Economy Pushing Florida Lawmakers Towards Vegas-Style Gambling Slots Gambling

Economy Pushing Florida Lawmakers Towards Vegas-Style Gambling

September 28, 2011

The state of Florida is heavilty reliant on its tourism industry, so when the global economy flounders as it has the past several years, the Sunshine State is one of a handful of states that gets hit the hardest. The economy has made lawmakers take an alternate view of how to bring money into the ailing state budget. The biggest bill to come to the floor in terms of instant funding involves expanding casino gambling on a grand scale. Las Vegas-style casino resorts are being pushed in the latest gambling bill to be debated. Lawmakers have acknowledged that if it was not for the economy, the gambling bill would have little chance of passing. The legislators also contend, however, that gambling expansion would be an easy fix to the state’s budget shortcomings, and that has many lawmakers changing their stance on the issue. “If we weren’t in double-digit unemployment and a receding economy, I don’t think there would be much appetite for this bill,” said Representative Erik Fresen, as reported by Newsmax. “But, in this economy, it’s almost an obligation to discuss it.” Rep. Fresen is a co-author of a bill that will be introduced in the coming weeks to Florida legislators. State Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff is the co-sponsor of the bill. The two legislators are both Conservatives, which should help push the bill through the legislature, which is a majority Republican. In addition to the hundreds of millions of jobs the new bill would bring, there are thousands of jobs on the line. Florida is among the worst in the nation when it comes to their unemployment rate, and lawmakers will have a hard time turning their head away from legislation that could provide that many jobs. The permanent jobs are a bonus, but the construction jobs would be important as well. The bill being proposed would authorize three additional gaming licenses for South Florida casinos. Las Vegas gaming companies Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, and Caesars would all likely bid on the licenses, along with foreign gaming company Genting.

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