This bill revises Florida’s pari-mutuel and slot machine gaming laws as they apply to thoroughbred permitholders. It removes the statutory requirement that a thoroughbred permitholder must conduct live racing in order to keep its permit, while preserving the permit and related pari-mutuel, guest track, host track, cardroom, and slot machine eligibility for a permitholder that chooses not to run live races. The bill also retains the prohibition on live greyhound racing and keeps the existing enforcement tools and civil penalty for violations.
The bill further amends slot machine licensure conditions for thoroughbred facilities by deleting the requirement that a thoroughbred slot machine licensee conduct a full schedule of live racing or games. It also removes the current statutory requirement that a thoroughbred applicant have binding agreements with the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association as a condition of receiving or renewing a slot machine license, though the bill leaves the separate quarter horse agreement requirement in place. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would change chapter 550 and chapter 551 of the Florida Statutes by decoupling thoroughbred permits and slot machine licensure from mandatory live racing. Thoroughbred permitholders could retain their permits and associated gaming privileges even if they do not conduct live racing, and the state’s slot machine licensing framework would no longer require thoroughbred licensees to maintain a full live racing schedule or the specified purse and breeders’ agreements. The bill does not alter the existing ban on live greyhound racing or the quarter horse agreement requirements.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests the bill had some support but was not unanimous, passing the Senate Regulated Industries committee 5-2. The text and caption indicate a policy direction favorable to greater operational flexibility for thoroughbred permitholders, especially those that rely on gaming revenue rather than live racing. No committee transcript was provided, so the broader discussion record is limited, but the committee vote indicates at least some opposition to removing live-racing-related conditions.
Contention
The main point of contention is the bill’s removal of the live racing mandate for thoroughbred permitholders and the related slot machine licensure conditions. Supporters are likely to view this as an update that allows facilities to remain economically viable without being forced to stage live races, while opponents may see it as weakening the traditional link between pari-mutuel permits, live racing, and the purse/breeder support structure. The elimination of the required agreements with horsemen’s and breeders’ associations for thoroughbred slot machine licenses is another likely source of concern, because it changes how racing-related revenues are tied to live thoroughbred racing and industry stakeholders.