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Representatives from some of the world’s largest casinos are pushing Florida lawmakers for a gaming expansion, but as Whitney Ray tells us, lawmakers are vowing to move slowly on the issue.

It’s a classroom of sorts. The students, members of the Senate Committee on Gaming. The teachers, lobbyists for some of the largest casinos in the world. State lawmakers have promised to spend the year studying gaming, to avoid going all-in on an expansion without all the details.

Vice Chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee Maria Sachs says the issue needs to be explored in depth.

“We as a state need to make sure that we have thoroughly vetted it before we reach any decisions,” said Sachs.

Despite the small odds for gaming legislation this year, mega casino organizers and their opponents aren’t taking any chances. They’re here at the state capitol making their cases.

John Sowinski, President of No Casinos.org, isn’t taking anything for granted.

“You have to be on guard always. We have to vigilant always because if the other side sees and opportunity they will seize it,” said Sowinski.

But it’s not just anti-gaming groups opposing an expansion. The Seminole Indians, which operated seven Florida casinos, are also in opposition. They worry new mega casinos would cut their profits.

And they have good reason to be afraid. Genting Malaysia, the largest casino corporation in the world, spent 300 million dollars for prime land in Miami. Now they just need the go ahead from state lawmakers to build this mega casino.

The Seminole Indian Tribe and state lawmakers reached an agreement in 2009, giving the tribe exclusive rights to Blackjack and other Vegas-style games. The deal expires in two years.