Miami Dade County to Take Chance on Slot Machines

On June 11, 2007, the residents of Miami-Dade County accomplished another step to getting a controversial slot machine proposal in January 2008.

Miami-Dade County's Governmental Operations and Environmental Committee approved a resolution in a 5-0 vote to permit the pari-mutuels to offer slot machines. The voters in Miami-Dade previously turned down the idea of slot machines at the Pari-mutuels, but Broward County allowed it.

However, the wording of the proposed amendment permits the County Commission to put the slots questions on the ballot again. Several backers of the slots machines said that the time is right to bring slots to Miami-Dade County so that the county can benefit from the extra source of income from the tax profit produced by the casinos.

Miami Dade Commissioner, Rebecca Sosa, one of the authors of the slots proposal, said that an extra source of profit might help cushion the cuts from Tallahassee under the tax property reform.

The slots issue is scheduled to be decided by a complete commission on July 10, 2007. If permitted by the commission, it will be presented to the voters again to decide on January 29, 2008 which is the same vote for the presidential election.

In Miami-Dade County, 3 pari-mutuels stand to benefit from the slots proposal. The Flagler Dog Track and Sports Entertainment Center in Miami, Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens and the Miami Jai Alai.

Sunday, 01 July 2007
Marissa Patterson