Florida Passes Poker Bill
July 1, 2009
It is constantly a source of amazement in the gambling world just how
Florida thinks when it comes to gambling and slot machines. Slot machines
are often thought of as an evil thing among their residents, so when they
start talking about expanding gambling in the state it is assumed that they
aren’t going to have any of it. However, a recent ruling shows us that we
don’t understand the state at all.
The Florida Legislature recently approved a measure that will allow for the
expansion of poker in the state. Not only that but it would also remove the
max buy in limits for no-limit poker and the elimination of a maximum bet
per round in their limit games. Many thought that the bill, SB 788, would
not pass because there have been a lot of people against it – and after all,
it is more expanded gambling.
The Senate and the House both had their issues with the poker limit bill,
but they spent the week hammering out the problems that they had with it.
The Senate passed it first 31-9, then the House passed it 82-35. The
agreement is a 15 year agreement that must now go in front of the Seminole
tribal nation for approval.
The agreement will allow them to offer poker with the above terms and it
will bring in at least $150 million in payments each year from the tribe to
the state. Governor Charlie Crist must now negotiate a compact with the
tribe, which must be completed before August 31st. Then the Florida
legislature will look at the bill and determine if they approve it.
