The airport heard its fate regarding the slot machine question recently and the decision did not sit well with airport officials. The state made their decision based on the fact that the airport is not a casino facility and under state law, that would be the only way to get slot machines in the business. In addition, the state said that the airport did not qualify as a “personal entity” and therefore would not be awarded the certification to bring in machines. Lastly, the airport was denied licensing to bring in slot machines because to do so would require that it could get the machines up and operational within one year. That is a task that the airport could never do, so they were denied on all counts to bring slots to the airport floor.

The airport made much of its case for bringing in slots on the basis of finance. It reported that it costs approximately $600 million a year to operate the airport but there is a huge expansion plan coming up for the next few years. Airport officials estimate the expansion to bring the new annual requirement of funds to $1.1 billion. They claim that they are not able to find funding for the additional money unless slot machines are brought in. The state had issue with this argument saying that that was not a good enough reason to allow the airport to have a slot machine license.

The airport is still reporting that its huge debt is enough of a reason to bring slot machines into the facility but critics argue that airport officials should now have embarked on the expansion in the first place if they didn’t have the cash to fund it without slots. Other critics to bringing slot machines to airports were the local racetracks that already have slots. They believed that if the airport was allowed to bring in slots, it would be a huge competition to them and cut in on their funding. Racetracks owners were worried and petitioned hard against the move and are now relieved to know that they won’t have airport competition in the near future.

Florida state lawmakers decided to vote against allowing Miami International Airport bringing slots as a form of revenue. The airports were hoping that slots would be the answer to their huge deficit. Slots traditionally have been highly lucrative for various businesses including casinos and racetracks. Since the time they were invented slots machines have captured millions of gamblers. The machines were first introduced in the late 1800s. Charles Fey came up with the first rough variation of the machine and quickly it took off. Though he was based on San Francisco, places as far away as New York were contacting him to bring the machine to their area. Bars and pubs throughout the country quickly caught on to the popularity of the slots machine and much of their revenues were bolstered by the machines. Soon a manufacturer saw the possibilities and produced the machine in mass.

Throughout the years, it quietly became a staple on the casino floor. In the 40s it began as an innocuous game where high-rollers left their wives. While they bet the big dollars, their wives played smaller amounts for hours. Slowly, slots took over as the number one gambling game in the casinos. During the recession, many casinos were in trouble. Their high-roller tables were suffered greatly due to the difficulty people had in finding money to gamble, much less gamble big dollars. Then there were the slots– at a penny a pop, they remained constants in the world of the casino. Many casinos saw penny-slots as the lifesaver of their businesses throughout the economic downturn.

It’s no wonder with a history like that why the Miami International Airport was pining for the machines. Its managers have been petitioning hard for the move. They believe that with the down-economy, having slot machines installed is a good way to bring up revenues. The airline industry as a whole has suffered throughout the recession and having slots installed at the airport would be a great pastime for customers waiting for their flights and visitors to play the games. They believed that bringing slots to their market would bring in money, but also create more satisfied customers because it would give them a new activity to enjoy while they wait for their flight to take off, or wait for loves ones to pick up.

Part two coming next.`

Miami Dade Airport officials want to bring slot machines to the airport. They believe that this would be a great way to entertain people waiting for connecting flights and it also would be a way to bring in additional money to the business. Of course to make the move, they have to first get approval from the state.

Though it seems easy enough, there are some who are vehemently against slots being installed at the airports. Namely, it’s local racinos that are voicing their negative opinion of the move. They believe that racinos have suffered enough. The economy has wreaked havoc on the racetrack industry. Racetracks all over have suffered greatly due to patrons not having the funds to gamble. Tracks in particular have found it difficult to sustain themselves through the recession. Many have had to file bankruptcy and others have had to close down completely. One move many racetracks have made is to incorporate slots into their facilities. Slots have given many racetracks the ability to turn their own revenue-making downfall around. They have also created the new term “racino” as a blend of racetrack and slots casino.

Because of the care racetracks have had to go through to remain in business, they are fighting against the airport bringing slots to the market. They are worried that slots will cut too much into their much-needed revenues. One racetrack owner said, “If people can play slots at the airport, what is the incentive for them to leave at all? A lot of our patrons came from people visiting for a few hours…the shuttle brought them directly to us with slots specials and promotions.”

Local casinos agree that airports are not in need of funds as desperately at the casinos. Racetrack owner John Parsell said, “Without slots revenue, we have to close. Airports have been operating without slots revenue and will continue. They have a huge market to keep them going. We don’t.”  Despite opposition, the airport is moving ahead with its request for slot machines and hoping to capitalize on the revenues they bring. Though many believe that slots don’t necessarily have a logical place in an airport, the money they bring does.