Las Vegas Style Casinos to Hit Miami Beach?
The Miami Herald reported today that Florida developers are building a plan to allow Las Vegas-style casinos in Miami. The entrepreneurs behind the planned twenty-five acre Miami Worldcenter are considering pushing for an amendment to the state Constitution to grant casino licenses, as well as give Broward and Miami-Dade parimutuels tables games and tax structures equivalent to those of Seminole casinos.
The Herald obtained copies of potential amendment proposals by the Committee for Critical Changes, financed by developer Marc Roberts. Casinos would be slotted for existing horse and dog tracks, at Miami Beach hotels meeting certain qualifications, and in the Worldcenter area.
The Fontainebleu Hotel is the only current operation which could meet the room requirements suggested for the beach zone.
So far, the committee has spent over $850,000, hired thirteen petition-gathering companies, and put a group of lawyers together to write ballot initiatives for 2010.
Amendments in Florida need sixty percent of voters approving to become law, with that number rising to sixty-six percent on tax-related proposals. Tax revenue for education would be a major selling point of any initiative.
Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff denied knowing of any casino plan, but admitted he could support the idea, under the right circumstances. He foresaw a potential Monte Carlo in Miami, saying, "Something pretty high-end where you would not be taking money from local citizens.''
Gambling has been a tough sell to Florida voters in the past, with counties in the northern part of the state turning out large resistance to gaming initiatives.
Still, the natural weather and beach advantages of South Florida could conceivably result in a gambling Mecca far more powerful and attractive than either Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
