TALLAHASSEE, Florida--A bill that would have ushered in the largest gambling expansion in Florida history was withdrawn by its legislative sponsor on Friday, killing for now the prospect of allowing up to three mega-resort casinos in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area.
The bill, which proponents said could lead to 100,000 new jobs for the state, faced a probable defeat at its first stop - the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee. Its sponsor, Miami Republican Representative Erik Fresen, asked that the bill be withdrawn from consideration by the panel at its last scheduled session of the year.
Rules in the Florida House of Representatives prohibit the chamber from taking further action on a bill that has failed to pass at least one committee, so the measure is dead for 2012, House Rules Chairman Gary Aubuchon said after the meeting adjourned.
"Today's action on the casino gambling bill is a resounding victory for those of us who have opposed this assault on Florida's family-friendly economy," Aubuchon said.
Florida has been hard-hit by the housing crash and its unemployment rate, while declining, is still well above average at 9.9 percent. The Legislature is struggling to fill a $1 billion revenue gap, but lawmakers disagree whether casinos would bring in new money or cannibalize existing tourism revenues.
The proposal would have created a state gaming commission to license up to three southeast Florida casinos whose owners invest at least $2 billion apiece in resort complexes. Successful applicants would have paid a $50 million one-time license fee, with an annual renewal fee of $2 million. They would also have been subject to a 10 percent tax on gross gambling revenues.
Florida law now bars casinos from expanding beyond those operated by the Seminole Indian tribe and selected pari-mutuel racetracks and jai alai courts known as "racinos." The Senate version of the proposal, which passed its first committee stop but faced opposition, would have allowed the pari-mutuels to operate full-fledged casino games at the same tax rates levied against the larger resort casinos.
Gambling giants such as the Las Vegas Sands Corp had urged lawmakers to allow full casino gambling at so-called "destination resorts" in Florida since the Seminoles won their right to offer blackjack, baccarat and other banked card games more than two years ago.
