In Florida the three Broward County parimutuels that are running slots operations have not been performing as well as expected. The Seminole Hard Rock casinos are still proving more popular with the public even though only Class II gaming machines were on offer. With the upgrade to Class III machines and the prospect of card games at the tribal casinos coming closer, the pari-mutuels will have to look to their laurels.

Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is already reformulating its business plan. It has seen sales decline from an average US$161 per day per machine last year to US$81 per day since this fiscal year began in July. The company has more than halved the number of gaming machines it operates to 516, saying it had the wrong mix and the wrong games. There will now be more simulcasting, with the ground floor gaming floor being changed to half casino and half horseracing lounge.

More penny and two-cent slot machines will be introduced as well as new version video pokers. By mid-December Gulfstream will have around 825 gaming machines, which the company hopes will attract both video poker players and horseracing fans. Gulfstream has also filed with the Florida Supreme Court to join a lawsuit opposing the state compact with the Seminole Tribe allowing it to offer card games such as blackjack and baccarat. (E-11.29.07)

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