Fontainebleau owner pours money into PACs as bills could bring casino to Miami Beach

Monday, January 15, 2024 6:55 PM
  • Aaron Leibowitz and Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald

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.