Miami Airport to Host Casino Gambling on Premises?
Despite legal hurdles ahead, officials from Miami-Dade County in Florida seem to be growing increasingly interested in the idea of placing slot machines at Miami International Airport. New documents uncovered by the Miami Herald indicate that officials are considering adding a horse track to its parking lot, so as to meet requirements for slot licensing.
County leaders had speculated on the potential to produce a huge revenue stream by installing slots at the airport. But the law allowing slots in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties states the slots require a pari-mutuel license, going only to animal racing tracks.
But the county is now eyeing the idea of leasing a track built on a parking lot to an established track operator. The state's approval of the facility for a quarter-horse racing license is all that stands in the way.
The county would also have to rezone the land involved.
Commissioners voted in favor of the casino concept, although several said they wanted mainly to keep the option open, but weren't yet committed to it.
County accountants say slots at the airport could bring in as much as $17 million a year.
