Next week the voters in Florida’s Miami-Dade will be voting once again on whether to allow slot machines at its three pari-mutuel venues - the Calder racecourse, Flagler Dog Track and Miami Jai Alai. In 2005 the voters rejected the proposition, unlike their neighbours in Broward County. Three of the four pari-mutuels in Broward now operate slot machines but the fourth, Dania Jai-Alai is still considering its options.

Since opening the Broward racinos have brought in less than the anticipated revenue. Indeed, state revenue predictions have been revised down by US$83 million for the present fiscal year. The heavy rate of taxation (50%) and the continuing popularity of the rival Seminole casinos have played their part in the shortfall. Gulfstream Park has already cut its banks of slot machines by around half and rethought its mix of games.

So the voters of Miami-Dade will have a clearer picture of what the slot machines will bring to their district than the voters of Broward County did. They can take comfort from the fact that there has been no increase in the crime rate following the opening of the racinos, but they also know that the immense benefits envisaged for Florida’s education system have fallen short. US$111 million is just 9% of the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund’s US$1.26 billion budget.

The social consequences of the expansion in gambling in Florida have so far not been researched. A gambling hot-line is getting more calls, 44% slot machine related. The pari-mutuels must contribute US$250,000 a year to the state’s gambling education and problem gambling prevention programmes, the state contributes nothing.

Broward is not attracting more tourists since the slot machine venues opened and attendance has not increased at the tracks. The Seminole casinos have a compact with the state that will allow them to introduce card games such as blackjack and baccarat, an even bigger draw for those who like to gamble. So Miami-Dade may vote next week to bring in the slot machines, but the prospective investors will have a less rosy view of returns than their counterparts in Broward County had when celebrating their win in 2005. (E-01.24.08)

© Copyright 2008 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage