The Pensacola Greyhound Track and Poker Room is working to relocate its operations to Northwest Pensacola, but faces hurdles in securing local approval. The new property, which would be located at 2490 Interstate Circle near Interstate-10 and Pine Forest Road, requires Escambia County to confirm that pari-mutuel gaming is permissible under local zoning laws before state approval can be granted.
The topic was brought before the Escambia County Board of Commissioners during a meeting on Thursday. Commissioners discussed a draft ordinance aimed at clarifying where pari-mutuel gaming establishments, like poker cardrooms, can operate within the county’s zoning districts. The current zoning codes do not explicitly outline permissible locations for such activities, prompting debate over whether an ordinance is necessary.
“This would be sending an ordinance back to the planning board that could be created to specify which zoning categories they would be allowed in,” said County Attorney Alison Rogers. She explained that the ordinance would help the planning department address the ambiguity surrounding pari-mutuel gaming operations and their compliance with zoning regulations.
The Pensacola Greyhound Track and Poker Room, owned by the Poarch Creek Indian Tribe’s PCI Gaming Authority, has already secured the property under contract. However, it is seeking a land use certificate from Escambia County to confirm that the proposed location meets zoning requirements.
Attorney Will Dunaway, representing the gaming facility, argued that the ordinance is unnecessary, given the unique status of pari-mutuel gaming in Florida. Under state law, only one pari-mutuel wagering license is permitted within a 100-mile radius, making the Pensacola facility the sole business of its kind in the area.
“You don’t need an ordinance,” Dunaway said during the meeting. “It’s not a slippery slope. You’re not going to have a whole bunch of bars. You’re not going to have a whole bunch of cardrooms. It’s only one license. It’s 100-mile exclusion. You’re not going to have another one.”
Commissioners did not grant the land use certificate during the meeting. Instead, they sent the proposed ordinance back to the planning board for further review, requesting additional language to address potential distance restrictions. These could include guidelines similar to those applied to other regulated businesses, such as preventing their proximity to schools or places of worship.
Commissioner Steve Stroberger, whose District 1 includes the Interstate Circle property, expressed reservations about the proposed location. While the site is primarily surrounded by businesses, there are residential areas nearby, and Stroberger noted that some neighbors may not be in favor of the gaming operation.
“I want the county commissioners to make a decision on it,” Stroberger said. “We’re going to see this come up again and I still have concerns about where they want to put it. I understand Will Dunaway’s position on it. It all makes sense to me, but I don’t think it’s going to make sense to the neighbors down there.”
The Pensacola Greyhound Track has been navigating its relocation plans for years. Live dog racing at the track ended in 2019 following a statewide ban on the practice, and the facility sold its Dog Track Road property in 2021 for $3.25 million. A previous attempt to relocate to a site off Airport Boulevard that same year fell through.
Pari-mutuel gaming, which includes poker games, allows players to bet against one another rather than the house.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/01/14/91800-florida-pensacola-greyhound-track-seeks-approval-for-new-cardroom-location
