If voters give the go-ahead to Las Vegas-style slots on Tuesday, it will then be the Legislature's job to decide how the state will regulate and tax the machines.
HOW MANY MACHINES
The individual pari-mutuels already have a vision of how many slot machines they want to install. Pompano Harness Track, for instance, is planning on 3,000. The Legislature, however, can set any number it wants.
DAYS, HOURS OF OPERATION
While the local pari-mutuel owners want the machines to operate year-round and as many hours of the day as possible, the Legislature could decide to limit the operation only to when there is live racing or jai-alai - a plan that some pari-mutuels say will not provide incentive for them to install the machines. For instance, Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach would be able to operate slots only fewer than four months a year. For Calder Race Course in Miami-Dade, it would be about eight months a year.
TAX RATES
The amount of money going to education will depend on how high the state sets the tax rate on the slot machines. During the November general election campaign, the pari-mutuels agreed upfront they would willingly turn over 30 percent of their profits in taxes, a rate higher than the 15.2 percent levied in Louisiana, Florida's nearest stateside competitor for gambling dollars. Based on a legislative analysis, if each of the seven existing pari-mutuel sites in Broward and Miami-Dade put in 1,203 machines and they are taxed at 30 percent, it would raise $247.9 million for the state. If 1,765 machines are allowed and the tax rate is 50 percent, it would raise $606 million.
MONEY TO SCHOOLS
The constitutional amendment approved by voters requires that the money generated from slots taxes be put into public education. But it is not specific on how the money would be distributed. Slots proponents and educators want to see the dollars equitably distributed to each of the state's 67 school districts on a per-student basis. Legislators, however, have discussed the possibility of using the cash to pay for a wide array of programs, including a free voter-mandated pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds that kicks off this fall, private school vouchers for struggling students and Bright Futures Scholarships.
INDIAN CASINOS AND DAY CRUISES
Whatever the Legislature does will have no effect on the operations of casinos run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida or the "cruises to nowhere" that operate out of local ports. Under federal law, if the referendum passes, the Indian casinos, including the three in South Florida, can upgrade to Las Vegas-type slot machines. Currently, the Indian tribes offer a form of video bingo.