Is Mickey Mouse going to play roulette
and craps?
February 2014
Florida law limits gambling to Florida’s eight Native American casinos – Las
Vegas-style gambling with the exception of craps and roulette – which are
spread throughout five counties: Collier,
Hillsborough, Glades, Miami-Dade and Broward, home of three casinos. Florida
has a strong bi-partisan tradition of opposing the legalization of casinostyle gambling. Recent data reveal that full-service casinos and their
associated hotels could generate $1.5 billion in spending annually in
Florida, making the fourth-most populous state an attractive target for the
gambling industry.
On one side is world’s largest entertainment Company Walt Disney and the
Florida Chamber of Commerce, on the other side, billions of dollars in
resort-casino investments.
The Florida Legislature, on April 16, 2013, commissioned, Spectrum Gaming
Group, a two-part gaming study, to set a factual foundation for important
policy choices the Legislature will consider during the 2014 Regular Session
(the “Report”).
The Report states: “Florida’s gambling industry, included the estimated
number of additional jobs created by retailer selling lottery tickets, was
responsible for 55,648 direct jobs, 14,269 indirect jobs and 19,025 induced
jobs”. Lobbyists for casino operator say: “an expansion will bring jobs and
tourists and boost the economy”; Labor Market statistic shows that Florida
unemployment rate, for the last six months of 2013, is equal to an average of
6.6%; Andrea Finger, a Disney spokeswoman, states: “The massive expansion of
gambling that would come from legalizing mega-casinos would be a bad bet for
Florida’s taxpayers, tourism brand and existing business”; David Hart, the
Florida Chamber of Commerce Vice President, says: “The goal is to protect
Florida’s family-friendly image”; Republican Governor Rick Scott, 61, has not
said whether or not he favors casino expansion.
High Companies on both sides of the dispute are sending lobbyists and
campaign checks to Florida lawmakers. Gambling interests, looking for the
Sunshine State, would have donated more than $3.4 million to Florida
lawmakers since 2012, while Disney has contributed $1.7 million to Florida’s
Republican Party and $759,000 to the Democratic opposition; state records
show that the Disney has given Florida politicians more than $400,000 in free
theme park tickets and entertainment in the past year.
Florida legislators met approximately ten days ago to discuss a rewrite of
gambling laws and regulations. According to Republican state Senator Garrett
Richter, who is also the Senate gaming committee chairman, a vote on the
proposed bill will take place sometime after March 4 during the next 60-day
legislative session begins.
Cav. Piero Salussolia, Esq.
Avv. Gemma A. Caterini (admitted only in Italy).
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