Gambling Takes Over Florida
The casino's unmistakable sights and sounds greet visitors entering the 577 Deltona Blvd. Plush carpets, flashing video screens, bells, squeaks, and free food and drinks are some of the ambiance of the Gold Dust casino. Instead of paying in cold, hard cash, winners receive gift cards, restaurant coupons, and even discounts from the chiropractors next door. Yes, this is Florida and they're slot machines. And they're obviously perfectly legal. Mini casinos have been popping up from South Daytona to Fort Charlotte since the state reworked gambling laws in the late 1990s. The sudden increase in these "gender arcades" surprised most cities. The stores are not filled with video games or children. They are more like Bali or Hara's. And the idea of putting some of Las Vegas' streets on a strip mall is not well thought of yet. While frivolous city officials look for ways to regulate arcades, owners like Jack Manning argue that they run legitimate businesses. Manning, who owns the Gold Dust Casino in Deltona, said slot machines are legal because of one small but important feature: Customers pressed buttons to stop the colorful spinning wheels of a video screen. "They're a skill game," he said. "They're programmed like that in a factory." A loophole in the law allows arcade-type games to pay credits that can be exchanged for goods instead of cash, as long as they involve a certain amount of technology. Since it is not considered a gamble, there is no state regulation on arcade games.