Senate approves plan to allow Las Vegas-style slots

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Three tracks and a jai-alai fronton in Broward County could install as many slot machines as they want and run them 16 hours a day, 365 days a year under a bill approved by a Senate panel Tuesday.

The bill, which would allow Las Vegas-style slot machines, was approved 6-3 by the Regulated Industries Committee. Last week, a House committee approved a bill that would limit the four pari-mutuels to the kind of electronic bingo machines now at Indian-run casinos.

The Senate plan would also tax slot machines at a lower rate than the House. Both proposals need approval from more committees before coming up for full chamber votes.

Attorney General Charlie Crist has issued an advisory opinion that slot machines can't be installed without regulation approved by the Legislature, despite some arguments that the constitutional amendment allowing slot machines was self-executing.

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