Slot machines could come to MIA - bizjournals Business Travel Guide

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voted on Tuesday to allow county staff to ask the statee for a permit that mighr allowthe machines. Staff said the machines would be limiterd to restricted areas beyond thesecurity checkpoint. Most commissioners supportedf the idea, but a including Natacha Seijas, raised concerns about the message it would send to travelersand tourists. She also said allowiny them in restricted areas might soon open the door to widespread gamblinyg operations atthe airport. “This is the firs bite to the apple,” said Seijas, who nonethelesd called herself a fanof “I’m feeling this apple has poison in it and I’mj not biting.
“ The proposal is part of a package of strategies designed to raise additional monety for MIA and the county’s otheer aviation facilities, which cost $600 million annuall y to operate. The airport has an ongoing $6.2 billion capital improvemenf campaign that has run hundreds of million of dollars overthe budget. Fees paid by airlinee provide much of the fundsd to runthe airport. However, commissioners are concernecd that the fees will be so airlines will shun MIA for lowecost airports, such as . Takiny the growth of debt into account, the airport will cost $1.1 billionm to operate by 2015, said Miguel Southwell, deputy aviatioj director for business developmentand retention.
Southwelkl referred to the airport in Las Vegas as a model for theproposede program. Although the generates about $40 millionj annually from slots, Southwell projected the county could addaboutg $17 million to its coffers if slots were offeredr here. In addition to the slot machine proposal, county stafr presented a series of strategies they believ will increase aviation revenue that includedrock mining, and oil and gas exploratiobn on land dedicated for aviation use. But the slot machiner proposal generated the most attentionand debate. Tuesday’s vote only allow s the county to apply forthe permit, with staff stillo having to return to commissioners to pursuwe a license to operate.
Southwell said quick actio was needed because of a windoew of opportunity that would close by Once Gov. Charlie Crist finalized a gamblingv pact with the FloridaSeminolew Indians, he said the window would County staff expects the permit window to be open from November until mid-January, Southwell said. Commisisoner Carlos Gimenez, who votecd for the proposal, echoed the sentimentw of many commissioners who said the countyh should havethe option. Commissioner Bruno Barreirop emphasized thatif approved, the slot machines had to be restrictee to areas beyond the securityg checkpoint and should not compete with existinb gambling facilities, including racetracks.
Commissione Katy Sorenson worried that gambling could create more unforeseen problems by preyingon peoples’ vices. Ron who spoke on behalf of Flagler Dog said the slot machine idea coulxd undermine localgambling operations, which are alreadh in financial jeopardy. He referred specificallt to Flagler, Calder Race Course, Miamii Jai Alai and , which recently won approva for racing, slot machines and poker “These four facilities have expended an enormoue sum of money to get to the plat e to do what they can do righg now and that is abouty to have the potential tobe undone,” Book “All of the jobs, all of the all of everything that is currentlty under way is potentially at risk by this action.
” Commission Chairman Dennis Moss said he wouldx approve the proposal preliminarily, but that it competerd with existing facilities, he would not support it in the future.