Even though Governor Charlie Crist had his compact with the Seminole Indians voided, he is still on his way to getting what he wants for the state, expanded gambling options. South Florida casinos are leading the way. Dania Jai-Alai has become the latest establishment to expand the hours of operation for their poker room. Dania Jai-Alai has become the latest establishment to expand the hours of operation for their poker room.

Like a gambler betting on a hunch, Florida voters and lawmakers have expanded legalized gambling throughout the state without much certainty about its effects on crime, bankruptcy, suicide and addiction. Since 2005, state voters have approved Las Vegas-style slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade dog tracks, horse tracks and jai-alai frontons; Gov. Charlie Crist’s compact with the Seminole Tribe has expanded slots and brought blackjack and table games to Indian casinos…

South Florida’s floating-gaming industry may be running out of luck. SeaEscape Entertainment, the only gaming vessel left at Port Everglades, on Monday informed Broward County its last sailings from Port Everglades will be Sunday. In recent months, Horizon’s Edge Casino Cruises and Aquasino have ceased operations in Miami-Dade County. And Palm Beach Princess is on the auction block — raising the possibility that a buyer may want to relocate the vessel from Port of Palm Beach.

The Seminole Indians are proceeding with plans to make South Florida an even bigger tourist attraction than it already is. While involved in legal battles over their expansion, the Seminoles are still moving forward with expanded gambling plans for their casinos. Late this week the Seminoles held a press conference to map out their plans for bringing blackjack to their Hollywood Hard Rock Casino. The blackjack will become a reality on June 22nd.

A nearly forgotten case that pits South Florida’s slot machine casinos against anti-gambling forces has resurfaced in a Tallahassee court after dragging through the appeals process for months. 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.