Bill could allow Trump to seek casino operation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Donald Trump’s struggling Doral golf club near Miami could be thrown a lifeline if a Florida bill being hammered out behind closed doors allows more gambling in the state and the property is allowed to operate a casino.
The bill, pushed by the owner of a landmark Miami Beach hotel, faces strong opposition and it’s not clear the expresident has done anything to lobby for it. Still, he has long wanted to put a casino at Doral and a green light couldn’t come fast enough as his company reels from pandemic shutdowns and a backlash over the U.S. Capitol riot.
No proposal has been made public, but it would reportedly allow the owner of a gambling license attached to a jaialai building or racetrack to transfer it to another property. Trump doesn’t own any of those, but could buy one and move the license to his Trump National Doral property. The Trump Organization has done nothing to quell the idea, while not explicitly endorsing it.
“Many people consider Trump Doral to be unmatched from a gaming perspective — at 700 acres, properties just don’t exist of that size and quality in South Florida, let alone in the heart of Miami,” Trump’s son Eric said Thursday.
Even though Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are close allies, any bill would face opposition from other tourism and gambling interests.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida, which owns several Florida casinos, and Walt Disney World have spent millions against previous efforts to expand gambling off the state’s tribal lands and hold major sway in the state Capitol.
Another potential hurdle is a 2018 amendment to the state constitution that says casinostyle gambling can’t be expanded off tribal lands unless approved in a statewide ballot measure that garners at least 60% support.
The push is being made by Jeffrey Soffer, who owns both the Fontainebleau Hotel and a former dog track. The state recently barred dog racing, but his license there allows him to have slot machines.
The Miami Herald reported Soffer has been entertaining state legislative leaders aboard his yacht — including inviting some to a party with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady hours after he won the Super Bowl last month.