Ground-Breaking Florida Bills Getting Push

Published: March 25, 2009 11:30 am EDT

It has been reported that all of Florida's 25 pari-mutuel facilities may soon be equipped with 'historic racing' electronic slot games

, and the state may lower the legal gambling age to 18. The proposed measures are part of two senate bills which flew through the Senate Regulated Industries Committee today.

It is estimated that the bills, if they come into effect, could bring in $1 billion annually to state coffers.

''Don't kid yourself. We are a gaming state, so why wouldn't we want to be the cream of the crop rather than losing citizens going somewhere else?'' senator Dennis Jones, sponsor of the two bills, was quoted as saying in an article by miamiherald.com.

The one bill would see the state's pari-mutuel facilities -- which includes horse and dog racing tracks -- be allowed to offer patrons the use of historic racing machines and electronic slot machines which would pit players against each other.

The other bill would see the state's Seminole Tribe-run casinos given the ability to offer roulette-wheel and craps-table gaming.

To read the miamiherald.com article in its entirety, click here.

(With files from miamiherald.com)

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