The Pensacola Greyhound Track and Poker Room will soon have a new home
A poker room in Pensacola, FL, is set to relocate after Escambia County Commissioners voted to amend a zoning ordinance. The decision, made by a four-to-one vote, clears the way for the Pensacola Greyhound Track and Poker Room to move its operations to a new site in Northwest Pensacola. The facility, owned by the Poarch Creek Indian Tribe’s PCI Gaming Authority, has been seeking approval to establish its cardroom at 2490 Interstate Circle.
Currently operating at 951 Dog Track Road, the poker room has been looking for a new location for several years. The county’s Land Development Code amendment now allows pari-mutuel gaming, which includes poker, in areas zoned for Heavy Commercial and Light Industrial use. This change was necessary for the poker room to relocate since Florida law permits only one pari-mutuel wagering facility within a 100-mile radius.
District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger was the only member to oppose the change. Representing the community where the new cardroom will be located, he raised concerns about placing a gambling business in a neighborhood setting. While some residents voiced opposition, others privately expressed support, leading to mixed opinions during a town hall meeting on the issue.
Attorney Meredith Bush, representing the gaming authority, emphasized that the cardroom has not had a negative impact on the community and that the organization has been actively searching for a new space due to leasing constraints at the current location. Property records show that the Dog Track Road site was sold in 2021, further prompting the need for relocation.
Supporters, including local card players, defended the facility as a social space where people gather to unwind and interact. With the county’s approval secured, the final step for the poker room’s move will be obtaining state authorization to operate at the new location.
