On gambling, no deal in sight

By at 27 April, 2009, 8:48 pm

Gambling talks between the two chambers have hit a snag, as legislators wait for budget negotiations to thaw. It means that before the Legislature’s scheduled Friday adjournemnt, it isn’t likely to deliver on one of Gov. Charlie Crist’s top priorities: getting a revenue-generating deal with the Seminole tribe. “I think it’s at a standstill,” said House Majority Whip Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami. The Senate’s point man on gambling, Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole, said he hasn’t talked to his House counterpart, Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, since last week. “Nope,” he told a reporter about current negotiations with Galvano. The two houses have passed out differing gambling

packages. The House proposal calls for a slots-only deal with the Seminoles that would require the tribe to shut down its blackjack tables. The Senate has a more expansive plan that would give the tribe craps and roulette and expand gaming options (blackjack, no-limit poker, etc.) at pari-mutuels. The gambling plans would generate from $373m to $568m for next year’s budget, big money when the state is facing a $6 billion shortfall. With the two so closely linked, a gambling resolution until presiding officers agree to a budget framework, legislators said.

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On gambling, no deal in sight

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