Florida Chamber, Bondi, Atwater, Putnam Call Casinos a "Bad Bet"

Headed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, a coalition of previously announced opponents to the destination gambling resorts bills now before the state Legislature reaffirmed their stance as the 2012 legislative session got under way Tuesday.

The business group and its new coalition is titled Bad bet for Florida."

Joining the Florida Chamber in the Capitol Rotunda outside the House chamber were Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, and representatives of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Florida Retail Federation.

Watch video here.

The coalition has also started to run ads. Watch here.

On Monday, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee voted 7-3 -- Thrasher was among those opposed -- to move the bill forward.

The brand of Florida is something we all ought to fight for, Thrasher said during the media event Tuesday.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, called changes approved Monday to the Senate version of the bill, SB 710, interesting.

However, Cannon wouldnt speculate publicly about the bill's chance of success in his chamber.