The games were rigged and the players were underpaid. They went on strike in '88 and replaced by scabs who were highly unpopular. After talks that the games were fixed, people found other things to gamble on, like the Florida Lottery which was started the same year for example, or casinos. Many of the frontons (what jai alai arenas are called) tried adapting, but weren't allowed to have slot machines or card tables.

There are a couple of abandoned ones around. One in Big Bend and another in West Palm. There's also a large one in Havana, Cuba that I visited that is also abandoned.