Flagler Magic City Casino averages $472 per machine for first four days
Four days don't make a casino, but it certainly could predict a bright future.
Flagler Dog Track, now also known as the Magic City Casino, averaged $472 win per machine in its opening four days, Oct. 15-18, according to Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering records.
In English: They made $472 each day off of each of its 700 slot machines. By comparison, the Isle made $168 per machine Oct. 12-18, Gulfstream took in $145 that week and Mardi Gras $100.
Now, admittedly the comparisons are unfair because a.) Flagler had an unexpected opening-day curiousity rush of people, a newness factor working for them and b.) they have only 700 machines, so "win-per-machine" is kind of bogus. The Isle has 1,459 slots, Mardi Gras 1,354 and Gulfstream 849. Flagler's average would dip if they had more machines.
Still, as I wrote when the casino opened, they must be doing some things right.
NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, moved on to "night baseball" and "pass the trash" during a Dr. Pepper-infused midnight game in the 1980s at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and now play in a regular neighborhood Hold 'Em game in Plantation. I have been given the assignment of writing about the gambling life in South Florida casinos for the Sun-Sentinel...which means sitting around watching poker on TV now counts as research.
