The billionaire owner of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach made hefty donations in recent months to Florida lawmakers who could help him achieve his longtime goal of opening a casino inside the iconic hotel, according to campaign finance reports filed this week.

Entities tied to real estate mogul Jeffrey Soffer poured more than $300,000 last year into PACs supporting state legislators, including nine Republicans who represent Miami-Dade County.

As the two-month legislative session begins this week in Tallahassee, identical bills filed in the Florida House and Senate propose letting gaming permit holders transfer their permits to a new location within 30 miles, and would override any local government restrictions on gambling.