The Florida Senate on March 13th approved a bill that would expand Class II video lottery terminals to pari-mutuels throughout the state, including those in central and northern Florida..

While the bill was passed by the Senate on a 27-to-11 vote, it faces much tougher going in the Florida House of Representatives, where House Speaker Marco Rubio is adamantly opposed to any expansion of gaming.

Proponents of the video lottery bill claimed it would raise $500 million a year for the state's schools, but opponents noted that by expanding gambling to new areas of Florida, it would take the Seminole Tribe off the hook for paying at least $100 million a year to the state under the gaming compact they signed with Gov. Charlie Crist.

The Senate on March 13th also voted 25-to-12 to lower the tax rate on slot machines at racinos in Broward County from the current 50 percent to a new 35 percent to help the pari-mutuels better compete against the Seminole Tribe's casinos.

Three Broward pari-mutuels have operated class III Vegas-style slots for almost a year, but the Seminoles are now replacing their class II slots with class III slots as part of their agreement with Crist.

"At 50 percent (tax), the pari-mutuels are losing money or just breaking even," Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller said. "If the Indians get additional gambling and the pari-mutuels don't, I'd expect at least one or possibly all three to close."

The future of this bill in the House of Representatives is also questionable.