Mardi Gras Casino, formerly known as Hollywood Greyhound Track, is a casino and greyhound racing facility located in Hallandale Beach, in the U.S. state of Florida. Mardi Gras Casino features over 900 slot machines, virtual table games, free to enter poker tournaments, and nightly entertainment.
History
What is now Mardi Gras Casino opened as the Hollywood Kennel Club on December 1, 1934, three years after Florida legalized parimutuel betting. A grandstand was added in 1940. In 1974, the facility was reopened as Hollywood Greyhound Track.
A November 2004 statewide referendum allowed Broward County voters to decide whether to allow slot machines at parimutuel facilities located in the county. Broward County voters subsequently approved the use of slots at Hollywood Greyhound and other parimutuels.
An extensive renovation project in 2006 added approximately 1,100 slot machines and a poker room to the dog track, which was renamed Mardi Gras Casino. Two years later, an additional 200 slot machines were added and, in 2009, the Big Easy Poker Room was relocated and expanded. Also included in the renovated facility were a flea market, several restaurants/bars, and a gift shop.
In 2015, the casino made further improvements, which included widening the aisles and opening up Louie's Lounge to the entire casino floor.
Casino
The casino offers over 70,000 square feet of gaming space, including over 900 slot machines, virtual roulette and blackjack, as well as The Dog Pound, Mardi Gras’ smoker-friendly slot area; simulcast and greyhound racing.
Mardi Gras Casino's poker room, The Big Easy Poker Room, offers over 30 tables of Texas Hold 'em, 7 Card Stud, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo. The casino offers low and high limit tables in an effort to accommodate beginner and experienced players.
There are also nightly, free to enter poker tournaments that can be entered and tracked through the Bravo Poker Mobile App.
Krewe Club
The Krewe Club is Mardi Gras Casino's membership program. Anyone over 21 can become a Krewe Club member, and will receive $25 bonus play when signing up. The Krewe Club is a tiered membership program that includes purple, gold, black, and platinum levels. As club members play in the casino, they earn points that enable them to move up from purple, to gold, to black, and eventually to the invitation only platinum card. Each level gives the card-holder more exclusive benefits, ranging from free valet service to complementary tickets to on-site concerts and events.
Greyhound Racing
Despite improvements and enhancements over the years, the dog track itself has remained relatively the same. Track specifics include:
- Track Length: 1,372 Feet
- Track Width: 22 Feet
- Length of Stretch: 300 Feet
- Composition: Sand and Marl
- Timing: Hundredth of a Second
- Courses: 550 Yards, 660 Yards and 770 Yards
The casino, which is a supporter of the Adopt-A-Greyhound program, also offers simulcast greyhound racing, harness and thoroughbred racing from tracks across the United States and Canada.
Notable Races
Mardi Gras Casino is home to four stakes races:
- Mardi Gras Futurity.
- $75,000 Mardi Gras World Classic.
- $10,000 Joe Ryan Jr. Memorial.
- $50,000 American Derby.
2010 Stakes Schedule
The $15,000 Mardi Gras Futurity Qualifying Rounds Begin January 13 & 16 Semi-Final Round January 20 Championship January 23, 2010
Winner: Ls Lafave
Time: 30:60
The $75,000 Mardi Gras World Classic Qualifying Rounds Begin March 10 & 13th Semi-Final Rounds Begin March 17 & 20th Championship March 26, 2010
Winner: Oya Tom Terrific
Time: 30:51
The $10,000 Joe Ryan, Jr. Memorial Championship April 2, 2010
Winner: Funnelling Money
Time: 30:16
The $30,000 Hollywoodian Qualifying Rounds Begin April 21 & 24th Semi-Final Rounds Begin April 28 & May 1 Championship May 8, 2010
Winner: Crispins Place
Time: 37:55
Hollywood World Classic History - Past Winners
Dining
Mardi Gras Casino offers a mix of Cajun and American cuisine, ranging from fast casual to upscale.
The dining includes:
- The Mezz Grill is a casual bar, offering sandwiches, pizza, and snacks.
- Café Orleans, featuring soups, sandwiches, salads and fresh baked goods.
- Louie's Lounge, the full service premium bar dedicated to the Big Easy Poker Room that has a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and a special late night menu.
- The French Quarter, which is the signature restaurant of Mardi Gras Casino. This restaurant offers high-end cuisine, such as lobster, steak, and crab cakes.
Events and Entertainment
Mardi Gras Casino offers numerous entertainment venues that host nightly performances and year-round events, including concerts, stand-up comedy, dance competitions, and MMA fights.
Sister Tracks
Mardi Gras Casino has two sister tracks:
- Hazel Park Raceway, located in Hazel Park, Michigan
- Mardi Gras Casino and Resort (formerly Tri-State Park), located in Cross Lanes, West Virginia
On July 9, 2010, Tri-State Park was renamed Mardi Gras Casino & Resort as a re-branding effort designed to better represent the facility and position it as a destination, and to coincide with the new hotel opening there.
See also
- List of casinos in Florida
References
External links
- http://www.mardigrascasinofl.com
- http://www.mardigrascasinofl.com/poker-room-south-florida.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100724114633/http://www.playmardigras.com/tri-state_park.shtml
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100724114509/http://www.playmardigras.com/hazel_park.shtml