Most politically savvy South Floridians were slightly shocked that the bill to allow a bed tax increase to fund Dolphin Stadium improvements never made it to a vote in the Florida Legislature. Some call it the “Marlin” effect as certainly the voters in Miami-Dade County were stung by the one-sided business deal engineered by [...]
So what is everyone in Tallahassee talking about these days? Seems like the buzz in the legislative hallways the last few weeks has centered on Dave and Buster’s and Chuck E. Cheese’s. Why are grown men and women spending so much time preoccupied with businesses that feature children’s games? It seems that an exemption granted [...]
The Florida Legislature has been busy the past few weeks, taking proactive steps to outlaw internet sweepstakes cafes in the state of Florida. Many of these facilities were operating under the guise of benefitting charitable organizations, including the Allied Veterans Foundation. An investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement uncovered that a minimal amount [...]
The search is well underway to see what the future holds for the Miami Beach Convention Center. There are mixed feelings about the vision, but I was surprised by the perception of an International gaming company that responded to a question on this subject at a recent gaming industry forum. This company has interest in [...]
Once again the Florida legislature has set its eyes on the convoluted Florida gaming industry. A request for proposal (RFP) has been issued as the legislative branch undertakes a comprehensive study of gambling in the sunshine state. This will be interesting for several reasons. Firstly, the State has to find an unbiased reputable firm to [...]
All around the country, Indian gaming has been steadily gaining momentum and fostering large paydays for tribal members. Florida is no exception to this pattern. We have two tribes that operate gaming in Miami-Dade and Broward County. The Miccosukee tribe has a hotel, golf course, and slot casino operation out in western Dade County. The [...]
It is that time of year. The boat show brings crowds from around the country, if not the world, to marvel at an unmatched collection of high-end yachts. They sit in a cluster on the Intracoastal Waterway across from the famed Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel. Buyers and dreamers alike climb on board to see what [...]
I took a walk down Ocean Drive over New Year’s weekend. In order to appreciate the scene I put on a pair of glasses that allowed me to view everything through the eyes of a tourist. All biases were wiped away.I was amazed at the sights and the sounds and the feel of the warm [...]
This column will take a break from our usual subject matter to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year, and to bestow some awards upon a few “deserving” organizations. THE THANK YOU AWARD goes to the Miami Heat for putting a championship team on the floor for the fans of Miami, and more [...]
For over a year now I have been trying to inform residents of Miami Beach about the goings on in the South Florida gaming arena. Much has happened and there is much more to come. The annual “push” for more gaming will be a topic for discussion at the upcoming legislative session. As a beach [...]
The recently concluded elections included a question to the voters in Palm Beach and Lee Counties as to whether or not they wished to approve slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities [dog tracks] located within their respective counties. In both cases the measure passed quite convincingly. The rationale behind these measures was that they would limit [...]
I understand that on Miami Beach buses, taxis, and other forms of transportation take approximately 350 people a week to local area casinos. This means there are 350 individuals a week, 1,400 a month, 17,000 a year that will sit on a bus for anywhere from fifteen minutes to seventy-five minutes to try their luck [...]
There is one very specific question on the ballot in Palm Beach and Lee County at this u p c o m i n g November election. In Palm Beach voters will be asked to decide if slot machines should be allowed at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. In Lee County voters will decide if [...]
When one hears the word Sicily, thoughts of The Godfather trilogy come to mind and the word “Mafia” swirls around one’s head. In reality, nothing can be further from the truth. Recently, the delegation from the City of Sunny Isles Beach visited the City of Taormina, a beautiful beach resort at the footsteps of Mount [...]
