South Florida lawmakers discuss easing casino restrictions

The group says its economic analysis indicates the casinos would create more than 40,000 construction jobs and up to 100,000 permanent jobs. The association says Florida currently offers the worst kind of gaming, including the state lottery, which preys upon low-income people. The proposed legislation would create three resort casinos in South Florida and require the operators to spend at least us$ 2 billion developing each one.

Association President Bernie Navarro says there is no other plan that would bring a us$ 6 billion investment to Miami-Dade and Broward counties.  “We welcome it.  We encourage it.  We want to make sure that it’s done right for the local community and brings the jobs we need now.”

Critics of the resort casinos say they would increase crime and addictions, as well as tarnish Florida’s worldwide image of family-friendly beaches.

Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff said, “Strap in because this is going to be an incredible ride.  There’s a lot of rhetoric out there and a lot of detractors and everybody comes to this issue with a different perspective and it’s important that we stay focused on the key issue, which is what do we want to be when we grow up as gaming state.”

Representative Erik Fresen dismisses that criticism, saying it’s flawed. “I think to intimate that somehow creating a destination resort, which essentially just becomes a five-star resort in Miami-Dade County or in Broward, somehow is going to change the composition or the character of the state of Florida is flawed.  No more so than when South Beach reinvented itself and became the nightclub haven.  That didn’t have a negative effect on central Florida.”