Extravagant casino resorts and hotels could be coming to Florida within the next five years, if resort builders get legislative approval.
We would build it tomorrow if you said, Go, but I think everyone needs a little more time than that, Andrew Abboud, vice president of government relations and community development for the Las Vegas Sands Corp., told the Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Tuesday.
Abboud was one of three casino developers to pitch to the committee, but it's unclear how willing legislators will be to move bills easing Floridas gambling laws to allow for the large casino resorts the developers want to build.
Gov. Rick Scott has stated he doesnt want to rely on gaming to balance the state budget, but with a $3.62 billion deficit and his additional tax cuts, the income generated by the casino resorts could be tempting. Scotts budget proposal will be released Feb. 7, following an extension to the original date for the budget release of Feb. 4 he asked for and received from Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park.
Florida is seen by casino resort executives as one of the few areas -- besides Texas and the already-existing high-end casino resorts in Las Vegas and Atlantic City -- with a market that could support the hotels, convention centers and casinos they would build.
The Sunshine State already has limited gaming and card rooms throughout the state, and Vegas-style casinos at Seminole reservation sites, but Florida law prevents the kind of full-fledged high-end casino resorts in other areas of the state that are a staple of the Las Vegas strip.
(Florida) already has a strongly established tourism market and we think we can grow that. Theres only a handful of places in the world that could sustain the type of development and the type of investment that wed be willing to make, Abboud said.
Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole, who chairs the Regulated Industries Committee, is in the process of drafting a bill that would allow up to five casino resorts in Florida. Hes wary of the ability of Seminole tribes to block the construction of casino resorts that could take away business from their existing casinos, but is hopeful that new facilities bringing in tourists could have a spill-over effect that would benefit the tribes, too.
Then again, they may make more money, Jones said.
Even if Florida doubles down on casinos, builders are adamant that the new resorts wont transform the state into a Vegas-style gambling Mecca. Miami is seen as one of the areas ripe for a casino resort, and developers want to add to its existing attractions.
Its certainly not going to become another Las Vegas strip. Its not going to change the look or feel of (Miami), but its going to add another level to it, Abboud said.
Tom McPherson, vice president of governmental affairs for Boyd Gaming Corp., likened the ability of casino resorts to drive residual development to Disney World and the tourism and development it generated in Orlando, but cautioned senators to do their own homework.
The Legislature should, instead of relying on people like me to say, Heres what the market is, conduct their own studies, McPherson said.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
