A view of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa, Florida. Photo from Facebook
The Seminole Tribe remains a strong player in Florida's gaming industry but not everyone else can say the same:
As South Florida's gambling scene has shaken out over the last decade, there have been clear winners and losers. The Seminole Tribe has been the biggest winner, with its Hard Rock and Coconut Creek properties doing bang-up business after cutting a deal with the state to get slots, blackjack and baccarat. Pari-mutuel "racinos" have had mixed success since launching in Broward in 2005, and in Miami-Dade in 2009. The Isle Casino in Pompano Beach has done well. Mardi Gras Casino (formerly Hollywood Dog Track) and Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale Beach have held their own. Dania has been playing catch-up after being sold twice. The eight South Florida racinos generated a record $174 million in tax revenue from slots for the fiscal year ending in June (up from $152.5 million the previous year). Still, that's considerably less than the $400 million to $500 million in annual state revenue projected by gambling boosters during the 2004 campaign. In the beginning, racino operators blamed their struggles on high tax rates and other hurdles (like a ridiculous ban on ATMs in casinos) imposed by a recalcitrant Legislature and then-Gov. Jeb Bush. But now the sluggish performance can only be blamed on too much competition and not enough disposable income in the pockets of players (mostly locals, with snowbirds and a few tourists thrown in).Get the Story:
Michael Mayo: Tallying up winners and losers, 10 years after slots vote (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 10/14) Related Stories:
Column: Seminole Tribe poised for continued growth in gaming (10/01)
Editorial: Florida shouldn't take a gamble with casino expansion (09/30)
Documents show Seminole Tribe was close to new gaming deal (09/29)
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