The draft of a proposed casino amendment in Florida is carefully worded and would, if approved allow a full casino at the famous Miami Beach Fontainebleau Hotel. The initiative is unlikely to get a vote before the ballot of 2010 but a political committee funded by the developers of the 25-acre Miami Worldcenter is already at work to persuade the people of Florida that allowing keno, craps, roulette and blackjack as well as Class III slot machines would benefit all Florida’s schools.

According to the Miami Herald, the committee is considering three amendments, two of which would give the pari-mutuel slots operations the same games as the Seminole Tribe. Sites for full casinos have been named as the existing pari-mutuels and a Miami location within the boundaries of Northeast 11th Street, Biscayne Boulevard, Northeast Sixth Street and North Miami Avenue. A hotel in Miami Beach with over 800 rooms would also be eligible but the only hotel in Miami Beach that would be able to comply with this restriction is the Fontainebleau.

A new resort at the Fontainebleau is due to open later this year following a US$500 million extension and revamp. Bought by Fontainebleau Resorts in 2005, the company also developing a US$2.9 billion casino resort in Las Vegas, the Miami Fontainebleau is designed on the Las Vegas model and now needs a change to the Florida constitution to allow Las Vegas style gambling. Bringing about that change is likely to be a long and difficult task. (E-09.26.08)

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