Doral Golf Resort could potentially turn into a gambling hub
DORAL, FL – Doral Golf Resort is in sight to become a gambling hub. Eric Trump, the son of former President Donald Trump, is behind this idea.
Gambling is limited in Florida to tribal casinos and pari-mutuels. This extends also to horse tracks and jai-alai frontons. Pari-mutuel licenses limit wagers to horse racing, jai alai and cardroom poker games. In other words, “they aren’t full-scale casinos with games like roulette and blackjack,” Sun Suntinel reports.
According to several reports by the media, although a gambling bill hasn’t been introduced in the Florida Legislature, discussions behind closed doors to allow gambling at Trump National Doral have been conducted.
If the proposal pass – says the report – properties where betting isn’t allowed could obtain a gambling license and local governments could not be able to intervene.
Although it is still unclear if a gaming deal could be reached to make Eric Trump’s idea possible in a state where gambling has always been a debatable issue, it is clear, however, that the state government is open for discussion.
“As we consider a path forward and options for the state on gaming, we believe it is important to hear from representatives from the pari-mutuel industry,” Meredith Beatrice, a spokeswoman for the governor, wrote in an email to Sun Suntinel. “It’s important they have a voice in the conversation.”
In the discussion surrounding gambling there is a complicated issue to address and that is sports betting, which, according to the report, has “boomed” on the internet and is hasn’t been settled what parties would be in charge of controlling this market if it was legalized in Florida or if it would require voter approval.
John Sowinski, president of the anti-gambling group No Casinos Florida, said to the media that trying to authorize sports betting or new gambling operations without voter approval would be legally challenging. This includes turning Doral Golf Resort into a gambling hub.
Miami Beach opposes firmly to gambling not only in its city but in Miami-Dade County as a whole. The city commission is even taking up a proposal to hire an outside lawyer to challenge any effort by the Florida Legislature to permit this practice.
“Any expansion of casino gambling, whether in Miami-Dade County or in Miami Beach, would impose grave economic and social costs on our community,” the commission’s agenda reads. “Gambling is fundamentally incompatible with the city’s residential neighborhoods, historic character, and vibrant economy. Moreover, gambling would impede the city’s efforts to raise its profile as a cultural destination.”