Dania Beach has had jai alai since 1953. It was the second fronton ever to open in the United States and remains one of the largest, and that is not a historical footnote here — the fronton is still running, and the casino exists because of it.
Florida licensed slot machines at pari-mutuel venues, so the jai alai court is the reason there is a gaming floor attached. It holds a 4.1 rating from more than 5,000 Google reviewers.
The rule that makes this place unusual
Most casinos have one age limit. Dania Beach has three, because different activities sit under different parts of Florida law:
- All ages can watch jai alai
- 18 and over can bet on jai alai and play poker
- 21 and over for the slot floor, the electronic table games and the high-roller rooms
An 18-year-old can legally sit in a poker game here. That is close to unheard of in the United States outside a handful of pari-mutuel rooms, and it is the single most searched-for fact about the property.
The renovation reset the building
For years this was a tired venue. Reporting before the rebuild described a musty jai-alai court drawing fewer than a hundred people a night.
A $64 million renovation closed the property for roughly 18 months and reopened it in January 2016. What came back is a genuinely modern floor: 900 slot machines, about 40% of them IGT cabinets, and a poker room expanded to 24 tables with twelve added in the rebuild.
Electronic blackjack, roulette and craps fill in the table-game side. There is no live dealer pit in the Las Vegas sense — Florida's rules on which card games a pari-mutuel licence permits shape what you will find, and here it is machines plus poker.
Poker is the real draw
Twenty-four tables is a serious room by Florida standards, and combined with the 18+ rule it draws a younger field than the Seminole properties down the road. If you play poker and you are in Broward County, this is a room worth knowing.
Hours, which are not the same every day
The floor does not keep a single schedule:
- Monday and Tuesday: 9:00am to 3:00am
- Wednesday: 9:00am to midnight
- Thursday through Sunday: open 24 hours
Wednesday is the short night, and it catches people out.
Getting there
301 E Dania Beach Blvd, Dania Beach, in Broward County — minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and an easy run from Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood.
Is casino gambling legal in Florida?
At licensed venues, yes. The state permits slot machines at approved pari-mutuel facilities in Broward and Miami-Dade counties and full casino gaming at tribal properties under the Seminole compact. Dania Beach operates under the pari-mutuel route, which is exactly why its game mix looks the way it does.
Worth it?
For poker, yes, and especially if you are 18 to 20 and cannot get a seat anywhere else. For slots it is a solid modern floor with no particular edge over Big Easy Casino or Magic City Casino nearby.
For live dealer table games, go to Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood instead. Dania Beach cannot offer what a tribal compact allows, and pretending otherwise would waste your drive.
FAQ
How old do you have to be at the Casino @ Dania Beach?
It depends on the activity. All ages may watch jai alai, 18 and over may bet jai alai and play poker, and 21 and over is required for slots, electronic table games and the high-roller rooms.
Does Dania Beach still have jai alai?
Yes. The fronton has operated since 1953 and is one of the largest in the country.
How many poker tables are there?
24, following the renovation that added twelve.
How many slot machines?
Around 900, roughly 40% of them IGT cabinets.
Are there live dealer table games?
No. Blackjack, roulette and craps are electronic. Poker is live.
What are the opening hours?
9:00am to 3:00am Monday and Tuesday, 9:00am to midnight Wednesday, and 24 hours Thursday through Sunday.
Comparing South Florida rooms? See Big Easy Casino, Magic City Casino and Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood.
Updated September 2026 · Details verified against the operator's site and Florida Gaming Control Commission records. Hours, table counts and age rules change. Confirm before you go.
