It appeared on Wednesday that the attempts of the largest casino in Las Vegas to establish resort casinos in Florida were all over, as the bill was killed by a Senate committee which thus rejected the assertions of the casino for bringing in more revenue and new jobs to the state. The senator, Jim Norman of Tampa said that the expansion of the gambling business would kill the local industry of the state. He expressed fears that it could lead to the downfall of the existing horse tracks in Florida. Norman was among the other Republicans who voted against the bill in the Senate Finance and Tax Committee.
However, this is unlike the promise made by Senator Oscar Braynon when the Miami Democrat sponsored the bill. According to the proposal, five zones would be created inside the state and the investors would be allowed to operate one facility in every region. This will only happen after the move was approved by voters in each region. Braynon told the committee that the resorts will lead to more than 20,000 jobs for the state in the first year itself. However, a lobbyist for the Florida Sheriff’s Association, Frank Messersmith, sent a warning that the compromises being made for the expansion of gambling will not be worth the revenue it promises.
Officials of the Broward County said that the measure will very likely result in Broward being pitted against Miami-Dade in a race for gaining the bid for the casino in South Florida. Senator Andy Gardiner, who is the Senate Republican leader form Orlando, also said that this was the largest expansion of gambling yet in the history of the state. According to the promoters of the bill, the 3-3 tied vote on the bill wasn’t official as it had taken place after the meeting was scheduled to be adjourned. Nick Larossi, a Las Vegas Sands lobbyist said that the opportunity isn’t over yet. Las Vegas Sands has been supporting the bill hoping that it can get a chance to build a resort and casino in Miami if it is passed.
