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Free drinks: Why or why not in South Florida?

One of the most-asked questions regarding South Florida gambling has nothing to do with slot reels, blackjack opportunities or poker tournaments.

It’s about free booze.

Casino patrons familiar with Las Vegas and other parts of the country are often accustomed to sipping on a cocktail as they spin the slots or play blackjack.

But here, they’re coming up dry.

Why?

Here’s a primer:

Seminole Indian Tribe casinos (the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and casinos in Hollywood and Coconut Creek) generally don’t offer free drinks as a “business decision,” according to the Seminoles’ Joe Giaimo. But the Hard Rock makes an exception in the high-roller areas and table games where the action is at $100 minimums or more.

Slot areas at Gulfstream Park, Mardi Gras and the Isle, which are regulated by the state, are not allowed to give away drinks because of Florida State statute 551.121, created two years ago when the slots came to Broward County. The rule reads, in part, that slot players can’t get any breaks on alcoholic beverages that anyone else who walks into that casino can’t have.

“The concern of the legislature was that that casinos not provide some incentive for people to just sit there for eight hours at a time,” said David J. Roberts, director of the state’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

Poker players generally aren’t big drinkers – they concentrate on the cards – so in some cases the free-drink issue is moot. That said, in September the card room at Dania Jai-Alai began offering free drinks to those playing “cash” (non-tournament) games.

“We’re trying to entice the players that come for the tournaments and bust out to go play live cash games,” assistant GM Marty Fleischman said.

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Maybe you've made the right play, maybe you haven't. Your heart speeds up, your stomach rumbles.

That's why it's called gambling.

ACTION is a view of the numbers, the psychology and the flavor of gambling here in South Florida, through our lens.

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NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, early training for his... < More >
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