Orlando concerned over Indian gaming

from today's Orlando Sentinel

Orlando-area tourism officials fear Crist's gambling compact
Jason Garcia

"An unprecedented deal struck this month by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida would, for the first time, bring high-stakes gambling practically to Orlando's doorstep -- clearing the way for Vegas-style slot machines, blackjack and baccarat at a Tampa casino about an hour's drive from the gates of Disney's Magic Kingdom.

Now tourism executives in Central Florida, which has spent billions building Orlando into perhaps the best-known family-vacation destination on the planet, say it is only a matter of time until gambling interests seek access here, too.

"There'll be a movement. It's going to spread," said Tom Ackert, executive director of the Orange County Convention Center. "If the Seminoles expand and are successful -- and if there isn't a corresponding disaster related to crime or other stuff -- it's going to be hard to push against it."

The region's tourism leaders are almost uniformly opposed to gaming, at least locally. Gambling, they say, is clearly an adults-only activity that would undermine Orlando's image as a family-friendly location.

That's a reputation the region spends heavily to cultivate. The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, for example, is in the midst of a two-year, $68 million marketing campaign aimed at convincing travelers that Orlando is a destination "Built for families. Made for memories."

Gambling is "just not a good fit with the Orlando brand. The Orlando brand is largely built around the family -- and families with children, at that," said Jim Atchison, president and chief operating officer of Busch Entertainment Corp., parent company of SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and the soon-to-open Aquatica water park.

But Central Florida tourism has never before been confronted with a full-fledged gambling resort within easy driving distance. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, which has been restricted to low-stakes poker and tamer, bingo-style slot machines, is one of seven sites across the state that could add Las Vegas-style slots and card games under the gaming accord signed by Crist and the tribe.

The Seminoles recently completed a $120 million expansion of the Tampa resort, which looms over Interstate 4 east of downtown Tampa. It now features 250 hotel rooms and 3,075 gambling machines. Tribal leaders are already discussing bigger additions -- including a second tower with shops, restaurants and more hotel rooms -- now that more-lucrative gambling is within reach." ....

"Crist and other supporters of the Seminole compact say it is designed to discourage any further expansion of gambling in Florida. That's because the deal stipulates that, should any other location win the right to offer similar games, the Seminoles would no longer have to pay the state annual royalties.

Any initial effort to build a casino in the Orlando area also appears certain to meet fierce opposition from the biggest players in the local tourism industry.

Walt Disney World, for instance, has contributed $600,000 through the years to No Casinos Inc., a group organized to fight pro-gambling constitutional amendments in 1986, 1994 and 2004. Universal Orlando gave $50,000 during the 1994 campaign.

"Our position on gambling has not changed. We remain opposed to the expansion of gambling in the state," Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said. A spokesman for Universal would not comment.

Some local tourism executives cite the difficulties Las Vegas had when it tried to move further into the family-travel market in the 1990s, when resorts along its famed gambling strip spent heavily on amusement rides and themed environments designed to appeal to both adults and children." ...

for the complete story see:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-gambli
ng2407nov24,0,6860813.story