Survival of Horse Racing in Some States Depends on Slots

Las Vegas-type video slots are spreading to racetracks around the country, but not without a fight.

For example, it took many years for Florida to become the 12th state to allow the video slot terminals (VDTs), but only in Broward County where voters approved a referendum. Gulfstream Park is one of four pari-mutuel facilities that can install up to 1,500 machines.

While Indian casinos like the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood and Tampa, and the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming just 15 minutes west of Miami, are ringing and flashing with thousands of “gaming machines” that look like slot machines and sound like slot machines, these machines actually are video bingo and video pull-tab machines.

Gamblers at these terminals are playing against other players - not against the house - and the odds change as each number is pulled. And while the Indian casinos offer a variety of poker games, they do not have blackjack, craps or roulette.

While Miami/Dade County voters turned down video slots, neighboring Broward County us getting four new casinos offering real Las Vegas-style slot machines.

However, those Indian casinos probably will be able to offer those kind of slots that are allowed at Gulfstream, Pompano Park harness track, Hollywood Greyhound Track and Dania Jai-alai.

Gulfstream has announced it will start with 500 VDTs, placing them in a special section of its new clubhouse. “We hope to open the Gulfstream Park slot facility in October,” said Blake Tohana, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Magna, the parent company that operates tracks across North America.

Pennsylvania is next in line to hand out conditional licenses to six racetracks to operate VDTs before permanent ones are issued early next year.

However, several states have run into stiff opposition from officials to install video slots: Kansas, Ohio, Massachusetts and Texas.

The Lone Star State is one example of where horse racing is in do-or-die situation. That’s because neighboring states are luring bettors and horsemen to their tracks that offer Las Vegas-style gambling, mainly VDTs.