The Doral City Council has voted unanimously to ban gambling and casinos in Florida. The 4-0 vote on Wednesday removed the potential for the former President Trump’s Doral Golf Resort to have a casino. With the latest vote, brands wishing to develop a casino or any other gambling facility in Doral City must seek people’s approval in a referendum.
The moves have come a month since the Florida state legislature approved a 30 year compact for the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The pact instructs the Seminole Tribe not to interfere with the state government when giving a license to another facility. Also, a new casino can come up 15 miles on a straight line from the tribe’s gambling facility, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood.
With Trump’s Doral Resort situated around 18 miles from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, it has the potential to seek a gambling license for its property. The former President acquired the resort in 2012 and spent almost $250 million renovating it.
The former President’s son Eric Trump said earlier this year that the Trump Organization would be interested in developing a casino at Doral. Eric noted that many people considered Trump Doral unmatched from a gaming perspective. The property lies on 700 acres, proving that there are no properties of such size and quality in south Florida or Miami.
The $500 Compact Deal With the Seminole Tribe
In May, Governor Ron DeSantis negotiated a $500 million deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Many critics said the governor’s agreement with the Seminole tribe was illegal, primarily because voters were not involved in the decision.
People against the deal believe the compact between Florida State and Seminole Tribe was created to allow casinos at various properties. These include the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel and Trump National Doral Miami resort. Local officials believe gambling expansion in the state will bring negative impacts to the community.
However, the governor dismissed local officials’ concerns terming them as idiotic politics. DeSantis said that the Florida Legislature special gaming session already occurred in May, with legislatures not allowing any casino development anywhere in Florida. In that regard, the governor thinks gambling concerns from local officials are just politics.
May’s Vote Against New Casinos
In May, the Doral City Council voted on an emergency ordinance restricting casinos in city limits. June 9, 2021, the council approved the measure on a non-emergency basis.
Before the vote, the mayor of Doral told Miami Herald that the city wanted to weigh in on gambling issues. Juan Carlos Bermudez added that officials were willing to take any measure to prohibit casinos.
The Miami Beach Mayor even wrote a letter to the Department of Interior. Gelber requested the government to disapprove governor DeSantis’s gaming gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe. However, the vocal ally of Donald Trump, DeSantis, insisted earlier this week that speculation about the 30-year compact was created to benefit Donald or any other individual is a lie.
The governor even called Gelber’s (Mayor of Miami Beach) letter pure idiotic politics. DeSantis said that partisan politicians’ goal is to use any cheap headline to elevate themselves politically. According to him, these politicians bring former Presidents into the picture as they cannot help themselves.
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