Is South Florida soon to be the next Las Vegas? Our expert can tell you if it's a good a bet or not?

Dec 4, 2023

2 min

Peter Ricci, Ed.D.

There's a lot of buzz in Florida around gambling right now. Legal sports betting, live roulette and live craps might soon become a reality in the Sunshine State, adding to the economic bonanza and possible social consequences that comes with allowing these activities to expand.


Expectations are high, and it's an idea getting a lot of coverage.


In less than a month, in-person sports betting, craps and roulette will, presumably, begin at all South Florida casinos and elsewhere in the state, though that anticipated launch may hinge on a favorable ruling from the Florida Supreme Court.

The launch is expected to drive tourists and businesses to South Florida and elsewhere in the state, create jobs, and bring in billions of dollars in revenue. 



Though investors and hotel owners might not want to push all their chips in just yet. There are serious legal issues that still need to be overcome as well as opposition from the Seminole Tribe and the anti-casino group No Casino.


The idea though, has media contacting local experts like Florida Atlantic's Peter Ricci for perspective and insight.


Peter Ricci, a Florida Atlantic University professor who specializes in hospitality and tourism industry trends, thinks that South Florida will see an uptick heading into the Super Bowl, but most of what he hears from local businesses and hospitality employees is uncertainty rather than excitement.

“What I’ve heard is questions about ‘when is it starting?'” he said. ” … ‘Are they hiring for blackjack dealers? What does this mean? Will they expand the hotel?’ All these questions but nothing specifically pro or con about actual sports betting itself.” November 13 - Sun Sentinel



Whether Florida can become the next Las Vegas is up to the courts, but if you are a reporter following this ongoing story - we're here to help.


Peter Ricci is the Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. He is a hospitality industry veteran with more than 20 years of managerial experience in segments including food service, lodging, incentive travel and destination marketing.


Peter is available to speak with the media about tourism in Florida and the potential for gambling. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Connect with:
Peter Ricci, Ed.D.

Peter Ricci, Ed.D.

Clinical Professor and Director

Peter Ricci is an expert in food service, lodging, incentive travel, and destination marketing.

Casinos & GamingTravel and TourismHotel Guest ServicesHospitalityMarketing

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Florida Atlantic University

1 min

Is the U.S. banking system on the edge of collapse? Our #expert can explain

The recent bailout of First Foundation Inc, parent of First Foundation Bank, by a group of investors has reignited concerns about the stability of the U.S. banking system, specifically banks exposed to debt in the commercial real estate market teetering on the verge of collapse. First Foundation Bank reported more than $6 billion in commercial real estate mortgages on its financial statements for the first quarter of the year, equal to almost six times its equity capital and almost half of its $13.6 billion in total assets. Bank regulators consider any exposure greater than three times equity to be excessive. An analysis by Rebel Cole, Ph.D., Lynn Eminent Scholar Chaired Professor of Finance in the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University, previously found that the First Foundation Bank was fourth highest among the largest banks in the nation in terms of its exposure to commercial real estate debt. It’s likely that other banks are also at similar risk: among banks with more than $10 billion in total assets, there are 67 that exceed this 300% concentration ratio, Cole’s analysis showed. Among the approximately 4,600 banks of any size, Cole reports that 1,871 have total CRE exposures greater than 300%, 1,112 have exposures greater than 400%, 551 have exposures greater than 500%, and 243 have exposures greater than 600%. Cole is available for expert commentary on the stability of the U.S. banking system, other banks at risk due to their CRE exposure, and investor confidence.

2 min

Is Florida becoming more affordable for renters?

Between high interest rates, an influx of newcomers eager for housing and inflation taking a toll on the cost of almost everything - it's been an expensive year for anyone living in Florida. But it appears the tide might be finally turning on high costs and the price to rent a place in the Sunshine State might be going down. It's a trend that has media looking for answers and experts like Florida Atlantic's Ken Johnson getting calls to provide his insight, opinion and expertise on the topic. Florida Atlantic University recently released a new study showing that the state’s rental markets might be stabilizing. In the release, FAU officials announced that rents in areas like Palm Bay and Jacksonville have recently gone below their long-term pricing trends. Meanwhile, the data indicates that other major cities in the state — such as Cape Coral, Orlando and Deltona — saw only slight increases in rent prices, with price increases gradually slowing down. As such, it could be a sign that many renters statewide could soon see lower prices. “While these measures are small, they are a positive sign of where the rental market could be heading in the future,” said Dr. Ken Johnson, a real estate economist with FAU’s College of Business. “These Florida cities are renting at a discount compared to their historical averages, and others appear to be heading in that direction, suggesting that rental markets around the state are stabilizing.”  June 06 - Click Orlando.com Florida may be an interesting case study on what lies ahead. Will these rental trends in Florida start to appear nationally? Who will best benefit from lower rents and what will it mean for the economy? Will lower rents attract more people to Florida and could that reverse this trend? There's a lot to know and understand about the rental market. And if you're a journalist covering the topic or looking to know more - then let us help. Ken H. Johnson, Ph.D., an economist and associate dean in FAU’s College of Business, is available to speak to the media. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview and time.

1 min

Covering the tensions in the Middle East - our experts are here to help with your stories

Photo credit: Timon Studler With escalating tensions in the Middle East, the situation seems to be changing on a daily basis. Robert Rabil, Ph.D., is an expert in political Islam, terrorism, U.S. foreign policy, and U.S.-Arab relations at Florida Atlantic University, and can speak about the current climate in the region, as well as offer expertise on its deep history. Simply click on Rabil’s icon now to arrange a time to speak to him.

View all posts