Daily Gazette – Every day, Tim DuFresne leaves his job cutting masonry for the city of Amsterdam and drives down winding back roads to his home in the rural town of Florida. “Making that drive,” he said, “it’s all farm fields and trees. For me, it’s like driving into heaven.” From the front door of his little house, the Mohawk Valley opens in a sprawling vista. He loves that view. But now, with talk of a possible casino development at a site just two miles from his home, he’s worried the views and relative privacy afforded by country living will…

Tampa Bay Times – The Florida Senate on Monday unveiled proposals that would bring casino resorts to Miami-Dade and Broward counties and expand gambling statewide with one new wrinkle: The gaming industry would be subject to new regulations. In addition to the casino resorts, slot machines would be allowed around the state, dog tracks could race fewer dogs, greyhound injuries would be reported — and all of this could happen without voter approval. The Senate proposals, contained in three separate bills, are the product of nearly a year of study and more than $400,000 in taxpayer money spent to review…

South Florida – Dania Casino & Jai Alai opens to the public at 9 p.m. Thursday. The newly renovated casino will have 550 state-of-the-art slot machines, a 12 table glass walled poker room, simulcast, a bistro and lounge bar and live jai-alai. Celebrities in attendance will include Miss Deco Drive and Argentinian talk show host and actress Susana Giménez. The original Dania Jai Alai was opened in 1957, and workers are refurbishing the building, while opening about one-fourth of it for slots and poker. The casino, at 301 E Dania Beach Blvd., is comprised of Ondiss Corp. 75%, formed by…

Miami Herald – Florida state senators are holding the first of four public hearings about the future of gambling in the Sunshine State. Some 60 people have already signed up to testify Wednesday during a meeting that will be held on the north campus of Broward College. The Senate Gaming Committee will also hold hearings in Lakeland, Jacksonville and Pensacola. The Republican-controlled Legislature in early 2012 shot down a bill to allow major casinos in South Florida. But now lawmakers are considering changing the state’s gambling laws. Among those scheduled to testify include a lawyer who has represented adult arcades…

Sun Sentinel – South Florida could join the “major leagues of casino gambling” and see a huge economic boost if the state allows full-scale resort casinos, according to the draft of a long-awaited report on the future of gambling in Florida. The opening of two major gambling resorts in Broward and Miami-Dade counties could generate about $1 billion in taxable gambling revenue per year and create 7,618 full-time jobs, under one scenario analyzed in a report to the state Legislature by Spectrum Gaming Group. Building on the existing attractions of beaches, fishing, shopping and sunshine, these resorts would allow the…

NBC Miami – More than 800 slot machines fill the first floor of the Hialeah Park Casino. South Florida’s latest casino is located right beside the historical hotspot Hialeah Park Racetrack on East 32nd Street. Hector Santiago knows the racetrack well. “It’s a change from what it was 30 years ago,” he said. “I used to come to the track here. It looks nice.” Upstairs, it’s a full house in the poker room. With more than 20 tables, managers are already asking for more. Opening at 7 a.m. Wednesday, to a line outside, customers haven’t stopped coming in. So far,…