Online Casino Gambling News - by Gamblers Lodge

Casino Slots Approved in Florida

All parties involved in Florida’s constitutional amendment vote to permit Vegas-style casino slots in their local betting establishments thinks they are a winner. In a very close race, two south Florida counties, Broward and Miami Dade, voted one in favor and one against the amendment. Broward, whose voters numbered approximately 186,000, voted 57% in favor and 43% against, whereas Miami Dade’s 153,211 voters voted 52% against and 48% in favor of the casino slots bill.

To those who voted to kill the amendment, the notion that there is no overwhelming desire for Las Vegas casinos was a victory in their eyes. However, the residents of Broward county and the four betting houses (Jai-Alai, racing tracks) were more than pleased to bring in casino slots, which they say will fund Florida’s education system. The four facilities are already pushing to operate some 25,000 slot machines by the summer of 2005. If Miami Dade county had voted in favor of the measure, the Miami Jai-Alai, Calder Race Course and Flagler Dog Track would have helped generate over $450 million in tax revenue. Now, that amount will be considerably lower, which Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, says would not have gone entirely to education necessities in the first place.

However, the fact remains that all 67 Florida counties will receive tax revenue generated by the Broward county slots, and that many new jobs will be created. The rest of the story will now play out during the legislation of the amendment, which Bush is planning to pressure with strong regulation. As for Broward county, the future for Las Vegas style casinos and casino gambling has never looked so bright. Even the Indian casinos in South Florida, who have been at a standstill with Bush to negotiate their right to incorporate Las Vegas slots, now have more incentive and support to do so.  Could it be that South Florida is a victory for online casino gambling as well, where online casino companies claim many  players reside?

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