Casino gambling up to voters? No: This loser slams a Yes: Voters should door on new revenue control casino gambling
In 1996 the game of poker changed my life. Overworked and stressed out, I needed a mental and social outlet. I walked into the Seminole Bingo Hall in Immokalee and sat down at a poker table. I had never played before, but it didn’t take long for me to know that the strategic analysis and critical-thinking skills I was learning would benefit me for years to come.
I didn’t know at the time that I would have to use these skills to analyze and decipher the true impact of Amendment 3. Proponents of this referendum want you to believe that it is a pro-gaming amendment that empowers voters to decide. However, nothing could be further from the truth. I had to read it six times to fully grasp why Amendment 3 is a bad idea.
The amendment would actually strip local control over gaming decisions and create a near impossible threshold — a statewide ballot initiative that is approved by 60 percent of the voters — for any future gaming expansion in the state of Florida. This ridiculous requirement is not about giving the voters a say; it’s about securing a monopoly for the special interests backing Amendment 3.
In poker you learn to read people by the decisions they make — bet, raise or fold — on each hand dealt. It’s called a “tell.” There is no bigger “tell” about Amendment 3 than the decision by the Seminole Tribe and the Walt Disney Co. to dump tens of millions of dollars into supporting it. For them, stopping progress on gaming is a winner, but for the rest of us it’s a losing hand.
Frankly, I am disappointed. If not for the Seminole Tribe’s expansion into poker, as authorized by state lawmakers in 1996, I would have never fallen in love with the game. I applauded the tribe when it worked diligently with state legislators to update the card-room law and raise the poker limits, creating a far better consumer experience and ushering in a “poker boom” for Florida. But now, the Seminoles have a strong grip on Florida’s gaming economy, and they don’t want to let it go.
To be clear, I am not opposing Amendment 3 because I want Florida to turn into Las Vegas Southeast. I oppose it because Amendment 3 fundamentally changes the way our state makes important decisions about gaming. It removes our elected officials from the process of shaping public policy. It denies local voters the ability to approve casino gambling in their areas of the state. It eliminates the ability for voterapproved casinos in South Florida to offer new products. It forecloses on the opportunity for Florida to legalize sports betting and expand poker, in any form.
The latter is particularly troubling. Limiting our options of choice is unthinkable. Thankfully, earlier this year the U.S. Supreme Court stepped up and struck down a federal law that prevented states from regulating sports betting. Since this outdated law was overturned, six states have authorized sports gambling and several more are poised to act in 2019. Also, a handful of states have successfully regulated Internet poker and Internet casino gaming for many years. Should Amendment 3 pass, Florida will be on the outside looking in on these opportunities.
The ability of those state legislatures to act has done two important things: First, they are protecting their consumers, who before had access only to unregulated and potentially unscrupulous sports betting and Internet gaming operators. Now, consumers play in state-regulated systems that are safe, secure, and accountable to both customers and state regulators. Second, authorized sports gambling along with regulated Internet poker and casino-style gaming is raising millions in new state tax revenue, without raising taxes.
Hear me now. One of the many reasons I love Florida is that my tax burden is low. No personal state income tax and Florida sales tax at 6 percent is good for me, but our schools and our infrastructure need more money. I believe Florida should never close the door on any new ways to raise revenue that could help with our education system, or any other pressing need that needs appropriate funding in our state.
Amendment 3 would slam the door shut on gaining more tax dollars from gaming, while sealing it shut, potentially diminishing the millions that state authorized gaming industry is already providing to the budget to pay for educational facilities, school supplies and higher pay for educators. Our state should not suffer so deeprooted interests can maintain their gambling monopoly.
As a Florida voter, resident and taxpayer for almost 40 years, I feel obligated to share what I’ve learned about Amendment 3. As a poker enthusiast for more than 22 years, I know how to read a bad hand, and that is why I hope Florida voters choose to fold on Amendment 3.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has long advocated for restraint in amending Florida’s Constitution. We believe our constitution should only be amended in rare and extraordinary circumstances.
