Job development in Florida’s poorest county: race track and poker room

If you had any doubts that gambling in Florida continues to expand, take a look at the latest opening: the barrel racing track and poker room set to open next month in the tiny town of Gretna.

Gretna is in one of the state’s poorest counties, Gadsden, and the North Florida community has been grateful for the jobs. But, as the Tallahassee Democrat shows in its thorough story here, the real deal is slot machines. Promoters have partnered with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who have offered the financing, and they see profits and the promise of more jobs if they can just get those one-armed bandits installed. All the county needs to do to get slots is a local referendum. County commissioners decide that on Tuesday.