DeSantis’ Actions May Disrupt Casino Development Plans in Miami

Florida may soon make it harder to amend its own constitution. Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing an initiative that could severely restrict the mechanism for citizen-driven amendments.

Currently, the process allows groups to collect signatures to place issues on the ballot — just under one million are needed. If the new proposal is approved, future initiatives will face a much stricter threshold.

DeSantis has urgently called lawmakers into a special session. According to media reports, the governor is personally insisting on swift approval of the changes. Behind closed doors, some are calling it an attempt to “cut off oxygen” to future grassroots campaigns — especially those dealing with hot-button issues like gambling, women’s rights, or school funding.

Amendment 3, passed in 2018, showed the power of public pressure in Florida. Activists succeeded in requiring that no new casino licenses be issued without a statewide vote. Lawmakers lost direct control over the industry, and decisions were handed over to the electorate.

It’s precisely this precedent that’s now worrying officials. The amendment became possible through the very process DeSantis aims to restrict — signature collection and referendums. If his plan passes, chances of a repeat scenario would plummet, potentially freezing all new gambling projects in the state.

DeSantis’ legislative push could also interfere with the interests of Donald Trump. His company previously sought a casino license in Miami, aiming to integrate gambling operations into the Trump National Doral resort. Although the plan didn’t move forward, it left a political footprint.

Now, as the governor attempts to curb the influence of citizen-led initiatives, he may inadvertently block future ambitions of the Trump business family. Ironically, in targeting one set of interests, DeSantis may end up impacting another faction closely aligned with his own Republican base.

Other influential figures have already voiced opposition to casino development in the region. Billionaire Ken Griffin publicly criticized the idea in a Miami Herald column, calling it a threat to the region’s economic stability.

Investors have long viewed Miami as an ideal location for casino expansion. It lacks direct competition from the major Hard Rock venues, and its tourism volume and wealth levels make the city highly attractive. For gambling operators, it’s a potentially golden market.

But political barriers aren’t the only obstacle. Residents of Miami Beach have opposed casino development from the start. Many don’t want their resort-style neighborhood turned into a mini-Vegas. Some even question the need for physical casinos at all, given that many gambling fans have already gone digital. Top online casinos like Melbet, Pin Up, and especially 1xBet offer maximum convenience. To get started, it’s enough to register here — a process that takes just a couple of minutes. From there, users gain access to thousands of games right from their phones. In that context, many people don’t understand the need to complicate things by visiting physical venues.

Big capital and parts of the local establishment are also hesitant to alter the face of the coastal area. As a result, the city now stands at a crossroads — between those who want to develop new business and those fighting to preserve the status quo.