Gambling bills start moving in Florida Legislature amid talks
By Dara Kam article
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Murmurs, and at times shouts, of a renewed gambling deal between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida have bubbled during legislative sessions stretching back nearly a decade.
But, as legislative leaders and governors come and go, finalizing an agreement - repeatedly likened to a three-dimensional game of chess - has proven to be just out of reach year after year after year.
The House, the Senate, the governor, and the Seminoles are the central figures in trying to reach a deal, known as a compact. But the talks also include the state’s pari-mutuel operators and global casino giants willing to drop big bucks on even the possibility of planting roots in Florida, a vacation destination with a growing population that’s also home to some of the nation’s most affluent citizens.