UPDATE: Dean Cannon wanted to clarify his comments. Cannon said the Florida House of Representatives is opposed to any measures that expand gambling beyond where it already is in the state. "We wouldn't approve anything that expands gambling," Cannon said.
That's why, he said, he doesn't believe whatever the Legislature does this year on gambling will impact other tourism businesses. "We wouldn't approve anything that would do that," he said.
The post below has been rewritten to reflect his expanded comments.
END UPDATE
A top Orlando legislator — who will play a central role this spring in deciding whether and how much to expand gambling across Florida — says he doesn't believe any gambling measures approved this spring by the Legislature will harm the state's existing tourism industry.
State economists recently released a report warning that casino expansion plans by the Seminole Tribe of Florida could siphon at least $100 million a year away from competing in-state resorts. The Seminoles say they will make the improvements if the Legislature ratifies a compact the tribe negotiated with Gov. Charlie Crist allowing it to operate Las Vegas-style slot machines and card games such as black jack.
But Rep. Dean Cannon, a Republican from Winter Park who is in line to become Florida House speaker after the 2010 elections, said he doesn't believe the Legislature will approve any compact that would hurt tourism businesses. “I don’t think Indian compact stuff, regardless of configuration, will have [a negative] impact on tourism,” Cannon said.
Cannon said the same about other potential gambling initiatives the Legislature is debating this spring, including whether to allow everything from video lottery terminals at pari-mutuels around the state and roulette at the Seminole casinos. “I also doubt any pari-mutuel stuff we may consider would be [a] substantial impact to tourism,” he said.
