Florida Senate - SB0810 to revise cardroom laws?

[NY60]

First of all, which "floorperson" did you speak to?? Some of them are well intentioned but grossly misinformed. The smoke free rumor has been circulating for months and never came to fruition (except the "tournament tables").

Betting limits are governed directly by State Statute which deal exclusively with the "pari-muts" ONLY. Through the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the Indians must follow the enacted State Law which is why we have the $2 max bet at the Indian Casinos. MOREOVER, even though Broward County can now have slot machines, this doesn't allow the Indians to have unrestricted Poker because the Federal Law has a specific exemption for poker which says that the Indians must specifically follow State Law regarding poker bet limits AND hours of operation. Under current State Law all tournaments must begin and end within the same 24 hour period. This is why we do not have multi-day tournaments at the Indian Casinos.

The Hard Rock has always wanted a Nationally Televised Event from the day it opened its doors which is why we now have the pending State Legislation to allow "Multi Day" events. This however is not going to be enough to lure a WPT event which is what the Hard Rock wants since the cash games are limited to a max $2 bet. No one wants to bust out of a $5,000 or $10,000 entry fee tournament and then play in a $1 / $2 cash table.

The pari-mutuals have always wanted to raise the structured limits beacuse they cannot compete with the tournament held at the Indians so it will be interesting to see what happens. Remember that the State Legislature meets for only a few weeks a year so the window of opportunity is closing fast.

Keep your fingers crossed!!

ANYWAY Which floorperson did you speak to???

[TheGrasshopper]

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Florida would be poker heaven if this comes through.

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No kidding. If this flies I may well just quit my job and move there.

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No, stay away you bastards

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Not a chance. With no state income tax, tons of seniors, boatloads of tourists,and no gaming competition nearby it would be a poker players dream come true.

Florida is a nice place anyway, I'd be in the Sunshine State permanently within a month of the legislation.

[NY60]

One other development which we should also note is the current negotiations between the Seminoles and Governor Crist. Remember the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows the Indians to have any gambling that is legalized by State Statute. Since Broward County is allowed to have "Class III" slot machines the Federal Law dictates that the Indians can have the same.

Under the Federal law the Indians have to negotiate with the State Governor to allow the State of Florida to tax the new "Class II' "Vegas Style" machines at the Indian casinos. If they cannot reach a deal the Indians are allowed to petition the Federal Secretary of the Interior to create the regulations should the State of Florida not negotiate in good faith. The former Governor Bush refused to negotiate and the Indians of course went to the Feds for help.

If the Feds create the regulations the State of Florida GETS ZIP- ZIPPO- NADA - NOTHING as far as tax dollars. When Crist took office he asked the Feds to hold off on creating the new Regulation so that he could have a chance to grab some tax dollars. Well he took too long and the Indians filed suit in Federal Court in Miami asking a Federal Judge to compel the Federal Secretary of the Interior to create the new regulations.

This of course was done as a negotiating tactic to put pressure on the Governor to come to the table which he apparently has and talks have been ongoing.

REMEMBER any deal made does not need the approval of the State Legislature SO THERE MAY BE HOPE YET if the Indians can offset some of the taxes they will have to pay on their Class III slot revenues by increasing the poker rake revenues through an expansion of their poker base. This is the best way to get around existing stupid State law max $2 bet!!!

SOUND REASONABLE????

[flafishy]

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REMEMBER any deal made does not need the approval of the State Legislature SO THERE MAY BE HOPE YET if the Indians can offset some of the taxes they will have to pay on their Class III slot revenues by increasing the poker rake revenues through an expansion of their poker base. This is the best way to get around existing stupid State law max $2 bet!!!

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You've lost me here. How can they increase the rake revenues? They already take out 10% up to $5 along with a $1 jackpot drop. I don't think they can get away with more than that no matter how high the stakes.

[Jeff_B]

wow.. yeah $1/$2 is boring as hell...and i play small stakes online (micro)

FYI Seminole Hard rock (in tampa on orient road) already is smoke free

hopefully they will up the limits soon I havent been there in almost a year

[1p0kerboy]

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allow Florida card rooms to hold high stakes tournaments twice a year under the condition that they are nationally broadcast. We might get a WPT event

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I seriously wonder if this would draw any players knowing that the side games will be $1/2. LOL.

[NY60]

Yes they can increase their reveunes with higher stakes in two ways...first, more tables, and second, with higher stakes the "average" rake will be higher and probably max out at the $5 limit much more often. At present, "on average" the average rake per hand does not reach the $5 limit.

[ChipLeeder]

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Take a look at this: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session...07s1192.ri.pdf

All of the language in these bills about $40 maximum sized bets is conditional and related to card games with only one round of betting, e.g., blackjack. Do you know any "poker" games that have only one round of betting?


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Ugh, I see now, this link is pretty clear that as of now the bill only supports the addition of low stakes blackjack. Hopefully they will amend it to include increasing poker stakes.

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Would passage of this bill lead to high stakes blackjack at Florida Seminole Casinos?

[flafishy]

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Yes they can increase their reveunes with higher stakes in two ways...first, more tables, and second, with higher stakes the "average" rake will be higher and probably max out at the $5 limit much more often. At present, "on average" the average rake per hand does not reach the $5 limit.

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They are not going to add more poker tables if they get Class III slot machines, which are much more profitable than poker tables.

Have you ever played the $2 game at any of the Florida card rooms? The no-fold-em games where all they have to do is turn a flop to get their max $5 rake?

[Lausyd]

There are numerous bills floatng around in the Florida legislature. The bills appear to deal with the following issues:

1. Dominoes. One bill, S0134, permits current licensed cardrooms in Florida to add dominoes to the games authorized to be played therein.

2. High Stakes Tournaments. Another bill, S0216, appears to permit existing cardrooms to hold "televised high stakes poker tournaments" twice a year.

3. Expand time for when poker can be played. Bill S1192 and its House counterpart, will change when pari-mutual card rooms may be open. Currently, a cardroom can only be open when the pari-mutual is conducting live racing. The bill will permit the cardrooms to remain open year round as long as the pari-mutual conducting a full season of live racing the previous year. (This bill will also permit the use of electronic poker tables.)