Law Firm Adds Gaming Law Attorney

Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., a Florida-based full-service commercial law firm, today announced that prominent South Florida gaming law attorney David S. Romanik has been appointed to the firm's expanding Entertainment, Sports and Gaming Law practice.

On the eve of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's anticipated signing of a new law enabling slot machine gaming at pari-mutuel facilities in Florida counties in which voters have approved slot gaming via referendum, the appointment of Mr. Romanik strengthens Becker & Poliakoff's already extensive gaming and entertainment practice and enables the firm to expand the depth and breadth of legal services it delivers to clients active in the gaming industry and related businesses.

As a result of Broward County voter approval via referendum in March 2005, the new law paves the way for establishment in South Florida of combined "Racino" racetrack-casinos, via authorization of Class III slot-machine gaming at Broward County's pari-mutuel facilities. Existing Broward pari-mutuel facilities that may apply for and receive slot-gaming licenses under regulations slated to be in effect by June 2006 include: Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, FL; Pompano Park, in Pompano Beach, FL; the Hollywood Greyhound Dog Track, in Hollywood, FL; and, Dania Jai-Alai, in Dania Beach, FL.

The appointment of Mr. Romanik adds his 30 years of experience of general civil practice and extensive experience as a lawyer and business advisor to the gaming and thoroughbred racing industries to Becker & Poliakoff's gaming practice. In his new capacity, he will work closely with Becker & Poliakoff shareholder Alan B. Koslow, lead attorney in charge of the law firm's entertainment, gaming, pari-mutuel and sports law practice, and a member of the prestigious International Association of Gaming Attorneys.

"David Romanik's longtime experience providing legal and business counsel to clients in the gaming industry and his extensive knowledge of the thoroughbred racing business nationwide will give even greater depth and breadth to Becker & Poliakoff's ability to provide strategic legal, legislative and business advice to world-class clients active in the entertainment, sports and gaming industries," said Alan B. Koslow, who leads Becker & Poliakoff's gaming practice and is vice-chair of the American Bar Association's Committee on Gaming Law.

"David's business experience as a major racetrack executive, as well as his role as lead attorney on both recent acquisitions of Gulfstream Park, provide a valuable addition to our firm as we work to help attract national and international investment to our area, building a prosperous gaming environment that will benefit local businesses and communities throughout South Florida," Koslow said.

Mr. Romanik joins Becker & Poliakoff from his own South Florida private law and consulting firm, David S. Romanik, P.A., offering legal and consulting services to the gaming industry. Mr. Romanik's extensive experience advising the gaming industry is matched by a long association with the legal and business affairs of Florida thoroughbred racing.

In 2000, Mr. Romanik was President, CEO and General Counsel to the Gulfstream Park Racing Association, Inc., in Hallandale, FL, and that same year was a member of the Board of Directors of the Thoroughbred Racing Association. A thoroughbred horse owner and breeder since the late 1980s, Mr. Romanik also served from June 2002 through March 2005 as General Counsel to Hialeah, Inc., the operator of the Hialeah Park Race Track, prior to which he was a consultant to The New York Racing Association on legal, legislative, regulatory and business matters.

Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1976, Mr. Romanik began his legal career as an attorney in the law offices of Landefeld and Romanik in Hollywood, two years later joining the firm of Abrams, Anton, Robbins, Resnick, Schneider & Mager, P.A. From 1980-2000, he was principal shareholder in the Hollywood law firm of Romanik and Lavin.

Mr. Romanik holds a B.S. degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Finance & Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his J.D. degree with honors in 1975 from the University of Florida College of Law.

Becker & Poliakoff has developed a strong practice in the areas of entertainment, gaming, pari-mutuel and sports law, providing legal counsel and representation to a wide range of clients in the gaming industry, from entrepreneurs, developers, hotel and restaurant owners and operators, to pari- mutuel operators, national publicly traded casino and lottery companies and gaming machine manufacturers and distributors.