Amendment 3, which would require voter approval of future gambling expansion, meets that threshold. Keep in mind, Florida is creating one out of 11 new jobs in America. We don’t need the casino industry; it needs Florida.
Rather than introduce anything new, the amendment simply reinforces language already in the constitution — a provision that gives voters the final say on gambling decisions. Florida voters inserted that protection in 1968 and it’s important we don’t let politicians work around it.
Their reasons for doing so remain valid today. The widespread introduction of Las Vegas-style casinos in Florida brings dubious benefits and potentially serious consequences for our state. Any decision to go in this direction should be made with due diligence, much caution and voter input.
Voters exercised such caution when considering five gambling referendums from 1978 to 2004. Three times they rejected large casino resorts in Florida. But they also approved the Florida Lottery and the limited introduction of slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade pari-mutuels.
Since 2005, when Florida lawmakers began attempting to take over gambling decisions, the restraint of voters has been replaced by the politics of Tallahassee. The drumbeat for more and bigger casinos from the powerful gambling lobby has been loud and nonstop.
There is no end game here. No matter how many casinos might be approved, there always will be pressure for more. We have seen this in other states, where the gambling industry continues to push for expansion even in markets so glutted that existing casinos are losing business and even going bankrupt — sometimes at taxpayer expense.
Consider New Jersey. The Atlantic City casino market imploded in 2014 because of an over-saturated market, throwing thousands out of jobs and the city into an economic depression. Despite that, casino lobbyists began pushing to expand into northern New Jersey. The impact of this added competition would have been the final blow to a devastated Atlantic City.
However, New Jersey requires voter approval of gambling expansion. And by an overwhelming margin, voters rejected the new casinos.
Voters serve as a controlling mechanism on an industry that often has no self-control of its own. They slow down decisionmaking and ensure the pros and cons of casino expansion are fully and publicly vetted.
As the organization representing Florida businesses, the Florida Chamber is focused on making Florida more competitive, and the casino business model is anything but that. It is not one that grows the economic pie, but rather one that often cannibalizes existing economic activity.
Again we look to Atlantic City where local businesses welcomed casinos in the 1970s, anticipating more customer traffic. Instead, the casinos put many of them out of business. Casinos can discount motel rooms, entertainment, food and beverages, using them as loss leaders for the gambling halls.
Casinos represent the past, whereas Florida is moving into the future.
This year Florida’s GDP topped $1 trillion, which if we were a country would place us 17th in the world. Florida’s economy is the 20th most diversified economy in American and wages are increasing.
South Florida has become a culturally and economically diverse global center. This is why leaders in Miami and Miami Beach adamantly oppose politicians forcing them to accept more casinos.
Central Florida is a national leader in job growth, thanks both to major investments by its theme parks, a growing medical industry and an expanding high-tech sector.
Our future is made brighter by a public education system performing at an alltime high. U.S. News and World Report ranked us first nationally in higher education and the University of Florida now ranks among the top 10 public universities.
Noted University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith describes Florida’s recovery from the Great Recession as “Phoenixlike.” One reason for that is Florida’s remarkably resilient tourism industry.
In the midst of the financial crisis, visitor numbers dropped only slightly in 2008 and 2009, began rebounding in 2010, and started setting new records in 2011. That did much to stabilize our economy during the worst of times. Florida’s familyfriendly brand is so successful that Las Vegas once tried to copy it, only to fail miserably and return to its sin-city image. The casinos brand and a family-friendly image are not compatible, and we go there at great risk.
The Florida Chamber sees strong economic growth in Florida for the next 30 years. All this is not by accident. It is due to a competitive business climate, smart policies and strong fiscal leadership.
The international casino conglomerates are desperate to get a toehold in Florida — not to add to what we have created but to feed off it.
Florida has come too far to go down this path without the people of Florida having a say. I’ll be voting yes on Amendment 3 because Florida’s future is worth protecting.