Casino-Bill Backer Says Cubans Culturally More Approving of Gaming

State Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, who with State Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, introduced the highly watched destination gaming legislation, used some of his heritage to argue the case for why some South Floridians may be more open to their proposal that allows a trio of casino resorts to be built, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Fresen, whose mother is Cuban, said casinos are more politically viable in South Florida because the Cuban-American community there does not share the moral concerns about gambling held by some other Republicans, the Sentinel reports.

"They don't have that internal conflict with gaming; it is part of their culture," Fresen is quoted by the Sentinel.

The pair appeared before the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida on Friday where they continued to contend that the legislation to allow three gaming resorts is a trade-off to establish a gaming commission to control the state's pari-mutuel facilities, slots 'racinos' and Internet cafes.

Read more here.