No jackpot: Kennel club loses bid for slot machines

By Jennifer Sorentrue And Hector Florin
Palm Beach Post Staff Writers
Copyright©2007 Palm Beach Post
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

The owners of the Palm Beach Kennel Club will likely have to wait another year to persuade state lawmakers to let them put video slot machines inside their complex on North Congress Avenue across from PBIA.

Despite the club's hard lobbying effort in Tallahassee this year, lawmakers failed to approve a bill that would have allowed them to install as many as 1,000 Class II video lottery terminals at the facility.

The measure was approved by a House council just days before the end of the legislative session but never won support from the entire chamber.

The Senate approved a similar but more expansive bill in April.

"My sense is that we had great success this year, and there is no reason not to finish the job next year," said Brian Ballard, one of a team of 13 lobbyists registered with the state to represent the kennel club.

The team, which includes kennel club CEO Pat Rooney, had been pressing lawmakers in Tallahassee during the legislative session in hopes of winning their support for the measure.

The bill would have allowed the slot machines at nine parimutuel facilities across the state.

"They are pushing very hard for it," said lobbyist Jack Cory, who represents both the Florida and National Greyhound Association, before the session ended May 4. "They are here quite a bit."

Rooney, who did not return repeated calls for comment, was in Tallahassee himself several times during the session, lobbyists said.

Last week, the club referred calls to a Tallahassee-based public relations firm. An official with the firm said she could not comment on future plans at the club and was not privy to other expansion plans the kennel club might be considering.

Besides the slots, the kennel club has considered expanding its entertainment complex for several years, according to several county officials.

Among the ideas mentioned: office and retail space, housing, a hotel, a rental car facility or common garage connected to Palm Beach International Airport, and other entertainment options at the facility.

At a meeting with The Palm Beach Post editorial board in March, county Airports Director Bruce Pelly said he had met with kennel club leaders over potential plans, including running a rental car facility with the airport.

The county owns land and buildings next to the kennel club.

In October, county planners and airport officials met with staff of the Westgate Community Redevelopment Agency, whose boundaries include the kennel club.

Elizee Michel, executive director of the Westgate CRA, said he has not seen kennel club expansion plans but was told they could include an entertainment district.

The kennel club opened its doors a little more than 75 years ago.

It sits on 60 acres north of Belvedere Road and includes chunks of vacant land north of the existing complex, and across the street on the east side of North Congress Avenue.

The club was sold several times before Art Rooney, patriarch of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, bought it in 1970.

Rooney died in 1988 and left the three-eighths-mile track to his five sons.

In 1991, the state approved year-round racing; betting on television simulcasts from other dog, horse and jai-alai venues; and card games.

Six years later, the club opened its poker room, offering stud and draw games at 20 tables.

The kennel club has seen more wagering than most of the 31 parimutuels in Florida, according to the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Aside from the four statewide horse tracks, the kennel club has seen the most live and simulcast wagering since July 1, state records show, exchanging $76.8 million worth in wagers.

Its poker room is also the most popular in the state, with $6.2 million wagered, not counting payouts to winners.

Under the House plan, proceeds from the video slot machines, estimated at roughly $750 million, would have been used to help reduce property taxes.

That left the door open for lawmakers to consider the video slots again next month when they return to Tallahassee for a special session on property tax reform.

The Associated Industries of Florida, a 10,000-member group that dubs itself the voice of Florida businesses, supported the video lottery terminal bill this session.

Associated President Barney Bishop says "it's certainly a possibility" that the bill will resurface during the special session.

"It's good for economic development," Bishop said.

But Ballard said it's unlikely that the measure would be put back on the table.

Ultimately, it will be up to Rooney to decide whether to push for the machines again next year, Ballard said.

Staff writer Michael C. Bender contributed to this story.