
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Gaming picture in Sunshine State of Fla. heating up quickly
(Florida) -- As predicted by your humble reporters, the gaming picture in the Sunshine State is heating up fast even in the summer doldrums.
8/5/2012
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Internet cafés join other gambling interests in pouring cash into Florida lawmakers’ campaigns
(Florida) -- From humble roots in strip shopping centers, Internet cafés are emerging as a major Florida political player this election season, with the controversial...
8/3/2012
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Fla. Legislative Leaders Ready To Take Up Gambling Again Next Session
(Florida) -- Gambling in Florida takes many forms, whether it’s the state lottery, dog tracks with poker rooms or full-scale resort-casinos. This year, lawmakers...
7/31/2012
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9 Investigates: Casino gaming in Florida could be gaining new traction
(Florida) -- Eyewitness news investigated evidence that casino gaming in Florida could be gaining new traction. Early this year, legislators tabled the plan for...
7/29/2012
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STUTZ: Investors can't wait to gamble on Florida
(Florida) -- Maybe February was just a speed trap on Alligator Alley or a jack-knifed trailer on the Turnpike. Florida's gambling proponents are not going to be...
7/25/2012
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Casinos' Revenue Hard Count Hits $411 Million in Florida
(Florida) -- There is little concern that Florida is in danger of shedding its label as one of the nation’s largest gambling states
7/24/2012
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Boyd, Panthers' parent form partnership
(Florida) -- A major Las Vegas casino company announced Tuesday that it will partner with the Florida Panthers' parent company in an attempt to bring casino gambling...
article
Sunrise casino project draws cheers, jeers, questions
(Florida) -- A proposal announced Tuesday for a casino-hotel next to the Florida Panthers' hockey arena and giant Sawgrass Mills mall could mean more jobs, tax...
7/23/2012
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Anti gambling ad hits the airwaves
(Florida) -- Anti gambling group "No Casinos," which fought against destination casino resorts last spring is back, again airing an ad that tries to tie...
article
No Casinos airs anti-gambling ad, takes on Lincoln Diaz-Balart
(Florida) -- No Casinos Inc. isn’t waiting for Genting, Sands and other casino operators to make their next move in a campaign to allow destination casinos in...
article
Casino cruise ship now set for mid-August
(Florida) -- In case you missed it, our Arlene Satchell wrote about the Black Diamond Casino Inc., which says it is now aiming for a mid-to-late August launch of casino...
7/20/2012
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Editorial: Keep mega-casino bill off Florida’s 2014 ballot
(Florida) -- Despite spending millions, gambling giants like Genting — which bought waterfront land to build a “destination resort” in Miami —...
article
Mega casinos or an enticing Miami waterfront?
(Florida) -- The city of Miami’s finances are in an alarming condition. It faces gargantuan gambling casinos that beckon to redefine the entire fabric of our...
7/19/2012
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OP/ED: Keep gambling proposal out of Fla. Constitution
(Florida) -- We understand the frustration of Malaysian gambling giant Genting over its costly and failed bid to win legislative approval to build a mega-casino in Miami...
7/17/2012
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Gambling group appears to be betting on casino ballot measure
(Florida) -- Following unsuccessful attempts in the Legislature to bring resort gambling to Florida, a newly formed group backed by a huge casino interest appears to be...
article
Gambling letter surfaces in competitive Hillsborough Senate primary
(Florida) -- As voters in suburban Tampa prepare to nominate a state Senate candidate, the issue of gambling is prompting allegations of campaign dirty tricks.
article
Gambling lobbyist Dunbar praises Tom Lee, who fires back
(Florida) -- Tallahassee gambling lobbyist Marc Dunbar wrote a fund-raising letter to his clients on the letterhead of his law firm (Pennington Moore Wilkinson Bell...
7/14/2012
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Well-Funded Group Aims For Resort-Style Casinos In Florida
(Florida) -- Poker players and slot slingers may be enjoying resort-style casinos in Florida in the near future. Better yet, the developments that would be built are far...
