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 

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Credit Jay Zhang

Genting Highlands in Malaysia.