Disney doubled down on its support for a proposed ballot initiative that would limit gambling expansion in the Sunshine State, Florida. Disney cut a $500,000 check to the committee backing the amendment, “Voters in Charge,” last month.
Since April the company has given $1.15 million for the cause, which accounts for more than 80 percent of the committee’s total contributions.
Anti-gambling expansion group No Casinos Inc. has given most of the rest of the money raised by the committee, as well as thousands of dollars’ worth of in-kind contributions.
If it makes it onto the 2018 general election ballot and passes, the amendment would force any future gambling expansions to be decided on by Florida voters (READ SO: FLORIDA GAMBLING STARTS TO FILL UP OF DOUBTS)
Disney has long contended that casino-style gambling would damage Florida’s image in the eyes of tourists, especially the variety that visit the company’s four Orlando theme parks. No Casinos’ asserts expansion would increase gambling addiction and ratchet up crime rates while shutting down local business due to what casino proponents call the “substitution effect,” where gambling as well as a casino’s on-site restaurants, amenities and services leech business away from non-casino businesses.
