Florida: Seminoles to debut expanded gaming options at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on December 7

Leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and a slate of celebrities are set to welcome what the tribe calls a "new era" in Florida gaming beginning Thursday, December 7, when craps, roulette, and retail sports betting debut at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and other Seminole Casinos.

Festivities will include special celebrity guests participating in the first roll of the craps dice, the first spin of the roulette wheel, and the first retail sports bet at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood. Tickets are also available to the public for special performances by award-winning artists that weekend as well, notes the tribe

Sofia Vergara, Jon Bon Jovi, Tiësto, Heather Graham, DJ Khaled, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Mike Tyson, Dwyane Wade, Bobbi Althoff, Sarah Hyland, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Prince Royce, Willy Chirino, Max Weinberg, Xandra, Blaise Matuidi, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models such as Brooks Nader, Camille Kostek, Jena Sims, Nicole English, Christen Harper, plus many more entertainment and sports celebrities are scheduled to walk the red carpet. 

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood also plans a combination of "mega-events" over several days. Among them is a four-day residency of Carbone restaurant at the resort's Italian-American restaurant Cipresso from Thursday, December 7 through Sunday, December 10. Created by renowned chef Mario Carbone, the restaurant pays homage to many of New York's great Italian-American restaurants.

Special guests will join Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. and other members of the Seminole Tribal Council, plus Seminole Gaming CEO and Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen, in a ceremony to commemorate the start of the new games, which are the result of a Gaming Compact signed and approved by the tribe and the State of Florida in 2021.

Chairman Marcellus William Osceola 

"The Seminole Tribe of Florida is proud to point to a new era in Florida gaming with the unveiling of our new casino games," said Chairman Marcellus William Osceola. "With the addition of craps, roulette, and sports betting, we now offer a full complement of casino games and we join the ranks of leading casinos around the world."

Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen

"The entertainment, travel, and tourism industries, and many more, will see the positive economic impact caused by the new casino games," said Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen.

"They will increase tourism to Florida and boost employment not only at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood but also at businesses in the areas surrounding this casino complex and others operated by Seminole Gaming throughout Florida," he concluded.

Last month, The Seminole Tribe also reactivated operations for its online sports betting app in Florida, despite looming legal disputes questioning the legality of its monopoly in the state. Operated by Hard Rock, Hard Rock Sports Bet's relaunch took place on November 7, although it is initially aimed at a limited user base.