The two Cabinet members, joining members of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and No Casinos, an organization opposing expanded gambling, called on state legislators to walk away from the proposal they say will grow crime and lead to a proliferation of gambling across Florida.

Bondi, Putnam Join No Casinos Opposition to Gaming Bill

By: Jim Turner | Posted: December 8, 2011 2:25 PM | Sunshine State News

Include Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam among those opposed to the gaming destination bill that is expected to be drastically re-written before it goes before its first Senate vote next month.

The two Cabinet members, joining members of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and No Casinos, an organization opposing expanded gambling, called on state legislators to walk away from the proposal they say will grow crime and lead to a proliferation of gambling across Florida.

The bills, HB 487 and SB 710, filed by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, call for the creation of a statewide gaming commission and allows up to three mega casinos that would each be worth more than $2 billion.

“There will be casinos throughout our state,” Bondi said during a media conference Thursday with Putnam and members of the Florida Chamber and Florida Sheriff’s Association.

“It’s been suggested that allowing mega casinos in South Florida is the best way to ensure that there is no further expansion of gambling,” she continued.
“But that argument reminds me of what was said early on when the Seminole compact was made a few years ago.

“We were told that giving Seminoles exclusive rights to casino gambling would be so lucrative there would be no need in Florida for an expansion of gambling. Yet here we are, only a short time later, being asked to go along with yet another massive expansion.”

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