Poker During Periods

The change would allow the card rooms to generate income during periods when they would otherwise have to be closed, and cash in on the surging popularity of poker, executives with pari-mutuel facilities said.
"There's a huge demand for the card rooms," said Vera Filipelli, a spokeswoman for Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. "This would be a good thing for us." Horse and dog tracks are only allowed to operate their poker rooms during live racing, under current law.
Derby Lane, for instance, is closed several months a year and can't open its card rooms during those times.
The Senate Regulated Industries Committee approved the bill 7-2 on Monday after no debate. There is not an identical House bill, but sponsor Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, said he hopes to tack on the language to another House bill before the session ends.
"We're not expanding gambling, it's already there," Fasano said in an interview.
It's unclear how much the change could increase profits for horse and dog tracks around Florida. State budget analysts estimated that the change would generate another $500,000 in tax revenue.
By comparison, in 2003 state officials estimated that tax collections would increase by $870,000 when lawmakers raised poker pot limits at such venues to $2 per bet with three raises.
Poker is hot around the nation, its fan base stoked by television, the Internet and the potential for big money. In Florida, card rooms -- which often feature Texas Hold Em, Omaha and 7-Card Stud -- have revived the struggling horse and dog track industry, which has lobbied for years to expand gambling as a means to survive.
Like many pari-mutuel facilities around the state, the poker rooms drive many of the business decisions at the St. Petersburg track.
Derby Lane added races on Sunday just so they could open the poker rooms, Filipelli said. It's the first time in years the facility has offered Sunday races.

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