Comprehensive Gaming Legislation Passes Final Senate Committee

Senator Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) released the following statement regarding Senate Bill 8, Gaming, which today passed the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
“Florida is a diverse state and our constituents have many different opinions, beliefs and convictions regarding gaming. This legislation does not attempt to make value judgments about the private activities of free, taxpaying Floridians, instead it presents a comprehensive approach to regulating a voter-approved industry that has contributed billions of dollars to our economy for education, health care and infrastructure, while providing hundreds of thousands of jobs to Floridians over the course of nearly 100 years.
“On a statewide basis and locally, voters have told us they support gaming in this state. The people of Florida have even gone so far as to authorize gaming in our state constitution. With that directive in mind, my goal has always been to maximize opportunities for revenue sharing between the state and gaming establishments. Specifically, the goal of this legislation is to negotiate a new Compact that continues our relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, remove antiquated provisions of law that impact pari-mutuel facilities, and honor voter referendums that authorize expanded gaming opportunities in certain Florida counties.
“I am confident we can strike the right balance between these competing interests. Implementing a guaranteed payment requirement will ensure we achieve our first priority – revenue sharing between the state and authorized gaming entities – under each and every scenario.”