TALLAHASSEE, FL—FEBRUARY 3, 2012—According to a published report on the SunSentinel.com today, attempts to bring destination casinos to Florida are dead – at least for now.

A Florida House committee debate on the proposal to bring three high-end casino resorts to the stake – one of the most heavily lobbied of the 2012 legislative session -- was abruptly halted Friday morning when it became clear that the bill would not pass, effectively killing it.

The move was a blow to major resort casino companies like Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and Malaysian-based Gentling, which had spent more than $400 million in hopes of putting a resort casino in Miami.

"I would assume that this state would definitely see a bill like this in the future," Jessica Hoppe, Genting General Counsel said. "Obviously the companies that have all shown support see Florida as having the many amenities that they would want to invest in, and obviously we've already made that investment."

The bill – which would have allowed up to three $2-billion casino resorts in South Florida – was killed by an unlikely coalition of opponents: Central Florida tourism interests led by Walt Disney World and the Florida Chamber of Commerce; social conservatives opposed to more gambling; and the state's pari-mutuel industry and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, whose gambling interests would have faced new competition.

"I think what we saw here today obviously showed there was a lot of concern and not a lot of support for this idea of a massive expansion of gambling," said David Hart, a lobbyist for the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Besides allowing the destination casinos, the bill established a new state Department of Gambling Regulation under the Florida Cabinet to oversee them. And in concessions to existing gambling interests in the state, it also would have slashed taxes paid by slot-machine "racinos" to 10 percent, from 35 percent today, while allowing counties to vote on having slot machines at any pari-mutuel facility.

Following a 90 minute debate Friday morning, it became clear that the bill would not pass the 15-member House Business and Consumer Affairs Committee.

Sponsor Erik Fresen, R-Miami, then asked the bill be postponed to allow members to "continue the conversation" about the future of gambling –effectively killing it.

The committee does not meet again this session, and House Rules Chairman Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, said he would not allow the measure to go to a friendlier committee or simply to the entire House.

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