Gambling Expansion Proposals a Critical Topic At Upcoming Scott-Crist Gubernatorial Debates
No Casinos TV Spot to Air in both Spanish and English
In conjunction with the upcoming Florida Gubernatorial Debates, No Casinos will air a 60-second ad originally featured on a website, www.GrandClosing.org, that chronicles the news of the recent casino closures in Atlantic City, N.J., and provide background on this historic financial setback for the beleaguered seaside city. The ad will air in Spanish and in English in selected media markets.
Widespread media coverage of the recent failure of four casinos and the resulting loss of 8,000 jobs in Atlantic City, New Jersey has sparked a renewed focus on proposals to expand gambling in Florida – an issue that is certain to come before the Florida Legislature and Governor during the next four-year term.
Also at issue in the coming year is a gambling compact reached with Florida’s Seminole Indian tribe in 2010 during the Crist Administration. Key portions of the deal are scheduled to expire in 2015, and recent news accounts indicate that a dramatic expansion of gambling was on the table during compact negotiations earlier this year between Governor Scott’s office and the tribe.
“Florida voters have a right to know where the candidates stand on the issue of expanding gambling,” said John Sowinski, President of No Casinos. “As our elected officials look to the future of Florida’s economy and reputation as a family friendly tourist and business investment destination, the damaging social and economic impacts of casinos outweigh any potential benefits.”
The first debate is Friday, October 10 at 7 p.m. and will be hosted by the Telemundo television network. It will air on Telemundo affiliates in Miami, Ft. Myers, Orlando and Tampa. The second debate is Wednesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. and will be presented by Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association, airing statewide in all of Florida’s 11 media markets. The third debate is Tuesday, Osctober 21 at 7 p.m. and will be co-hosted by CNN and WJXT-4 Jacksonville, and airing on those stations.