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Dog Tracks Gamble to Jumpstart Struggling Industry

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – As reported by the Associated Press: "Dog tracks are a horse-and-buggy bet in gambling's space age. And they're hurting. Everywhere.

"Bill and Cheryl Ruettgers sat outside the Daytona Beach Kennel Club during a recent Wednesday matinee, watching young handlers show off the greyhounds before race 7. Another 200 or so bettors joined them, a very small crowd searching the programs for a winner.

"…It's the same all across Florida, home to one-third of the country's dog tracks. Bets on Florida races totaled $575 million in 2002, about half the amount wagered in 1991.

"So in a last-gasp effort to resuscitate their expiring industry, the owners of certain South Florida dog tracks want a transfusion. They want the very lifeblood of American gambling: slot machines.

"The Legislature has rejected bills the past two years to allow slot machines at tracks, so now the track owners want to ask voters directly.

"They already have honed their marketing pitch. Give them slots in just Miami-Dade and Broward counties, they plan to tell voters, and they'll return as much as $800 million for education every year.

"Plus, they say, slots will rescue a sport that has run in Florida for more than 70 years but now flickers in near irrelevance. Florida dog tracks employ 4,300 licensed workers and paid $19.6 million in taxes and fees last year. But interest has dwindled. A state audit released Monday found attendance at Florida's tracks has dropped by 80 percent since 1990.

"…The state audit recommended legalizing a form of slots known as video-lottery terminals at tracks and jai alai frontons, but the ballot initiative would allow slot machines only in South Florida.

"It still would require statewide voter approval, and that's a daunting prospect for the dog industry.

"…For a variety of reasons, several pollsters, political scientists and Wall Street analysts said they doubt the slots initiative will succeed even if it makes it to the ballot.

"…Though it's the dog tracks that are mostly pushing the initiative, the ballot measure also would allow horse tracks and jai alai frontons in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to install slot machines - if those counties choose to approve them…"

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