Casino Miami Jai-Alai
A Miami, Florida gambling and entertainment venue combining a casino, jai-alai fronton, concert arena, and former boxing facility.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Casino Miami is a gambling and entertainment complex at 3500 NW 37th Avenue in Miami, Florida. The property is associated with a 6,500-capacity indoor arena, casino operations, and the Miami Jai Alai Fronton, a venue historically used for jai-alai matches, concerts, and boxing. Although its name emphasizes jai alai, the property’s contemporary identity is broader: it operates as a casino and event venue, with the arena used primarily for gambling-related activity and live entertainment. The venue became part of Miami’s entertainment history through its concerts and sporting events. Past performers associated with the arena include the Allman Brothers Band, Black Sabbath, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Santana, and the Grateful Dead. The site also hosted 89 boxing events, including bouts involving prominent former world champions. These uses positioned Casino Miami as a multipurpose destination rather than only a gaming facility. Jai alai was a major part of the property’s historic appeal. At its peak in 1975, the fronton attracted more than 15,000 spectators for matches, reflecting the sport’s importance in South Florida’s entertainment and pari-mutuel landscape. The Miami Jai Alai Fronton continued operating until its closure in 2021. The fronton was later reported to have reopened on February 13, 2026, under the name JAM Arena, or Jai Alai Miami, with a reduced capacity of approximately 1,500 seats for jai-alai and shows. The reopening included a match involving the World Jai-Alai League, which had previously operated from Magic City Casino until 2025. The property also underwent ownership changes. Following a bankruptcy, an affiliate of ABC Funding acquired Casino Miami in 2014. Phil Ruffin purchased the venue on December 3, 2018. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate founding year, original founder, detailed corporate structure, or complete current operating model. Casino Miami is therefore best understood as a physical entertainment property and local venue brand whose history spans casino gaming, pari-mutuel jai alai, concerts, and boxing.
History
Casino Miami developed as a combined gambling and entertainment property in Miami, Florida, incorporating an indoor arena, casino facilities, and a jai-alai fronton. Its location on Northwest 37th Avenue placed it within the broader South Florida entertainment and gaming market. The site’s arena was designed for multiple uses, allowing the property to host concerts and sporting events in addition to gaming and jai alai. The Miami Jai Alai Fronton became the defining historic feature of the complex. Jai alai, a fast-paced court sport traditionally associated with Basque culture, attracted substantial audiences in South Florida during the sport’s commercial peak. In 1975, the fronton reportedly drew more than 15,000 spectators at its busiest point. This audience scale made the venue one of the notable jai-alai destinations in the region. The arena also had a substantial music and boxing history. Performers associated with the venue include the Allman Brothers Band, Black Sabbath, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Santana, and the Grateful Dead. The site hosted 89 boxing events, including contests involving former world champions. These activities broadened Casino Miami’s role from a fronton and gaming site into a multipurpose public entertainment venue. The property experienced financial and ownership changes. After a bankruptcy, an affiliate of ABC Funding acquired Casino Miami in 2014. Phil Ruffin subsequently purchased the property on December 3, 2018. The available reference material does not provide the property’s original opening year, founding organization, or detailed terms of either transaction. The Miami Jai Alai Fronton operated until 2021, when that part of the complex closed. A later reported redevelopment or reactivation brought the venue back under the JAM Arena name, meaning Jai Alai Miami. The reported February 13, 2026 reopening used a smaller approximately 1,500-seat format and was intended for jai-alai and shows. The event included a World Jai-Alai League match; that league had previously operated from Magic City Casino until 2025. Casino Miami therefore represents both a continuing casino property and a changing entertainment venue, with its identity shaped by gaming, live events, boxing, and the rise and revival of jai alai in Miami.
- 2026
JAM Arena reopening
[1]The former fronton was reported to reopen on February 13, 2026, as JAM Arena with approximately 1,500 seats for jai-alai and shows.
- 2021
Miami Jai Alai Fronton closes
[1]The Miami Jai Alai Fronton ended operations after decades as a jai-alai and entertainment venue.
- 2018
Phil Ruffin acquires the property
[1]Phil Ruffin purchased Casino Miami on December 3, 2018.
- 2014
Post-bankruptcy acquisition
[1]An affiliate of ABC Funding acquired Casino Miami following a bankruptcy.
- 1975
Fronton reaches peak reported attendance
[1]The Miami Jai Alai Fronton reportedly drew more than 15,000 spectators at its peak.
Products and positioning
A South Florida gaming and entertainment destination built around casino operations and the historic Miami jai-alai tradition, with additional capacity for concerts, shows, and sporting events.
Casino gaming
Casino Miami gaming facilities
The property’s core contemporary offering is casino gambling in a Miami entertainment-venue setting. The available reference material identifies the complex as a casino but does not enumerate specific games, operating hours, wagering products, or loyalty programs.
Jai-alai venue
Miami Jai Alai Fronton
The historic fronton hosted jai-alai matches and became one of the property’s most recognizable features. It operated until 2021, after which the venue was reported to return in a reduced format as JAM Arena for jai-alai and shows.
Entertainment venue
Indoor arena and event venue
The indoor arena has a reported capacity of 6,500 and has accommodated concerts, boxing, and other public events. Its past programming included performances by major rock, pop, and soul artists as well as 89 boxing events.
Brand decisions
2026
Reopening as JAM ArenaProduct launchBackground
After the fronton’s 2021 closure, the jai-alai venue was reintroduced in a smaller format.
Action taken
The venue reportedly reopened on February 13, 2026, as JAM Arena, or Jai Alai Miami, for jai-alai and shows.
Aftermath
The reopening restored jai-alai programming at the site with a reported capacity of approximately 1,500 seats. The first reported event involved the World Jai-Jai League.
2021
Closure of the Miami Jai Alai FrontonStrategyBackground
The fronton was the historic jai-alai component of the broader casino and entertainment property.
Action taken
The Miami Jai Alai Fronton ceased operations in 2021.
Aftermath
The property’s jai-alai operations were interrupted until the reported later reopening as JAM Arena.
2018
Sale to Phil RuffinM&ABackground
Casino Miami had previously changed hands after a bankruptcy and a 2014 acquisition by an ABC Funding affiliate.
Action taken
Phil Ruffin purchased Casino Miami on December 3, 2018.
Aftermath
The purchase placed the property under Ruffin’s ownership. The available reference material does not provide transaction value or subsequent operating changes.
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