Topic: Internet Gaming

As in 2012, legislation to allow for large casino resorts in South Florida was discussed but there was no other action. A late push by Gov. Rick Scott to call for a special session on a possible renegotiated Gaming Compact with the Seminole Tribe was also snuffed out. Read more . . .

The proposal seeks to close loopholes, tightens regulations and repeals a state provision authorizing local referendums permitting slot machines outside of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Lawmakers banned sweepstakes cafes last year and now want to carve out exceptions to allow purveyors of "amusement machines" to operate.

House Speaker Will Weatherford's requirement that Gov. Rick Scott renegotiate the Seminole Gaming Compact with the Seminole Tribe for any casino legislation to be considered could press Scott to take a position on gambling -- something he's been reluctant to do - before the election.

The House is kicking around a constitutional amendment, while the Senate is attempting to balance Florida's myriad special gambling interests.

Senate Gaming Committee chairman Garrett Richter said his panel should focus any new changes to Florida's gambling laws on economic growth, but how that might be achieved is still up in the air. ... Related Research: April 6, 2010 Gaming Compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida, Oct. 28, 2013 Two-Part Gaming Study: Final Report by Spectrum Gaming Group, Nov. 4, 2013 Senate Committee on Gaming meeting packet, and meeting video.

The draft report from Spectrum Gaming shows the state would actually lose revenue through the most expansive gambling scenario analyzed in the study. ... Related Research: Sept. 30, 2013 Senate President Don Gaetz: Gaming Study, and Oct. 1, 2013 Gaming Study Memorandum from Senate President Don Gaetz.

The Clearwater Republican said the law banning storefronts offering slotlike video games is affecting some restaurants and nongambling vending machine operators and needs to be changed. ... Related Research: Sept. 23, 2013 Senate Gaming Committee meeting packet and video.

Will the next big push for casinos have a payout, or will it be another "fundraising exercise"?

Internet sweepstakes cafes are outlawed, lawmakers are giving their campaign contributions to charity and adult arcades are fighting the new law banning their business.

Sixty days of debate, argument, agreement and compromise end with the drop of two handkerchiefs in the Capitol rotunda to signal the completion of the 2013 legislative session.

The storefront video gaming centers are now outlawed in the state of Florida. The governor said the Legislature "did the right thing" by banning the stores as illegal gambling, but made it clear he doesn't want to dwell on the legislation. He wants lawmakers to get back to his main priorities of teacher raises and a tax break for manufacturers.

The Senate voted 36-4 on HB 155 to ban Internet sweepstakes cafes. The bill has already passed the House and is headed to the governor's desk.

Resolutions to big issues such as Medicaid expansion and other federal health care reform issues, pay raises for state workers and teachers, and pension reform remain to be reached in the remaining four weeks of the 2013 legislative session.