7/13/2012
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Gambling group appears to be betting on ballot measure
(Florida) -- Following unsuccessful attempts in the Legislature to bring resort gambling to Florida, a newly formed group backed by a huge casino interest appears to be...
article
Malaysian developer Genting fuels possible ballot drive for casino gambling with big donations
(Florida) -- Genting Group appears to be intensifying its push to allow voters to make the final decision on whether Las-Vegas style gambling comes to South Florida.
article
New PAC working on possible referendum on casino gambling
(Florida) -- The first evidence of Genting's next attempt to bring destination casinos to South Florida surfaced Friday, and it shows two things: The Malaysian-based...
article
Voters may get say on big new casinos in Florida
(Florida) -- Florida voters may be asked once again whether they want to bring casinos to the state. Campaign reports filed Friday show that a newly formed political...
7/4/2012
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Casino could make city's bad Jungle Island gamble worse
(Florida) -- As Miami officials last week delayed a vote on a Watson Island lease for Jungle Island, Asian giant Genting was unveiling a casino venture on an island just...
7/3/2012
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Fla. Lottery posts its biggest year ever
(Florida) -- While Florida leaders remain divided over the future of gambling in the state, there's one game that keeps growing and growing.
6/30/2012
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Seminoles ask employees to contribute to PAC
(Florida) -- Telling its workers that the issue isn’t settled, the Seminole Tribe has created a PAC to prevent destination casinos from coming to Florida.
6/28/2012
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State gaming revenue rises to $2.1 billion
(Florida) -- Gaming revenue in Florida is on the rise after two years of decline. According to data released Wednesday in the North American Gaming Almanac, gaming...
6/27/2012
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Florida gambling: Room to grow
(Florida) -- That imaginary pie gambling industry analysts talk about is still growing in Florida. The 2012 version of Casino City's North American Gaming Almanac...
article
State gaming revenue rises to $2.1 billion
(Florida) -- Gaming revenue in Florida is on the rise after two years of decline. According to data released Wednesday in the North American Gaming Almanac, gaming...
6/11/2012
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Isle hangs in there / Revenues are up, despite rival's expansion
(Florida) -- Their largest competitor just unveiled a $150 million expansion, which might make some casino managers want to fold. But the Isle Casino & Racing in...
article
Slots revenues are up – but not close to what was promised
(Florida) -- Despite fervent opposition in many parts of the state to proposals to bring Las Vegas-style casinos to Florida, one thing is clear: Floridians seeking to...
6/8/2012
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New poll reveals Florida is still very divided over casino gambling
(Florida) -- A new survey by Tampa pollster Paul Fallon shows that Floridians haven't budged too much from previous polls on their views about casino gambling: they...
6/4/2012
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Slot machines poised to set revenue records
(Florida) -- The debate over whether to allow slot machines outside of South Florida is just beginning, but there is no question about the ability of the one-armed...
5/31/2012
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New poll reveals Florida is still very divided over casino gambling
(Florida) -- A new survey by Tampa pollster Paul Fallon shows that Floridians haven't budged too much from previous polls on their views about casino gambling: they...
5/23/2012
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Gaming expansion may be back on in Florida
(Florida) -- A recent case from the Florida Supreme Court has put Florida back on the radar screen for the next big push for gaming expansions. The context of the case,...
5/22/2012
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Hialeah case could be beginning, not end of slots battles
(Florida) -- A recent Florida Supreme Court decision surrounding slot machines is being interpreted differently by state officials and the pari-mutuel owners who say the...
article
Slot machine question left to voters
(Florida) -- Taking a chance on gambling at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound track. The Lee County Commission decided to leave it up to voters. Proponents say it will be...
5/21/2012
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Bonita Springs dog-track slots get Lee County hearing
(Florida) -- The lights and sounds of slot machines could be rolling into Lee County, as the commission Tuesday considers a referendum that might bring them to Bonita.
5/19/2012
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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...
article
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
article
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
article
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...
article
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...
article
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...
article
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...
article
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
article
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...
article
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
article
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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