A brewing clash between proponents and opponents of a proposed casino at the iconic Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach is expected to take center stage in Tallahassee next week, as state lawmakers gear up for a heated debate.

Opposition Mounts Against Fontainebleau Casino Plans in South Florida

A coalition of influential South Florida business figures, including billionaire auto magnate Norman Braman and developer Armando Codina, is spearheading a vigorous lobbying effort aimed at derailing legislation that would pave the way for a Las Vegas-style casino at the Fontainebleau, reported the Miami Herald. The group, joined by Miami Beach city officials and residents, is vehemently opposed to the expansion of casino gambling in the area.

Braman, echoing the sentiments of many in the community, emphasized in an interview that they did not want casino gambling there, stating it was just that simple. 

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner underscored the unity among local leaders, expressing his belief that they all felt very strongly about the matter and were united on it.

The contentious proposal, embodied in Senate Bill 1054 and House Bill 1127, is slated for its inaugural hearing before state lawmakers on February 5. While the Senate Regulated Industries Committee has confirmed its agenda, House Republican leaders remain tight-lipped about the bill’s fate.

The debate has drawn high-profile figures into the fray, including billionaire hedge funder Ken Griffin, who penned a scathing op-ed condemning the proposed legislation. Griffin warned of the adverse effects of casino expansion, citing research linking it to gambling addiction, increased crime rates, and declining property values.

Meanwhile, the proposal’s sponsor, state Rep. Alex Rizo, has faced scrutiny for his ties to Jeff Soffer, the billionaire owner of the Fontainebleau. Soffer, who has long sought to establish a casino at the resort, has reportedly funneled significant sums into political contributions, raising concerns about undue influence.

Opponents of the casino plan have found a powerful ally in Griffin, whose vocal opposition adds weight to their cause. Griffin’s staunch stance against the legislation reflects a broader sentiment among Miami-Dade residents and lawmakers, who view the proposed casino as a threat to their community’s well-being.

Sen. Shevrin Jones, representing West Park, emphasized the need to respect the will of the people and urged legislators to reject the casino proposal. Similarly, Miami Republicans, including Sen. Bryan Avila and Ileana Garcia, have voiced reservations about the initiative, signaling potential roadblocks ahead.

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To this day, Georgia remains one of the most gambling-unfriendly states in the US. However, pro-gambling advocates seek to change that as they believe that launching casino gaming and sports betting would bring tons of benefits to the state.

Senator Brandon Beach is one of the most avid supporters of gambling in Georgia. He commented on the matter during the recent Joint Committees on Economic Development and Tourism meeting, saying that he plans to introduce gambling legislation for the next legislative session.

The legislation would allow locals to vote on a constitutional amendment that would usher in casino gaming, sports betting and pari-mutuel wagering. Beach said that the legalization of gambling could generate as much as $900 million in taxes annually. According to him, this money would support the state infrastructure, healthcare initiatives, education and gambling addiction treatment.

In addition, the legalization of sports betting would bring other benefits and will help the state attract major sporting events.

Beach clarified that he doesn’t want to create a Vegas Strip-style destination but rather to allow the creation of casino resorts that would attract tourists and create multiple new jobs. This format would also nurture the economy through non-gambling means since resorts usually sport many shops and restaurants.

The Senator also pointed out that Atlanta lacks nighttime activities, which is another thing that casino resorts could change.

Under Beach’s proposal, Georgian gambling would be regulated by a new commission under the Georgia Lottery Corporation. The Senator plans to propose his legislation on the first day of the 2024 legislative session. Beach also noted that dozens of states already allow betting, meaning that Georgia is missing out on millions of dollars in revenue.

Georgia Is Missing Out on Thousands of Dollars

The future of gambling in Georgia remains uncertain as opposition is still strong. Because of that, a previous effort to legalize betting was shut down by the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee, preventing the measure from reaching voters.

Supporters of gambling have argued that thousands of dollars are drained from Georgia each weekend as gamblers visit Alabama and Mississippi to wager instead. According to proponents of the industry, legalizing gambling would allow Georgia to keep much of this money.

This was already proven in Nebraska as its fresh gambling industry allowed it to retain many customers who would previously go to gamble in Iowa. While this trend means bad news for Iowan casinos, it would allow Nebraska to remain competitive and channel consumers’ money toward its own economy.

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On Friday, January 27, the Playtime Casino in Wasaga Beach celebrated its grand opening, having had its soft launch sometime in November last year in the Ontario province.

In the grand opening, the Mayor of Wasaga Beach, Brian Smith, expressed his delight for the operator to have picked Wasaga as their location for business. He thanked the casino operator for bringing in job opportunities for its locals, coming to aid their economy, and also adding to the reason more guests will want to visit the beach.

“It’s great to see Gateway’s new Playtime Casino off to such a wonderful start here in Wasaga Beach,” Smith said.
“I am so pleased that [Gateway] chose our community to invest and share our confidence in the potential for our town. [It’s] not only providing jobs but another reason to visit the beach.”

The Playtime Casino in Wasaga Beach has already created around 140 job opportunities for locals, and it still aims to provide more. The casino, which is 25,000 square feet, features several gaming tables, about 250 slot machines, an arcade bar on the gaming floor, the Gateway’s signature brand restaurant, MATCH Eatery & Public House, and an outdoor patio.

READ: Best Canada online casinos in 2023

Besides creating job opportunities, the operator has already begun other charitable duties in Wasaga through its GatewayGives initiative. On Friday, it donated the sum of $5,000 to the Wasaga Beach Ministerial Food Bank.

The chief marketing and communications officer at Gateway, Carrie Kormos, said it has been recently loved by the locals of Wasaga Beach, who have shown their extreme support, which denotes that the casino will excel in Wasaga Beach.

“We have been warmly welcomed by this community from the day we announced our intention to locate here,” said Kormos. “We believe Wasaga Beach has a great future, and our investment here, supported by OLG, is now showing dividends not only in the 140 new jobs we have created, but in establishing a year-round entertainment attraction for both visitors and residents of the beach.”

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) president and Chief Executive Officer Duncan Hannay shared that it is a great privilege to have partnered with the world-class operator on this journey to Wasaga Beach. Hunnay noted that the casino is already making huge contributions to the community just a few months after opening.

“It is a real privilege to be able to partner with communities like Wasaga Beach in working with our service providers to deliver capital investment, create jobs, and offer world-class entertainment in a safe and secure environment,” said Hannay. “In a little over a month, we have seen how the new Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach has already begun to contribute to the life of the region.”

Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited, which is the parent company of The Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach, is one of the leading gambling and entertainment operators in Canada with about 24 gaming establishments all around Ontario, British Columbia, and one each in Alberta and Edmonton. The company estimates a staff capacity of about 7,000 people, about 330 table games, around 14 thousand plus slots, close to a hundred restaurants, and about 561 hotel rooms.

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