Gambling Resorts Bill Resurrected in Senate

Weeks after a bill allowing destination casino resorts was pulled, a similar bill has been approved by the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, the same committee that failed to find favor with the original bill.

Senate Bill 2050, brought by Sen. Oscar Braynon II, D-Miami, would create an overall gambling commission that would oversee all gaming in the state. In addition, five areas in Florida would be created, in which one large destination casino -- picked by the commission -- would be allowed to be built. Those provisions were also in a bill by Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole, that failed to garner support last month. New provisions in Braynon's bill would put part of the money created by the resorts to offset any adverse affects to the thoroughbred industry, and allow expansions to Florida's pari-mutuels, the existing greyhound, jai alai and thoroughbred racing facilities that also have limited gaming.

Braynon and other supporters touted the bill's ability to attract private industry and tax dollars to the state.

"I'm gong to support this bill because, quite frankly, we need the money," said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee. "It looks like that's the only way we're going to get any money into Florida, and jobs," he added.

But Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, bemoaned the state's reliance on gambling for tax dollars to fix its $3.8 billion deficit.

"I think it's a sad day in Florida when we've made a decision that the way we're going to fix our economy is by expanding gambling," Flores said.