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Gretna race track

New deal? Gretna asks court to reconsider slots ruling

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Lawyers for a North Florida racetrack have asked the state’s Supreme Court to rehear argument in a case over whether pari-mutuels can add slot machines in counties that passed referendums allowing them. Gretna Racing‘s motion for rehearing was filed late Friday, court dockets show. The horse track, also known as Creek Entertainment/Gretna, is managed and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Last month, the court unanimously ruled against the track, meaning that gambling facilities in Gadsden County’s Gretna and in…

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Pari-mutuels subdued on next steps after Supreme Court slots decision

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slot machines

With the state Supreme Court’s decision last week striking down the possibility of a slot machine expansion, what’s next? A unanimous court ruled against pari-mutuels seeking to add slot machines in counties that passed a referendum in support of them: Brevard, Duval, Gadsden, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Washington. Those concerns are holding their cards close to the vest, at least publicly. That includes bestbet in Jacksonville, which unsuccessfully applied to the state for a slots license. Spokesman…

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Florida Supreme Court rules against Gretna track, slots expansion

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A unanimous Florida Supreme Court has ruled against a North Florida racetrack seeking to add slot machines. The 20-page decision, released Thursday, means that gambling facilities in Gadsden County’s Gretna and in seven other counties that passed local referendums allowing slots also will not be able to offer them. In doing so, the court upheld a decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal that agreed with state gambling regulators who denied the track a slots permit. In sum, the…

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Supreme Court OKs gambling control, felon voting rights amendments

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The state’s highest court on Thursday gave its approval for proposed state constitutional amendments on voter approval of new gambling and restoring voting rights to ex-cons. But there’s a big ‘if’ before either can be placed on the 2018 statewide ballot—both amendments still need hundreds of thousands of signatures. Moreover, Justices Ricky Polston and R. Fred Lewis dissented on the gambling amendment, saying “the ballot title and summary do not clearly inform the public that the proposed amendment may substantially affect slot…

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Florida Supreme Court orders oral argument in slots case

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The Florida Supreme Court has set June 7 as the date it will hear oral argument in a case on expanding slot machines in the state. The announcement was in a docket filing added Thursday. “A maximum of 20 minutes to the side is allowed for the argument,” the entry says. Gretna Racing, the Gadsden County track seeking to add slot machines, brought the matter against state gambling regulators. The track is run by The Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The Creeks argue they should be allowed…

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Supreme Court rejects Bob Graham’s bid to argue in gambling case

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The Florida Supreme Court Friday denied a request from former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham to participate in oral argument in a case on expanding slot machines in the state. Graham has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the matter brought by Gretna Racing, the Gadsden County track seeking to add slot machines. Graham, a Democrat who was governor 1979-87 and U.S. senator 1987-2005, opposes the move. He says slots are illegal “lotteries” banned by the state constitution unless expressly permitted by law. The court also on Friday…

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Bock, bock: Gambling opponents call racetrack’s lawyers chickens

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Lawyers for Gretna Racing, the Gadsden County track seeking to add slot machines, this week asked the Florida Supreme Court to toss out former Gov. Bob Graham‘s friend-of-the-court brief in their case, saying he “has no right to raise a new issue from his position as a nonparty.” Graham’s brief opposes the operators of the racetrack; they argue they should be allowed to offer slot machines because voters approved them in a local referendum in 2012. The brief said slots are essentially “lotteries,” and lotteries, unless expressly permitted,…

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