Florida retailers announce opposition to resort casinos

Florida retailers announce opposition to resort casinos
Written by Dave Heller

Tallahassee, Florida - Another powerful business group announces its opposition to bringing large resort casinos to Florida.

The Florida Retail Federation says the construction of large casinos in South Florida would likely siphon off business from existing retailers in the area.

Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff and Rep. Erik Fresen are pushing legislation to create three resort casinos in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The bill would require casino operators to spend at least $2 billion developing each resort.

The Retail Federation points to the example of what happened in Atlantic City, New Jersey after new casinos were built there. The group says economic studies found those casinos forced one-third of the existing retailers out of business within a year.

Florida Retail Federation President and CEO Rick McAllister says the short-term employment gains of expanding casino gambling would not be worth the long-term economic damage.

"We don't think this is a good solution for a problem that the entire country is facing. Those who say gambling will bring in extra jobs and extra revenue just need to look to Nevada or New Jersey and see what's going on there. In Nevada, the unemployment rate is higher than Florida and the foreclosure rate is higher than Florida."

McAllister also thinks resort casinos would negatively affect Florida's worldwide brand as having family-friendly beaches.

"For many decades now people have come to Florida because of our beaches whether it's the Panhandle or the west coast or the far south, the Keys, all the way up the east coast, Visit Florida spends tens of millions of dollars getting people to bring their families to Florida's beaches and I think all of us are somewhat concerned about changing that brand."

Other groups lining up against the proposed legislation include the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and a coalition of faith-based groups such as the Florida Catholic Conference, Florida Baptist Convention and the Florida Family Policy Council.

Fresen and Bogdanoff contend the projects would create thousands of construction jobs and they hope the legislation would have an overall reduction of gambling in Florida.

Dave Heller