Gov. Rick Scott has a block of seats reserved at the cavernous convention hall where tonight's P5 debate is about to get started. Among the governor's vistors, we hear, is Sheldon Adelson, the head of the Las Vegas Sands and an eager player in the push to bring destination resorts and casino gambling to Florida.
Adelson is in the state for a series of high-level meetings to pitch his proposal. The company wants legislators to open the door to casinos but limit the number of permits in South Florida to one. Adelson, who made his name as a convention center developer, believes that with nearly 15,000 slot machines already in operation in South Florida, and another 9,000 allowed by law, two to three resort casinos will saturate the market with too many games.
For his part, Scott is open to the idea. He said again this week that he supports expanding gambling to casinos as long as local voters approve. "I think we need to make sure the local communities are supportive of it. We ought to have a vote,'' he said.
Adelson is scheduled to travel to Miami on Friday where he is expected to meet with Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, among others.
This is why we can't have our kids getting a true education: because our governor envisions all of them either dealing blackjack, or getting cocktails, or serving as call girls for "whales" who come in from out of town.
Thanks Rick. There's planning for the future buddy. I know you've got our back.
Posted by: David Kearns | September 22, 2011 at 11:19 PM
I am all for Casinos in Florida, Just NOT IN SOUTH FLORIDA!!!! Central Florida (i-75 & I-10)
would be a perfect place, or somewhere on I-10 between Tall. and Jax.
BUT NOT SOUTH FLORIDA!!!
Posted by: Big Jim | September 23, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Las Vegas Sands has donated hundreds of thousands to RPOF, REPUBLICAN RE-DISTRICTING, Rick Scott, Rick Scott Transition and Inaugural--LEGAL BRIBERY
Posted by: Christian Berke | September 26, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson is under invesigation by DOJ and SEC for violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practises Act- for BRIBING public officials in Singapore. Adelson himself order the bribe payments.
Posted by: Sofia Cantino | October 01, 2011 at 07:36 AM
RIck Scott might want to read this before he sends out any more invites to Sheldon Adelson
Wall Street Journal U.S. Opens probe of Las Vegas Sands
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703409904576174170248266028.html
Posted by: Jeremy North | October 06, 2011 at 12:57 PM