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 Looks like Florida will not be getting destination resorts any time soon. Faced with an onslaught of opposition from Florida's pari-mutuel gaming industry and their insistence on using the bill to lower their tax rate, Sen. Dennis Jones withdrew his bill to build resorts across the sunshine state.
"As we started to gain some acceptance, the pari-mutuel industry attacked us with the idea they wanted another tax cut and I was unwilling to do that after we gave them a 15 percent tax cut last year,'' said Sen. Jones. "They apparently had the votes to ride on the back of this industry. I'd rather have nothing than something I don't like."
Had the bill passed it would have allowed four or five massive casino resorts to be build near major tourist destinations across the state. The state would have allowed operators to bid for a chance to operate the full scale resorts and each bidder would have paid a $50 million application fee directly to the state and licensing fees should they gain approval. Las Vegas Sands was very interested in creating a resort in Miami and even Wynn Resorts wanted a piece of the action.
It is unclear whether the bill will be revived at some point down the road but for the moment it appears Jones just couldn't get past the opposition from the pari-mutuels and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
As always, stay tuned to Casinofan for more news and updates.
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