A week ago, the Florida Times Union published a letter from Attorney General, Bill McCollum, entitled "Statistics show crime rate will rise".  In that letter, the attorney general reiterated the same statistics that opponents at the poker room hearing attempted to present to the 5 councilmen.  Two councilmen listened and believed, three scoffed at them and the president of the OPKC referred to those concerns as "red herrings".

The majority of opponents related that they were not against gambling as a whole, but rather hardcore gambling such as high stake poker, etc. The concensus being, considering the voracious appetite that the gaming industry has, that poker would be an entree to slots and other types of casino gambling.

Proponents assailed the opponents for this view. With visions of Texas Hold 'EM tournaments viewed on television, with all the celebrity smiling faces.  Most proponents, and even one councilman who voted for the poker room professed that HE had no problem with poker, but would not want to see slots at the OPKC.  The security belt to prevent slots is purportedly the referendum of voter approval needed to allow slots.  Well, prior to July of 2006, poker rooms needed the approval by the county in which the dog track was located.  That law was changed by the legislature responding to the political power and money of the gaming industry in a matter of 30 days.

Now to the point of my tale.  In the Florida Times Union today, Oct 7, 2007, there is a large article regarding grehound race tracks, and how poker and casinos are a growing threat to the future of "dog races".  As I understand it as the law reads today, dog racing is the criteria for tracks to be allowed poker rooms.  The key words ae "as the law reads today". 

The gaming industry in Florida knows they have the legislature in their deep pockets. To prove the point, Richard Winning, part owner of Derby Lane and president of the American Greyhound Track Operators Association puts it into easy words. He states, "the future of dog racing depends on state legislatures allowing tracks to compete by adding slot machines and other forms of gaming as the operators see fit".  He does not say it depends on the "voters of the state", rather  the legislature.  And the epitome of arrogance is his utterance that the legislatue allow any type of gambling "as the OPERATORS see fit". Again, not what the voters/citizens of the state will allow.

Talk about someone who knows he's holding a winning hand!  It worked in Orange Park. Look for upcoming changes from the legislature as to how slots and other casino gambling will be allowed.  I can envision part of the wording for the addition of slots similar to - any race track that has been permitted by the municipality or county for a poker room shall be allowed slot machines in order to compensate decreased revenues due to the fading of popularity of poker.....blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Face it.  Orange Park is headed down the road to a first class "honky tonk town". Pandora's box has been opened!

You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em!