Florida gambling regulators on Thursday refused to sign off on the sale of Magic City Casino, one of the state’s oldest pari-mutuels, to the Poarch Creek Indians, bowing to objections that the public needs to know more about the transaction before final action is taken.

But the Florida Gaming Control Commission, which was created in 2021, could authorize the transfer of ownership before the end of the year, as requested by the pari-mutuel’s lawyer, John Lockwood.

The Havenick family has operated the Miami casino since 1931, when gambling was at its heyday in Florida. The casino includes a cardroom and slot machines.

Magic City’s owner — West Flagler Associates, Ltd. — is seeking permission to sell for an undisclosed sum the casino’s permit to Wind Creek Miami, LLC, a “wholly owned subsidiary” of PCI Gaming Authority, Inc., which is owned by the Alabama-based Poarch Creeks, according to an application posted on the commission website.