Electronic Table Games On Their Way To Florida Casinos

Coming soon to Florida will be blackjack, keno and roulette themed slot machines as a result of a settlement between Florida regulators and a collective of Bally Technologies, IGT, Shuffle Master and a Florida racino property, Gulfstream Park, according to FloridaGamingWatch.com.

The four companies combined forces in a rule challenge against Florida's regulator which was blocking slot machines with table game themes from entering the Florida pari-mutuel casino market.

Despite the games being widely in play at the casinos run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the regulator steadfastly defended a prohibition against slot machines that "replicate" a table game. Alleging the restriction was an arbitrary and capricious restriction beyond statutory authority, the coalition of manufacturers argued that the games were merely slot machines under Florida law and should be permitted into the pari-mutuel casino market.

After nearly a year and an administrative trial, the Florida regulator and the parties settled the matter in exchange for allowing blackjack, keno and roulette-themed games into the state. The ruling, while limited to those three manufacturers, is expected to have a broader reach over the next year as the regulator is required under the settlement agreement to rewrite its rules to remove the prohibition against replicating a table game.

"It was a fair settlement which will hopefully lead to more products in Florida," said Marc Dunbar, shareholder with the Pennington law firm who handled the case for the slot machine manufacturers.

The licensed pari-mutuel casinos in Florida which will see the new products are Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino, Isle of Capri at Pompano Park, Magic City Casino, Calder Race Course and Casino, and the Hollywood Dog Track.

For more information on the settlement, visit FloridaGamingWatch.com, Florida's most comprehensive website for gaming news and Florida gaming law.

October 10, 2009
Posted By Susan Torres
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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