Jaunted

State regulators on Friday rejected an application for a parimutuel license at Miami International Airport, citing reasons including Miami-Dade County's failure to qualify as a 'person'' under state licensing laws. The state also faulted the county for not demonstrating it would set up its gambling operation within one year after being permitted and for not proving the entire location was available for use as a parimutuel operation.

Now the truth of this is that there was a lot of shady backroom dealing. Local casinos were concerned that the airport might intrude on their turf, because apparently every quarter carelessly spent on the way out of MIA is a quarter that should have gone to them. The rejection will also end up hurting all MIA passengers, since new usage fees will undoubtedly be needed.

But to be honest we can't get too upset. Slot machines are kind of depressing in any situation, with rows and rows of vacant-eyed gamblers mechanically pulling at levers or mashing buttons like they're in some kind of Pavlovian dystopia. There's a reason Vegas has to add lots of bright lights and loud sounds. The choice is either that or a brutally depressing spectacle. Given the conditions in the average airport—emotions running high, passenger frustration, the hint of sadness—neither seems like a good option.

[Photo: Joselito Tito M. Fraginal / Wiki Commons]

Related Stories:
· State won't let slot machines greet travelers at Miami International [St. Petersburg Times]
· Airports [Jaunted]
· Gambling [Jaunted]