In case the Florida Supreme Court rules voters can decide if they want slots in their county, Bestbet in Jacksonville has quietly launched a campaign asking voters in Duval County to approve in a referendum 2,000 slots at its Arlington poker room. If the referendum passes, Duval will join Brevard, Gadsden, Washington, Hamilton, Lee and Palm Beach counties, which have approved referendums to allow slot machines. However, none of those counties offers slots.
This summer, Jacksonville city council members–including moderates and conservatives–overwhelmingly passed a measure to place the issue on the November ballot. Some council members stated slot machines would create jobs and spur economic activity; others said voters, not the government, should decide the issue.
In 2012 in Gadsden County, voters passed a referendum for slot machines and Creek Entertainment Gretna, a local casino, applied for a permit. But state officials denied the permit, claiming only the legislature or a constitutional amendment can authorize slots. Creek Entertainment Gretna sued the state, and the case has reached the Florida Supreme Court. Arguments for both sides will be heard November 2.
Bestbet has hired three of Jacksonville’s top political consultants to pitch the referendum: Susie Wiles, a veteran strategist who is leading Donald Trump’s Florida campaign, Brian Hughes and Tim the referendum only allows slot machines in one venue that already permits other forms of gambling—plus it would generate economic benefits. “It’s hard to imagine anyone being opposed to that,” Hughes said.
Council members said they received hardly any letters or emails against the referendum, and few people spoke against it the night of the vote. “I anticipated a much higher volume of email in opposition to that. That just never materialized,” Councilman John Crescimbeni said. Councilman Greg Anderson added, “There were few, if any, negative comments. I don’t know whether people weren’t aware or felt like it’s an issue that the time has come.”
Paul Seago, executive director for the statewide anti-gambling group No Casinos, said, “There wasn’t the thought that we have to fight this because these aren’t binding. We try not to get pulled into these fights. Our mission is convincing the legislature and courts and others that this current interpretation of law ought to be the prevailing theory.”
Seago added locals have a hard time campaigning against referendums, which typically are backed by companies with a lot of money and political connections. Bestbet and its Chief Executive Officer Howard Korman are no exceptions—they gave at least $1,000 to seven current council members in the last election, as well as $25,000 to Mayor Lenny Curry’s pension tax referendum earlier this year. Allison Korman Shelton, the daughter of Howard Korman and wife of Bestbet president Jamie Shelton, holds a high-level position in the mayor’s office, serving as a key liaison between the Curry administration and the council.
The sole constituent to write council members in opposition to the referendum, Reverend Gene Youngblood, said he was surprised other pastors didn’t express opposition. “Why didn’t pastors say anything? Ninety-nine percent of pastors are concerned about one thing: preaching every Sunday and keeping the numbers coming in,” Youngblood said.
