Slots Question Approved For Jacksonville Ballot

Sat, Jul 2, 2016

A referendum on whether to allow 2,000 slots at BestBet Poker Jacksonville will appear on the November ballot, following the Jacksonville, Florida city council's 18-1 vote. Duval County would join others in the state that authorized slots. But the final word will come from the state Supreme Court in the Gretna Racing case.

The city council in Jacksonville, Florida recently voted 18-1 to place on the November ballot a referendum that would allow up to 2,000 slot machines at BestBet Poker Jacksonville in Arlington, the state’s largest poker room. If the issue passes, Duval County would join other Florida counties that have authorized slots: Brevard, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach, Washington and Gadsden.

However, the outcome of a case involving Creek Entertainment Gretna in Gadsden County, now before the Florida Supreme Court, will be the deciding factor. A ruling is expected late this summer.

BestBet Poker Jacksonville is the only facility in the county that would be eligible to have the slots. Gross gaming revenue would be taxed at 1.5 percent, bringing about $5.7 million to the city annually, according to a supporter-funded study. In addition, the study showed allowing slots would create 1,500 direct jobs and 1,300 indirect jobs with an annual payroll of $123 million.

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