Recent reports have concluded that the poker boom has been subsiding in the past couple of years, but Florida's pari-mutuel entities belie those conclusions.

    For the 12-month period ending with the close of the state's fiscal year on June 30, the total gross receipts came to $147.4 million, with another $9.4 million added for tournament receipts; that comes to $156.9 million. For the previous 12 months, the total of gross receipts plus tournament receipts reached $147.3 million. Doesn't appear that the poker buffs have lost their enthusiasm. 

    The Jacksonville Kennel Club, which led all venues last year with receipts of $19.5 million, was No. 1 again with receipts of just under $20.6 million. The Palm Beach Kennel Club was second again, showing an increase from $13.1 million to $13.6 million.

    The biggest change came in Marion County, where the phony Oxford Downs took in $3,567,149 and crushed the Ocala Jai Alai fronton, which took a severe hit due to the competition and dropped from $2,974,293 to $1,821,745. The fronton formerly accommodated the busloads of players coming up from The Villages, but those players now have their own facility, just minutes away from their homes. 

    Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs each checked in at more than $4 million, but both were eclipsed by Hialeah Park, which enjoyed gross receipts of more than $7.7 million. Two other dog tracks made the top four, Daytona Beach Kennel Club at more than $12 million and Orange Park Kennel Club in Jacksonville at more than $11 million.  

 

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