Voters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will decide today whether racetracks and jai-alai frontons in
South Florida can install Vegas-style slot machines.
The gaming industry has promised to devote hundreds of millions of dollars each year from their slots
revenue to the state's education budget, and pay millions more to the governments of the counties where the
slots would be installed, if either measure passes.
Opponents argue that slot machines would siphon money from other entertainment venues, hurting existing
businesses. Critics also say that tax revenue from the slots could be eclipsed by social costs associated with
problem gamblers, including increased crime and more personal bankruptcy filings.
Should the measure pass in either county, terms of the deal -- including how much the racetracks would pay in
taxes and how that money would be spent -- will be hammered out by lawmakers in Tallahassee.
The gaming industry has proposed that the racetracks and frontons pay 30 percent of their revenue to
support education statewide, and about 3 percent to county governments to offset local costs.
Other states demand that racetracks-turned-casinos pay more in the form of state gaming taxes, local offsets
and contributions to civic projects. Some states use slots funds to guarantee purses for horse breeders and
trainers and boost a sagging parimutuel industry. The sum of these obligations ranges from 36 percent in
Louisiana to nearly 80 percent in New York.
Recent history suggests the slots initiatives stand a good chance of passing in both counties. The
constitutional amendment that allowed the slots issue to appear on ballots in South Florida passed a statewide
vote in November by a razor-thin margin -- 50.8 percent voted yes. But 67.5 percent of the voters in Broward
supported it, as did 57.4 percent of voters in Miami-Dade.
''It has always been a little closer in Miami-Dade, but we're still very confident and comfortable with where
we are in both counties,'' said Stacy Brenan, spokeswoman for the parimutuel owners' political action
committee, Yes for Better Schools and Jobs.
The gaming industry raised nearly $7 million for TV commercials, mass mailings and targeted voter outreach
programs.
Both sides believe the election hinges on turnout, which is expected to be low.
Despite hundreds of thousands of dollars raised in recent weeks with help from Gov. Jeb Bush, the slots
opponents never came close to building the financial muscle to spend dollar for dollar with the gaming forces.
Nearly one-fifth of Miami-Dade's 749 polling places and around one-seventh of Broward's 764 sites are in
public schools, where students are taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test today.
As a result, officials ask that voters cast their ballots quietly.
''Our first responsibility is to our students, and during FCAT testing, we want to make sure they are able to
perform their academic duties while voters perform their civic duties,'' Miami-Dade Superintendent Rudy
Crew said.