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Legislative Updates Fall 2003 FLORIDA: The Florida Supreme Court has not yet completed its review of a slot ma-chine ballot initiative proposed by Floridians for a Level Playing Field (FLPF), which it received in late May. FLPF is a consortium of South Florida pari-mutuels, including horse and dog tracks and a jai alai fronton. The groups' earlier attempt to place a similar measure on the 2002 ballot failed. Florida attorney Mark Herron filed a written brief with the court opposing the measure on behalf of GREY2K USA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of the United States, and No Casinos, Inc. Oral argument is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 4; both sides will have 20 minutes. In other legislative news, House Bill 1059, a measure allowing extended hours of operations and higher stakes in poker games at racetrack card rooms, became law Aug. 6 without the governor's signature. The bill had been opposed by local and national anti-gambling and anti-racing groups. Attendance at track card rooms
increas-ed dramatically after the new rules took effect. Mike Cernobyl,
director of poker operations for the Palm Beach Kennel Club, said that
100 people packed the card room after the rule changes went into effect,
but only six customers were betting on greyhound racing. Other tracks
with card rooms are reporting similar increases. "It's another revenue
stream for a dying industry," said Harry Olsen, manager of the Daytona
Beach dog track. KANSAS: The Governor's
Committee on Gaming met for the first time on August 25 and is expected
to complete its study on the expansion of gambling by late November. The
15-member panel will meet for five additional sessions before completing
its report. The committee is expected to deliver its recommendation to
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius by the end of the year. Sebelius strongly supports
slot machines at racetracks. MASSACHUSETTS: A committee led by Sen. Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy) is drafting legislation that would expand gambling in the state. The Senate legislation proposes to create a new gaming commission that would have the sole power to choose casino sites. The commission, whose members would be appointed by Gov. Mitt Romney, would be authorized with eminent domain powers to seize land from private owners, if necessary, for at least two commercially developed and operated state-run casinos. The legislation is likely to include a provision to allow the state's two dog tracks and two horse tracks to bid on three licenses to install 1,000 to 1,500 coin-drop slot machines each. The state is facing a $1.5 billion-to-$2 billion shortfall in the coming fiscal year. By licensing casinos and allowing slot machines at the pari-mutuel venues, the state could generate $500 million every year. Senate minority leader Brian
P. Lees said Oct. 12 that he expects to file the new gambling bill in
November. OREGON: The Oregon Legislature
passed House Bill 3646, as amended, in mid-August. The original bill,
which sought approval for year-round dog and horse racing, was amended
in the Senate Rules Committee with a provision that prevents the Oregon
Racing Commission from approving a greyhound racing season longer than
seven months. TEXAS: Texas Attorney
General Greg Abbott has ruled that the Legislature may not authorize the
operation of video gambling machines at the state's three greyhound tracks
and seven horse tracks. Abbott said voters must approve an amendment to
the state constitution to legalize the electronic games. |