The Senate had no problem approving a proposal to offset property-tax relief with slot machine revenue statewide but it could be a hard sell to the House.
The senate, in the debate over cutting property taxes, may be ready to let Floridians gamble their way to property-tax relief.
On Friday the senate voted 34 to 5 to permit slot machines at pari-mutuels all over the state of Florida with a promise of almost $2 billion for state coffers. There was also talk of higher tax revenue from Broward’s new Vegas style slots has conquered debates surrounding looser regulations for Broward’s casinos.
So far the top decision makers in the house have stiffly opposed the idea of using gambling revenues to replace property taxes. But recently as the legislative sessions are nearing an end, some legislators are beginning to think gambling dollars belong in the mix as a logical piece to a property-tax compromise.
All 25 parimutuel facilities in the state of Florida, 4 horse tracks, 16 dog tracks and 6 jai alai frontons would be able to install slot machines, called video lottery terminals, to expand their gambling offerings.
These machines look and play like a Las Vegas slot machine but they are class II machines which means players bet against one another resulting in lower payouts.
Because of this though property-tax fight more and more people are willing to at least entertain the idea as the sessions near and end.
Friday, there was a 29 to 9 vote to approve a bill to add 500 machines at each of the four pari-mutuels. These machines would be allowed to remain accessible for 12 hours a day and permit ATMs as long as they remain off the casino floor.
Sounds like a reasonable way to off set property-tax but using gambling as a property tax solution might still be a long shot.
Contributed by Miami Luxury Villas
