Florida Slot Machines in Miami-Dade County Amendment (2004)
From Ballotpedia
Florida Amendment 4, also known as the Authorizes Miami-Dade and Broward County Voters to Approve Slot Machines in Parimutuel Facilities Act, was on the November 2, 2004 election ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment, where it was approved.
- Yes: 3,631,261 (50.8%)
- No: 3,512,181 (49.2%)
Text of the proposal
The language that appeared on the ballot:
Authorizes Miami-Dade and Broward Counties to hold referenda on whether to authorize slot machines in existing, licensed parimutuel facilities (thoroughbred and harness racing, greyhound racing, and jai alai) that have conducted live racing or games in that county during each of the last two calendar years before effective date of this amendment. The Legislature may tax slot machine revenues, and any such taxes must supplement public education funding statewide. Requires implementing legislation.
Campaign spending
The "Yes on 4" committee dramatically outspent the "No on 4" group. Those in favor of the proposition spent $15,512,278 while those opposed spent $303,223.
The pro-Amendment 4 committee was called Floridians for a Level Playing Field. The group's major donors were:
- Calder Race Court, $4,465,627
- Isle of Capri Casino, $3,410,000
- West Flagler Associates, $2,296,398
- Gulfstream Park Racing, $1,500,000
- Hartman & Tyner, $1,460,000
- Hollywood Greyhound Track, $820,000
- Flagler Greyhound Track, $585,000
- Racing Corp of West Virginia, $475,000[1]
