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I've been following the Class III Slot debate in Broward County and while I am no expert here is my take on the deal.
Broward County's ballot amendment made no metion of class III gaming, voters were only asked to allow slot machines at current paramutuels to help fund schools with new revenue that would come from the tax on the machines. Right now the Jeb Bush administration is dragging its feet in the hopes that No Casino Inc. can get an appeal of the ammendment on the next ballot. An alternative to killing the slot machines is that Bush will approve only class II slots to bring the paramutuels on an even keel with the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes who both currently offer class II gaming with their bingo-based slot machines. This would keep the class III slots out of Florida. As far as class III table games, the initiative was only for slot machines. Even if class III slots are allowed craps, 21, roulette and other house banked table games would still be banned.
What does all that mean for poker in Florida? Nothing really since the state law only allows the current $2.00 max bet games. Allowing class III gaming wouldn't change the current poker limits. The poker laws could be changed without any regard to the slot machine situation. Maybe our next governor (Charlie Crist?) will find it acceptable to increase the bet limits in exchange for the increased tax revenue that would follow the raised limits. I'd be happy to find a 2/4 or 3/6 or maybe even a 1/2 NL $100 or $200 max buy in game at Derby Lane. The paramutuel industry would be happy too.
Also about a Trump casino in Tampa. NO. Trump is pre-selling units in his high-end condo project here in Tampa to be called Trump Tower Tampa.
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I wrote all that before I saw Atomic's post, but to address it: I like the insight - it's all pretty sad, but true. By and large, it's the No Casinos argument for mitigating the effect of these actions. I'm hardly an expert here, too, just an interested observer reporting what I can.
Note, however, that the Broward referendum didn't say "Class III gaming" because that's the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
(25 USC 2701-25) term. Oh, and also the drafters of that amendment had no idea what they were doing.
True, Bush could sign a bill into law, passed by the Florida Legislature, that raises the poker stakes, set by Fl. Stat. 849.086. But I have a better chance of hitting 2 royal flushes back-to-back than living to see that day, I think.
I. Nelson Rose seems to have a similar opinion.
The IGRA, however, dictates, as Bush said in June, that "by law, whatever the pari-mutuels get is the floor, not the ceiling, for the tribes." I doubt the Seminoles would sign a compact unless it allowed for no-limit poker and table games. But, you're right, technically, no one has to do anything. In light of the motives of the Seminoles, the concluding of Bush's tenure, the potential for a pro-gambling govenor being elected in 2006 (but not Crist, who has voiced his opposition to gambling), and the public policy shift Bush noted, it very well may.
As for the Trump thing, I did note it was a wholly unsubstiantated rumor. Trump Taj Tampa does have a weird ring to it, though [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
It's good to see another Tampa 2+2er. If you make it out to Hard Rock and play Omaha, I hope I get to say "sup bro" [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]