Decoupling advances in Florida with provisions for ‘purse pools’
February 10, 2016,from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — According to a story in the Paulick Report, legislation that would permit Florida’s horse and dog tracks to decouple those activities from their slot machines and card room licenses advanced after a House committee vote to approve three bills related to Gov. Rick Scott’s compact with the powerful Seminole tribe that operates seven casinos in the state.
To read the full story, click here.
Related Articles:
- Seminole compact passes first committee (Thursday, February 11, 2016)
WFSU.org in Tallahassee, Fla., is reporting that a proposed gaming agreement between Florida and the Seminole Indian tribe is moving forward, but legislative leaders don’t expect discussions surrounding the bill to end soon.
- Anticipated Florida Supreme Court slot machine ruling could ultimately prove meaningless (Saturday, February 13, 2016)
While decoupling hangs in the balance, the general consensus around Florida’s Capitol is that gambling expansion in Florida could depend on whether the Florida Supreme Court rules that pari-mutuel permit holders outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties can have slot machines without legislative authorization.
- Armchair guide to Florida’s Senate decoupling drama (Tuesday, February 16, 2016)
Decoupling will be of paramount concern for horsemen and those who are worried about its imminent devastating effects to Florida’s Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse and Standardbred industries when the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee meets Wednesday (Feb. 17) at 1:30 p.m. (EST).
- Florida Senate Committee passes decoupling bill (Thursday, February 18, 2016)
Bloodhorse.com is reporting that the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee passed two pieces of legislation on Wednesday (Feb. 17), one authorizing a $3 billion gaming compact with the Seminole tribe and another that would allow most racetracks in the state to decide whether they want to continue live racing.
- Florida horsemen urge legislators to comprehend job-killing impact in light of ‘decoupling’ vote (Thursday, February 18, 2016)
In her column today (Feb. 18), entitled “Scant Hope for Horsemen in Senate Gambling Package,” Sunshine State News Publisher Nancy Smith took note of significant and devastating changes in Florida’s gambling and horse racing industry landscape that would take place if bills approved by the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee yesterday go the distance.
- Will “decoupling” kill racing at Pompano? (Friday, February 19, 2016)
In the Friday (Feb. 19) edition of Harness Racing Update, Bill Finley has written an in-depth story about “decoupling” in the state of Florida. Finley writes “legislation to end the marriage between racing and slots continues to gain momentum and, if it becomes a law, would certainly mean the end of racing at Pompano Park while also, perhaps, planting the seeds for similar efforts in other states.”
- Florida harness horsemen set up Gofundme account to fight ‘decoupling’ (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)
The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association has opened up a GoFundMe.com account to raise money for legal fees to oppose the passage of ‘decoupling.’
- Florida Senate Appropriations committee postpones hearing on ‘decoupling’ bill (Tuesday, March 01, 2016)
The Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel is reporting that the Florida Senate Appropriations committee heard 29 bills in total on Tuesday (March 1), but not a bill which would allow “decoupling” in the state.
- Decoupling measure quietly filed in Florda Senate (Wednesday, March 09, 2016)
Floridapolitics.com is reporting that a bipartisan, last-ditch effort to pass a “decoupling” measure this Legislative Session took the form of an amendment tacked on to a deregulation bill late Tuesday (March 8).