Miami International Airport Pushes for Slot Machines

In recent years, waiting around the airport before your flight has become somewhat of a joy. Shops, restaurants, and even salons find ways to entertain even the pickiest of travelers, and you can even run errands, buy toiletries, or stock up on snacks for your flight.

Now, Miami International Airport would like to kick it up a notch, and include slot machines.

The airport, which acts – in addition to Atlanta – as a busy southeastern gateway for the United States, voted for a permit earlier this week to allow horse racing, although they never plan to race horses on site. The permit, however, enables a license to own and operate slot machines.

Local casinos and race tracks are up in arms about the move, citing the machines as a way to poach customers from their already dwindling profits. Miami International disagrees completely: Since only ticket passengers are allowed access to the games, they are merely entertaining a captive audience – one that wouldn’t affect the competition.

Why the push? The airport wants the machines so badly in order to raise money for the debt, accrued by a recent airport expansion.

© Cheapflights Ltd Andrea Mooney