As it stands, 2017 has not been kind to pro-gaming forces. In April, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that if casinos want to expand anywhere in the state, they will have to do so through a constitutional amendment by statewide referendum, possibly in 2018.
Florida’s casino gambling is currently contained to South Florida and one casino in Tampa. The closest slot machines to Brevard are on the cruise ships that dock at Port Canaveral, and on the day boats that cruis out into international waters for gambling..
The decision could impact another pending case before the Supreme Court where Creek Entertainment in the tiny city of Gretna (population 1,460) in Gadsen County just north of Tallahassee seeks to enforce a countywide referendum that supports slot machines at the race track. Seven other counties had similar referendum outcomes, including Brevard, which in 2012 narrowly approved slots by a 52.7 percent vote.
But the biggest blow came when a legislative conference committee on gambling threw in the towel May 2 ending further compromises on a comprehensive Senate bill which included allowing slots at the eight referendum tracks, Melbourne Greyhound Park among them. While the Senate bill supported the expansion, the House bill did not, and that proved a major sticking point.
“I’m disappointed but not surprised,” said Jim O’Brien, Melbourne Greyhound Park’s president and CEO. “We thought with an overwhelming majority of voter support it was a good sign. Citizens of Brevard wanted it. I thought we had a better than average chance. I thought we had an opportunity.”
State Senator Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican and chair of the conference committee, stuck steadfast to his approach to the bill. “If you do not deal comprehensively it won’t get it done,” Galvano said. “One of the big issues that remained was authorization of slots in the referendum counties.”
The House bill took just the opposite tack, favoring retraction. “This isn’t an expansion bill,” said Miami Republican, Representative Jose Felix Diaz, committee vice chair. The Senate offered to limit the new casinos to a max of 1,500 slots each in its last offer April 27. And that was the end of the offers on either side.
If the expansion was approved, Melbourne Greyhound Park planned to spend $50 million to build a new facility on track grounds which would have provided local construction jobs for 18 months. In addition, Brevard County would have realized 1.5 percent of slot revenue with another half percent to Melbourne as host city. The greyhound park already has a “poker room” called Club 52 featuring 38 card tables, racing simulcasts and a Saturday comedy night.
Legislation will probably be introduced again in 2018, but without changes in the mindset or the makeup of legislators, especially in the House, the same fate awaits.
“I do not know what has to change,” O’Brien said. And before he postulates ideas, he prefers to get together with a lobbyist and the other track owners.
