Florida casino potential may entice Las Vegas Sands

Florida has emerged as a casino industry battlefield.
 
Gov. Rick Scott, who took office earlier this month, told the Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times he was open to allowing Las Vegas-style casino resorts in Florida.
 
Legislation could be introduced this year that could bring casinos to Miami Beach, Tampa and three other locations. The casinos would include slot machines and table games, which could also attract restaurants, retail malls and convention facilities.
 
According to the newspaper, Scott reached out to Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon Adelson two weeks after his election Nov. 2. He stopped in Las Vegas on his way to the Republican Governor’s Association meeting in San Diego. Scott and his wife visited with Adelson at the Venetian.
 
“It was an introductory meeting,” Ron Reese, spokesman for Las Vegas Sands told the newspaper.
 
For the past two years, Adelson’s company has been leading the charge for bringing destination casinos to Florida. He has said he is willing to invest as much as $3 billion in a project in Miami.