Gulfstream Park was the first Florida racino to open, followed by Mardi Gras. Yesterday Pompano Park received its licence from the state and hopes to open by the end of March. In November Gulfstream commenced operations with 516 slot machines and is already bringing in an additional 700. The following month Mardi Gras opened with 1,147 gaming machines. Isle of Capri at Pompano Park intends to begin with it’s full complement of machines – the 1,500 permitted under Florida’s law.

According to Isle of Capri, the slot machines are expected to arrive from manufacturers as early as next week. In the following weeks the company will install the systems and start training around 800 staff. The Pompano Park facility has been constructed for around US$150 million and includes a poker room and four restaurants. The fourth Broward County pari-mutuel, Dania Jai-Alai, is in the midst of a major renovation programme and is not expected to open until next year.

The success of the gaming venues now open has prompted pari-mutuels in Miami-Dade, where the legalisation of slot machine operations was rejected two years ago, to consider once again asking voters to allow the slot machines. Miami Jai-Alai, Calder Racecourse and Flagler Greyhound Park say the climate has changed and that their recent polls show public acceptance of the racino plans.

Figures from Gulfstream Park could be a strong incentive – in its first month of operation the racino generated US$3.2 million in state tax for public education. With Broward County getting construction projects valued at around US$800 million and the creation of as many as 4,000 jobs, slot machine betting may well become a ballot issue again this year. (E-01.11.07)

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