Florida slot lawsuit returns

"The lawsuit challenges a 2004 statewide vote that gave Broward and Miami-Dade counties the right to open slot-machine casinos with local approval. The 1st District Court of Appeal on May 7 sent the case back to its original Tallahassee court for trial.

"...Filed by a coalition of gambling foes -- including Floridians Against Expanded Gambling, the Humane Society of the United States and GREY2K, a group that opposes greyhound racing -- the suit accused pro-slots forces of filing a petition rife with fraudulent signatures to get the issue on the ballot in 2004.

"The initial judge on the case, Circuit Judge Nikki Ann Clark of Tallahassee, ruled after the 2004 election that the vote made any alleged improper signature gathering a moot point. But the appellate court overturned her ruling and said the case should proceed to trial.

"...Gambling interests have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to build casinos, install thousands of slot machines and win customers. If the pro-slots side, led by Floridians for a Level Playing Field, lost the case, that could mean that all the slots palaces would have to shut down.

"...In addition to Mardi Gras, in Hallandale Beach, which opened in December 2006, Broward also has slots at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach -- which opened in November 2006 -- and The Isle Casino in Pompano Beach, which opened in April 2007.

"...The case would not affect the Seminole Tribe's seven Florida casinos, which include the Hard Rock Casino near Hollywood, nor the Miccosukee Tribe's casino in western Miami-Dade..."