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The report refers to this process as “decoupling.” It goes on to add that last year the Florida’s Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association filed a complaint against Florida’s state gambling regulators over this very matter. This action followed the decision to renew a slots license for the Miami Gardens casino by the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Current Florida law states that slot machine gaming areas must be “contiguous and connected to the live gaming facility.” The complaint on the books points out that the renewal of Calder’s slot machine license violates this law once the viewing grandstand was torn down. It refers to this situation as an “unadopted rule.” The horse industry is looking for some common ground that would allow anyone in the facility to view live races. The hope is that people gambling on the slot machines would also be inclined to bet on the live horse races as well.
Going back to 2010 when Calder Race Course first added real money slot machines to its live horse racing, the two facilities were connected and in compliance with state law. However, once the 400,000 square foot grandstand was raised in 2016, the only connection between the two is a partially covered sidewalk. Both sides in the matter continue to disagree how this new setup should be viewed in light of state law and the reports adds that there is no indication on how the judge may rule in this case.
