New Bill Proposes Las Vegas-Style Hotels In Florida
MIAMI (CBS4) – There is new proposed legislation Friday that aims to bring Las Vegas-style gambling hotels to Florida.
It is hoped that Florida tourism will be boosted if hotels are open to operate casinos.
Republican Dennis Jones and Democrat Maria Sachs filed the legislation Friday and say that these types of resorts should bring 5 million visitors to the state annually.
This comes on the heels of Gov. Rick Scott who gave the thumbs-up to the idea of Florida casino resorts on Thursday.
The bill, if passed, would allow one resort in each of five districts across Florida. That includes Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
Hearings on the issue are expected as early as next week, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald. If built the hotel-casinos may include feature entertainment, retail malls and convention space in addition to blackjack tables, roulette wheels and slot machines.
``As you know, I've said in the campaign that I don't want our revenue dollars to be tied to gaming,'' Scott told the Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Thursday. ``We've already approved gaming in the state, so we'll look at it going forward.''
Both Jones and Sachs say the money brought in by such a venture would boost the state's economy.
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