"Florida's sagging economy needs a game-changer.

Why not roll the dice and legalize land-based casino gambling?

It won't be a panacea, but it can pump some revenue into an economy in need of a boost.

Florida enjoyed seemingly never-ending prosperity thanks to its real estate boom. But as with the rest of the country, that ended a few years ago when the housing market crashed. Since then, the state's economy has struggled.

Now, with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill drowning tourism, Florida is facing what equates to an economic tsunami.

So why not take a chance on gaming?

It's a $7 billion-a-year industry in Florida when you include the state-run lottery, 27 pari-mutuel facilities, eight Indian casinos and 5,620 slot machines. There also are unregulated and untaxed cruises that take people out miles into ocean waters where gambling is legal.

If people want to gamble on a boat on the water they should be allowed to gamble in a building on land."

Get the Story:
Reginald T. Dogan: Roll dice on casino gambling (The Pensacola News-Journal 7/13)