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Opposition to bringing three Vegas-style casino resorts to South Florida is growing. Religious groups and theme parks came out swinging last week. Now retailers are voicing their concerns. Opponents of the plan say established businesses will suffer but as Whitney Ray tells us, supporters say the casinos would create thousands of jobs.

A heavyweight bout is underway in Tallahassee pitting international casino corporations against Disney, business groups and a religious coalition.

“The Florida Catholic Conference is opposed to the current efforts to expand casino gambling,” said Mike McCarron with the Florida Catholic Conference.

“The Baptists have had a long and steadfast record of opposing gambling,” said Bill Bunkley with the Florida Baptist Convention.

“The opposition to the casino bills will be our number one legislative priority this year,” said John Stemberger with the Florida Family Policy Council.

The Florida Retail Federation is the latest organization to speak out against legislation to bring three Vegas-style resorts to South Florida. Retailers say, where new casinos go up sales go down, and industry suffers.”

“Our economy leads the nation most years, why would we gamble with that,” asks Rick McAllister with the Florida Retail Federation.

The gaming companies plan to spend billions in marketing and job creation if the legation passes. One has already spent 300 million dollars for land in Miami. But the bill’s sponsors say it’s not about money, it’s not even about expanding gaming. They claim allowing the mega-casino resorts to open in Florida will better equip the state to regulate gaming.

“We hope this will actually reduce gaming in the state,” said senate sponsor Ellyn Bogdanoff.

“The three locations being the largest expansion in gambling in Florida is a trivial argument at best I think,” said house sponsor Eric Fresen.

The bill limits the space the resort casinos can dedicate to gaming to just 10 percent. The rest of the resort would be rooms, restaurants, shops and convention space.

The legislation was filed less than two weeks ago and has yet to be heard in a committee, but it’s already shaping up to be one of the hottest issues of the 2012 legislative session.