Attendance has been shrinking at the fronton in recent years, and its manager is blaming greater competition and a stubborn county government.

"Business has been declining for years," said mutuels manager Howard Ostrom. "A lot of it has to do with at the present time, you're not a level playing field with the rest of Florida as far as gambling establishments."

Ostrom says the biggest craze for gamblers now is poker, but Seminole Count commissioners have banned Orlando Jai Alai and the Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club from holding card games.

"I sure as hell have resentment toward it. I've worked here a long time," Ostrom said. "You have off-shore boats, you have Indian casinos, internet cafes. None of which pay taxes to the state of Florida. And we pay heavy taxes and we have all sorts of regulations."

Orlando Jai Alai's boom days were in the 1970's and 80's. It's also played host to concerts, including Elvis Presley and U2.

"We've been a family owned business, a landmark, since 1962," Ostrom said. "Now it's all flushed down the drain."

The fronton also allows betting on horse racing displayed on video feeds.

Orlando Jai Alai will close on December 27th. 75 employees and 30 players will be out of work. Ostrom says they're not planning a big send-off because there's not enough time.