Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association

- Send Us Your Comments

- 2012 February Online Auction

Don’t Gamble The Future

Of Your Business

This year, the 2012 Florida Legislature will review Senate Bill 710 (Gaming) sponsored by Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff (R – Ft. Lauderdale) and State Representative Erik Fresen (R – Miami). This legislation would allow 3 casinos to be built in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and would expand gambling permitted in the State of Florida.

CFHLA is opposed to Destination Resort Casinos and the expansion of gambling in the State of Florida. The overall health of Central Florida’s economy depends on its continued reputation as a “family friendly” destination.

If approved, by state elected leaders, the expansion of gambling the State of Florida could directly impact your business.

Myths vs. Facts

Myth: Legalizing casino gambling will create tens of thousands of new jobs in Florida.

Fact: Most economic studies that make big jobs claims are paid for by the casino industry. The fact is that when casinos are introduced into a mature economy like ours, they have a negative economic impact on existing jobs and businesses. Despite industry claims, most gamblers would be Floridians or tourists who are already coming here – so money put in a slot machine or on a blackjack table is money not spent in a local restaurant, entertainment complex, movie theatre, night club, or some other sector of Florida’ s economy.

Myth: The bill would create just 3 Las Vegas style?casinos in Miami?Dade and Broward

Counties.

Fact: The history of gambling proves that every time gambling interests have been given an inch, they take a mile. If the bill passes, competing gambling interests outside of Dade and Broward will press for more gambling and new gambling tax breaks. This will lead to high-stakes casino gambling in many communities in Florida. In fact, gambling promoters in Pinellas, Lee and Volusia counties are already saying that if the bill passes, they want to be able to operate casinos, too.

Myth: The bill carefully limits the scale of casino gambling by requiring that the casino occupy no more than 10% of the entire development.

Fact: The fact is the bill would put the biggest casinos in the world right here in Florida. In fact, the casino proposed by Malaysian gambling conglomerate Genting would be nearly double the size of the largest casino in the world. In fact, even if Genting limits the casino size to 8 percent of their development, that Miami casino would be big enough to house six modern marquee casinos on the Las Vegas Strip – with room to spare! The Genting casino alone would comfortably fit the casinos of the MGM Grand, the Wynn, the Mirage, the Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace and the Venetian. If 3 casinos of this size are built, Florida would have as much casino gambling as 20 or more casinos on the Las Vegas strip – and all the money would be in the hands of just 3 companies.

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What Can You Do?

Our state legislators need to hear from YOU how this will impact your business and the tourism industry in Central Florida and beyond.

· Send a Letter

· Write a Email

· Call the Office

· Arrange a Meeting

· Start a Conversation at an Event

Not sure who your state legislator is? CLICK HERE

Full Bill Text

House Bill 487 - Representative Erik Fresen

Senate Bill 710 - Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff