In a unanimous vote, the 1st District Court of Appeal recently ordered the reinstatement of Magic City Casino’s application for a new summer jai-alai permit, reversing a decision by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which oversees gambling. Observers said the ruling could lead to numerous new applications for this type of permit, which allows a venue to open a cardroom and offer simulcast betting.
The three-judge panel said the department’s denial of operators West Flagler Associates’ permit “was premised on an insupportable reading” of state law.
Izzy Havenick, whose family operates the casino and Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Racing & Poker, said, “It’s nice to have a victory, but we’re cautiously optimistic.” He noted the decision only allows the application to go forward—it does not guarantee approval. “Hopefully, they’ll give it to us,” he said.
Havenick said the new downtown Miami facility, located six miles from Magic City, would employ 300-350 people and offer jai-alai, poker, a restaurant and an entertainment venue. The facility does not have a name or a final development plan, Havenick said. “We stopped planning because we didn’t know what would happen,” he commented.
