Just three days after Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a new gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe, a company that could benefit from the deal, wrote a huge check to Scott’s political committee. Resorts World Miami, is owned by the Genting Group, a gaming company based in Malaysia. The donation was $20,000.
The check was sent to the Let’s Get To Work committee of Scott, on December 10th. It was on the 7th of December that Scott announced he had signed a new compact with The Seminole Tribe of Florida. With the new compact, the tribe has exclusive rights to be the sole operator of craps, roulette and blackjack in the state.
However, the deal also opens up for a gaming expansion, especially in the southern portion of the state. This is where the Genting Group would like to build a casino resort, to be located on the Biscayne Bay. The casino would be located where the Miami Herald building was located.
With the compact, the tribe must make payments to the state, even if they face an increase in competition from the Broward slots casino or a new casino in Miami. The Florida Legislature must still approve the deal before it will be valid but the compact has already been somewhat received well by lawmakers of the state.
This year alone, $120,000 in donations have already been given by Resorts World Miami to the state of Florida, but the $20,000 check to Scott was the largest sent by the company since March 3rd, when they gave $50,000 to the Republican Party of Florida.
Resorts World Miami is not the only company to donate to the political parties of Florida. For the past three years, the Seminole Tribe has donated over $2.7 million to as many as 90+ politicians with $500,000 going towards the Let’s Get To Work committee of Scott.