January 5, 2012 - 6:00pm
State Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, has submitted an amended destination gaming bill that creates a statewide gaming commission, prohibits the growing Internet cafes, and allows voters to decide if resort casinos can be opened in their county.
Bogdanoff had considered a bill prohibiting all barrel racing -- while allowing Gretna Racing to potentially keep operating -- in a draft she presented to other senators earlier this week. However, the amended version has no mention of barrel racing in any form.
Among the changes submitted Friday to SB 710that goes before the Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Monday afternoon:
- Would give existing pari-mutuel facilities until Dec. 14, 2014, to hold a referendum of county voters in order to expand to include slot machine or limited gaming on site.
- Locations approved for limited gaming would be required to pay $125 million licensing fees.
- Sets a tax rate of 18 percent -- down from the current 35 percent -- for slot machine licensees at pari-mutuels once a destination resort begins operation. The rate at destination resorts would remain at 10 percent.
- Prohibits game promotions from advertising the establishment as a gambling house.
- Prohibits any new pari-mutuel permit from being issued after July 1.
- Expands rule-making authority of the commission to include table game operations, employee training and count room security.
- Requires each resort to segregate the casino from the guest entrance.
- Clarifies that the required minimum $2 billion invested in the construction of the resort may include gaming equipment and furnishings, but excludes impact fees and property costs.
- Requires the commission to consider the impact on surrounding amenities, restaurants and attractions, when considering a resort license.
- Increases the one-time licensing fee from $50 million to $125 million.
- Increases the annual license fee from $2 million to $5 million for resort licenses.
- Designates 97.5 percent of all tax revenue to the states General Revenue Fund.
- Designates 2 percent of all tax revenue to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association.
- Designates 0.5 percent of all tax revenue to the Veterans Trust Fund.
- Requires manufacturers of gaming equipment to obtain a license from the commission.
- Designates 0.25 percent of gross revenues from resort licensees, limited gaming licensees and slot racino licensees go to the treatment of compulsive or addictive gambling. Amount earlier was set at $250,000 per licensee.
- Increases the alcohol license fee from $50,000 to $250,000 for destination resorts.
- Requires construction to begin within 12 months of receiving a permit or the permit would be revoked.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
