Miami rejects casino projects
Miami Beach will not offer casino services soon, as local Commission voted.
US.- After long discussions about gaming expansion in Florida, one of the most touristic hubs in the state decided to reject any casino project in the near future. As the Miami Herald reported, Miami Beach Commission voted unanimously against gaming proposals in the region last Friday. The final vote will be held next July 26.
“Casinos are great for cities that have a challenging future; that don’t have a real vision,” Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine told the Miami Herald. “If you have a city that doesn’t have a future, that doesn’t know where it wants to go, I understand. But when you have a city like Miami Beach, why try to fix something that’s not broken?”
Florida legislators have been discussing a joint regulation that would contemplate two different proposals approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House bill limited gaming operations to the Seminole venues, whilst the Senate aimed at expanding casino industry. Meanwhile, the State’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of a proposed constitutional amendment that calls for a popular ballot in 2018 to determine the future of gaming industry.
However, Miami-Dade county officials have previously showed concerns about a gaming license in the south of the state. After latest vote on Miami Beach Commission, casino industry has been completely banned in the touristic hotspot, although other communities in both the county and the state will hold further votes to decide whether casino expansion in the region would boost or jeopardise the economic activity.
