Mardi Gras Comes to Broward County

With Mardi Gras having just passed it is only fitting that the Mardi Gras casino is open for business. With Broward County legalizing Class III slot machines, many have been very excited about the possibility of the casino opening. Others have been dreading it, as they didn’t want the slot machines coming in at all.

Many are concerned about the effect the slot machines will have on their community as well as the effect on the state. The state is excited because the money will be going to the school system, which is desperately in need of funding. Proponents of the slots say that the more the merrier and that there isn’t really enough money that can come in to help. Opponents say that it doesn’t matter how much money they bring in, Broward County will feel the ill effects from them for years to come.

Mardi Gras is not the first casino open in the county, but it is one of the bigger ones. The casino will ultimately have 1,200 slot machines up and running, but they are not there just yet. They had actually failed the first attempt at being able to open, but they passed on their second try. This is not unusual, as quite often casinos do not pass on the first try.

Eventually when all four of the casinos in Broward have their slot machines up and running the state anticipates that $200 million will be brought in annually to the state. The state is still waiting to see if a compact is going to be signed with the Seminoles, as they want to bring in Class III slot machines as well, and legally they have the right to. If the state manages to sign a compact with them as well, then the state will receive a portion of the slot machine revenue from them also.


Back to February Archive or Slot Machines