NEWSCAST: Casino Giant Drops Gambling Ballot Bid

The casino giant that bought the Miami Herald site has put a hold on its plans to petition for a casino amendment on the twenty-fourteen ballot. 
 
Halting the petition effort means state lawmakers will drive the decision over whether to bring Las Vegas- style gaming to Florida.
 
The Malaysian-based casino giant -- Genting Group -- has spent close to a million dollars on a campaign to let voters decide.
 
That campaign started after a casino amendment died in the Florida legislature last year. 
 
But now the group is taking a less aggressive strategy, in part perhaps because gaming regulations are expected to take center stage next year. 
 
A lobbyist for Genting says the state's own analysis on the effect of casinos  -- and the economic impact -- makes "absolute sense."
 
Genting Group bought the Miami Herald site in 2011 with plans to build a resort and casino. 
 
And regardless of whether Florida approves gambling, Genting says it's moving ahead with plans to turn the waterfront into a resort. 
 
That is, of course, unless Miami's historic preservation board declares the building a historic site. 
 
The board is 
  
  expected to make that decision Monday.