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Casinos Numbers Up, Sports Wagering Down In Florida

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By TED JACKOVICS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 23, 2008

TAMPA - Revenue at Florida's casino and poker tables is growing, but lottery revenue is flat and race and sports wagering are declining, a report released today by the publisher of an annual gaming almanac.

Casino City's 2008 North American Gaming Almanac ranks Florida sixth nationwide in gaming-industry revenue, with $3.7 billion in 2007. That's a 5.4 percent increase from 2006 gaming revenue.

Florida is listed behind Nevada, California, New Jersey, New York and Louisiana, according to the report published by Casino City Press of Newton, Mass.

Some highlights of Casino City's almanac report and another recent gaming study:

• Gaming revenue at Florida tribal facilities, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, increased 2.3 percent from 2006 to 2007, to $1.6 billion, according to a previously released 2008-09 Casino City Indian Gaming Industry Report by Alan Meister, vice president for the Analysis Group Inc., an economic consultant.

• Casino and card game revenue from other Florida venues rose 379 percent, to $274.9 million, from 2006 to 2007, the report released today said.

• Florida Lottery revenue rose 3 percent, to $1.7 billion.

• Racing at horse and dog tracks and other sports wagering declined 43.7 percent, to $159.7 million.

The dramatic increase in casino and card room gaming revenue from nontribal sources is not particularly surprising considering that slots were introduced in late 2006 and 2007 at three Florida racinos, which have racing and slot machines at the same location, said Kelley Johnson with Casino City Press.

"Before this, card rooms at race tracks were the only land-based form of non-Indian casino and card room gaming in Florida," Johnson said.

She said flat lottery revenue in Florida seems to be in step with U.S. trends. She added that the general trend across the country for a few years has been a fairly steady decline in race and sports wagering.

The state runs the Florida Lottery and allows tribal casino gaming, horse and dog tracks, parimutuel betting, charitable bingo and card rooms at licensed parimutuel facilities and racinos. Casino cruises also operate off the Florida coast.

Gaming is playing an increasing role in state budgets, the report found. "Many states continue to look to gaming to solve their budget problems either by increasing the tax rates gaming operators pay or by introducing new forms of gaming," the report said.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at tjackovics@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7817.

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