Debate has been underway in the Florida legislature about amending state law to allow for several large casinos in the Miami area, with the hopes of positioning the area as a Vegas alternative to the millions of travellers from Central America and South America that fly into Miami each year.

Genting helped jump-start the debate in May 2011 when it announced that it had purchased the Miami Herald's headquarters for $236 million with plans to build one of the world's largest resorts and hotels there - as well as one of the largest casinos in the world if state law was changed to allow for it.

After debate began on the legislative side Genting upped the ante, announcing it had struck a $161 million deal to gain control of the Omni complex adjacent to Miami Herald headquarters, and that it would transform the complex into a casino within six months of any new state laws allowing for it.

Genting's bold plans have plenty of opponents - with many concerned about the traffic and sociological impact a huge casino could have on the city - with more eyebrows and hackles raised by the company's latest move, seen by some as a blatant attempt to curry votes from legislators by dangling tens of thousands of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenues if expanded casinos are allowed.

The bill under discussion was eventually scuttled when one of its legislative sponsors withdrew it from debate as opposition grew about it being too pro-Genting, but many believe analysts believe it's just a matter of time before the issue arises again.

Genting is rumored to be exploring the option of bypassing the legislature entirely and conducting a statewide petition drive to put a referendum on the ballot in 2014, which would let Miami-Dade and Broward voters decide on whether or not to allow resort-style casinos.