Fontainebleau owner trying to woo Florida politicians with casino dream

Article by : Charles Perrin Jan 17, 2024

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The owner of Fontainebleau Miami Beach has been desperately trying to win over the hearts and minds of Florida politicians to construct a casino within the famed hotel.

Billionaire hotelier Jeffrey Soffer remains emboldened in his approach to incorporate a casino into the iconic venue, even though residents have so far expressed their disapproval.

It is thought that Soffer and those with business ties to the real estate developer, made a slew of donations over the past 12 months to political action committees (PACs) totaling $300,000 in a bid to get legislators on side.

However, Soffer is no stranger to digging into his vast pockets, handing over more than $2.5 million in contributions to Sunshine State politicians since acquiring the Big Easy Casino in 2018.

Soffer’s aggressive lobbying efforts underline his desire to change attitudes and unlock an untapped market in Miami Beach.

The political donations came in advance of the latest Florida legislature session, which is open for just two months this year. It is hoped this could lay the foundations to pave the way for Miami Beach to embrace casino gambling which has been prohibited since 2017.

Indeed, Soffer has long championed the cause for casino gambling in Miami Beach, and Fontainebleau, which spans 22 acres, is considered one of the city’s crown jewels.

However, as of yet, he has had no joy in being able to push through his agenda with Fontainebleau, and he previously tried to procure a gaming license for the property in 2021, but to no avail.

Although Soffer managed to get his way with opening a sister Fontainbleau sister hotel in Las Vegas, insofar as Miami Beach is concerned, he has faced stiff opposition.

Among the dissenting voices, includes John Sowinski, who is the President of the activist No Casinos group.

Sowinski has previously revealed his fears about what the expansion of a gambling bill in Florida would mean for the state and its residents.

Currently, the Seminole Tribe has a vice-like grip on gambling institutions in Florida. While it feels like a long shot that Miami Beach could be swept up in the gaming craze, don’t expect Soffer to throw in the towel anytime soon.