The battle between Gov. Rick Scott and House speaker Richard Corcoran again spilled over into the courtroom Monday during a nearly six-hour hearing over a Florida Lottery lawsuit.
Corcoran has sued the Florida Department of State, which is overseen by Scott, over what he says is an illegal change to a massive new lottery contract with Nevada-based International Gaming Technology. It prompted the Florida Lottery to ask for $12.9 million in additional funding for more lottery ticket machines as outlined by the new contract.
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“What the Legislature has said over and over again is we want you to increase the amount of money,” said Barry Richard, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig hired by the Florida Lottery to defend it in the suit.
The Florida Lottery has three types of ticket machines. In the state’s current budget, there is $26 million for terminal machines, which are found behind retail counters; $5 million for insta-ticket vending machines; and, $2.5 million for full-service stand-alone vending machines.