Re-Blogged by Greg Roselli

As reported by the Miami New Times, Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford has admitted that it is looking “more and more likely” that neither the House nor Senate will take action on a bill to add more casinos to the state in the 2014 session despite the completion of a 2013 study on additional casino supply. The gaming expansion bill floated this year would have allowed the construction of two “destination casinos” in Miami-Dade and Broward counties; however lawmakers are unlikely to begin debate on the topic unless a new compact is negotiated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Weatherford would also like to see gaming expansion decided by voters via a constitutional amendment.

The current compact with the Seminoles was inked in 2010 between the Tribe and Gov. Charlie Crist; and sections of it begin to expire in August 2015. Governor Rick Scott has started closed-door negotiations with the Tribe although there has been little speculation that he’ll reach an agreement by the end of the 2014 legislative session. The Governor would have to reach a new agreement with the Seminoles that would allow for the destination casinos in order to maintain the current level annual revenue-sharing payments with the state, which are speculated at hundreds of millions of dollars.