"I have held leadership positions with a number of civic and trade groups in South Florida, and I support destination resort casinos for our area.

Florida has a long history of various gaming enterprises. Horse racing in the past has supported an entire industry in the state and some superb tracks such as Hialeah and Gulfstream.

These operations were seen as upscale and appealed particularly to tourists. Dog racing and jai-alai have also been viable entertainment options in years past.

With the changes in public tastes has come an expansion of gaming options: online, on cruises, at unregulated Indian tribe casinos and at pari-mutuels, which sought to expand their offerings in order to survive and were allowed flexibility by the voters in 2004 with limits geographically to run casino-style slot machine operations. Over the last few years, the Seminole Tribe has also substantially increased both the number and size of their casinos and have negotiated a revenue compact with the state."

Get the Story:
Jack Lowell: For common-sense gaming reform (The Miami Herald 11/10)

Related Stories:
Seminole Tribe's lawyer suggests expansion of Indian gaming (11/8)
Seminole Tribe aims to kill bill to expand non-Indian gaming (11/7)
Seminole Tribe pays twice as much as non-Indian facilities (11/4)
Column: Casino expansion must address Seminole compact (11/3)
License awarded for non-Indian gaming facility in Florida (11/1)
Bill to authorize non-Indian gaming breaks Seminole deal (10/27)