Florida Slot Machines Decision Appealed
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami.com)— A Florida appeals court decision which gave the state's legislature the authority to approve slot machines anywhere is being appealed to the Florida Supreme Court .
If the high court justices allow the decision to stand, it would allow lawmakers to permit destination casino resorts and please some of the world's largest gaming companies already making big plans in South Florida.
Malaysia-based Genting Group, which unveiled their multi-million dollar plan for an entertainment complex in Downtown Miami, released this statement to CBS4 News in September:
"Genting is hopeful that the legislature will act in the best interests of the Florida economy in the upcoming session. Destination Resorts will result in billions of dollars of new investment in Florida, millions in new tax revenue that will yield positive impacts statewide, and as many as 100,000 new jobs," said the Genting Group in a written statement.
The casino resort developer, which is based in Malaysia, has plans to develop a massive destination resort in Downtown Miami. The group had lobbied hard for the law to be changed to allow gaming in the planned 10 million square foot resort. They expect to begin construction on the project in 2012.
Even powerhouse Vegas casino companies have expressed interest in the possibility of South Florida gaming. South Florida's largest casino operator The Seminole Tribe has also made it very clear they would want to bid on one of the full casino licenses in Miami-Dade or Broward County.
The appeal is being made by South Florida pari-mutuel facilities which had received their slots approval through a state constitutional amendment. Flagler Dog Track, Calder Race Course and Florida Gaming Center Inc., which owns Miami Jai-Alai, filed their notice of appeal last week.
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