Florida legislature discusses changes in Florida poker rules

The Florida state House on Wednesday heard a proposal that would raise the limit of bets in the state’s poker rooms from $5 to $50 on standard games and from $100 to $1,000 in Texas Hold’em tournaments. The proposal also calls for the poker rooms to operate 24 hours a day instead of just 12 hours daily.

The House bill also lowers the tax rates on slot machines at the racetracks and jai alai frontons in southern Florida from 50 percent to 36 percent. Each site would have to generate at least $140 million in tax revenues to receive the lower rate. The annual licensing fee would also drop from $3 million to $2 million.

According to reports, the House is hoping its proposal will eventually close the blackjack tables at Seminole Indian sites in the state. However, some state Senators hope to pass a proposal to authorize the Seminoles to have full-blown casinos. The Senate proposal calls for the poker rooms to allow no-limit wagering.

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