Casinos

Gambling has a long history in Southern Florida going back to almost one century ago since Henry Flagler began enticing high rollers in southern Florida. These first set of gambling activities were not formally organized as gambling is today. They were largely happening inside some of the reservations in Florida, and to be specific in the Seminole reservations.

First Casino in Southern Florida

The first casino which opened in southern Florida took place in 1888. It was opened by Ponce de Leon at St. Augustine. Ponce de Leon erected what was called then a Bacchus Club Casino inside his hotel in St. Augustine. Similar casino structures were built near the beaches which became a central spot where people gathered for roulette wheels. It also had crap tables as well as bookie boards back in that early era in 1888. Soon a man by name Henry Plant concentrated building his small scale casino gambling hotels on the West coast of Florida while Haggler concentrated in the east coast.

Tampa and Miami Gambling Connections

In 1920s Tampa emerged as a place where illegal Bolita gambling activities took place. Bolita was a form of numbers game which was introduced in the Tampa area by Cuban immigrants. Soon such practice spread to Miami but at first took place in the homes of wealthy Miami residents many with Cuban connections. These forms of early South Florida gambling activities soon sprang up in many other small swampy towns in south Florida like the city of Hialeah Park which began its small scale gambling activities in 1924.

Al Capone and Meyer Lansky Connections

During the era of 1930s notorious mafia bosses in the names of Al Capone and Meyer Lansky established some hangout places in Southern Florida, which created a place known as “Little Chicago” with gambling casinos. With Al Capone and Meyer Lansky connections, the gambling activities have now involved Sheriffs, Police and politicians who received some form of payments to protect such activities from the point of view of the law.

Modern Gambling in Florida and its economic impact

Florida today has all forms of legalized gambling operations covering most of south Florida’s coastal cities and towns. Gambling activities in south Florida at Miami casinos produces many jobs and employment opportunities in the state. Today gambling activities in Florida is worth over $2.2 billion. The state is also involved with the lottery system. Gambling has spread to many Indian reservations in Southern Florida and has helped many Indian reservations improve their economic conditions.