The Gaming (Casino) bills that were going to be heard in Tallahassee on Monday, February 5th, have been withdrawn.  The MBNA firmly opposes gambling in Miami Beach.  We will continue to monitor future gaming legislation and keep our members informed.
City of Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, and all CMB Commissioner, are STRONGLY opposed to any kind of gambling in Miami Beach.  All previous Mayors and Commissioners were also opposed for many years.  That is why gambling activities are prohibited in all zoning districts of our City.  

​An island city of just 7.1 square miles between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami Beach is not only a trend-setting arts and entertainment hub for visitors from around the world, it's also home to 75,850 residents that enjoy living in this beautiful beachside community. ​
  • ​In 2018 almost 71% of Florida voters, and over 80% of Miami Beach voters, voted against the expansion of gambling.  Since 2008, the City has enacted 11 Ordinances and Resolutions seeking to prevent gambling from being allowed in Miami Beach.  
  • The MBNA supports the position of our City leaders, and the majority of voters, and strongly opposes ANY Bill that brings casino gambling to Miami Beach. 
  • ​The MBNA feels that a Casino in Miami Beach would cause gridlocked traffic, diminish property values, bring crime to our community, and create havoc that would impact ALL residents of our City.  
  • During the January 10, 2024 MBNA Meeting, the Executive Board voted unanimously to prepare a Resolution opposing a proposed bill that was ultimately dropped.

We appreciate the efforts of Mayor Meiner, our City Commissioners,  City of Miami Beach and State Officials, and those that are working hard fighting this battle to keep gambling away from our city, but they need ALL residents to join in and do our part to stop any other proposed future bills on its tracks!
The bills being proposed on 2/5/24 were "dropped" thanks to the efforts of powerful strong opposers!
  • The proposed language in the bill would've allow a number of existing pari-mutuel permit holders (from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties) to transfer their existing gaming permits to another location that is within 30 miles of the original location and that are not within a 15 mile radius of any facility in Broward County that's operated by the Seminole Tribe; (ie the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - the "Guitar Hotel"). ​
  • Per Miami Herald 1/4/24 article: ​" ... That provision in the bill was seen by some as a favor by Florida Republicans to Donald Trump and his golf resort in Doral, and to Jeffrey Soffer, the billionaire real estate mogul whose family owns the Fontainebleau. Both facilities are slightly more than 15 miles from the Hollywood casino."  READ MORE ​
  • The bill's Section (3) 118 states:  "Notwithstanding any local government regulations, permitting, or ordinances, and if the conditions of this subsection are met, such permitholder may continue to operate at the new location all pari-mutuel wagering and gaming activities that it is already authorized and licensed to operate.  
WHO ARE THE PERMIT HOLDERS?
​Miami-Dade and Broward County "Pari-Mutuel Permit Holders" can potentially transfer their permits to a new location that meets the simple restrictions stated in this bill, regardless of a City's objections.

Articles on why Casinos have a negative impact on neighborhoods:

from David Frum, CNN Contributor:
From Nebraska Family Alliance:
"Casinos, especially full-featured resort casinos, present an economic opportunity. However, they can be a mixed blessing and can seem especially scary in smaller communities that already have more than their fair share of problems. The most common worries are crime and the direct impact of gambling on residents."
-Devon Johnson 
​Mar 23, 2023
From "The Atlantic":

Email: [email protected]

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