The House Commerce Committee has approved a measure to change how gambling venues operate
A new bill that could reshape Florida’s gambling landscape has made progress in the state’s House of Representatives. Last Tuesday, the House Commerce Committee approved a proposal that would allow Florida’s two major thoroughbred horse tracks, Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, to offer various forms of gambling without the need to hold races. This proposal, known as “decoupling,” would mark a significant shift from current regulations that require these tracks to host races in order to operate card rooms and, in the case of Gulfstream, slots.
The bill passed with a 17-9 vote, despite concerns from various stakeholders within the horse racing industry. Under the new measure, tracks would still have to hold races for an additional five years before they could decouple and expand into other gambling offerings. Proponents argue that this transition period would give the racing industry time to adjust, while allowing tracks to diversify their revenue sources.
However, the proposal has sparked fierce opposition from breeders, trainers, and others involved in the horse racing business. Critics warn that decoupling would undermine the state’s thoroughbred racing industry, particularly in areas like Ocala, which relies heavily on the industry for economic stability. Jena Antonucci, a prominent horse trainer, expressed concerns that decoupling would destabilize the industry, describing the move as a “countdown to collapse.”
Despite this pushback, Rep. Adam Anderson, a Republican from Palm Harbor and one of the bill’s main sponsors, believes the proposal will provide long-term benefits. He emphasized that the five-year grace period would help ease the transition for the horse racing community.
Earlier in the day, the Senate Agriculture Committee delayed its own consideration of a similar decoupling bill, adding uncertainty to the proposal’s path forward.
