Celebrities are set to be in attendance as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida adds more casino games and in-person sports betting. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Welcoming a “new era”

Celebrities are set to be on hand at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida as it adds more gaming options for its guests.

On December 7, the Seminole Hard Rock will add craps, roulette, and sports betting games to all six of its casinos, bringing in a “new era” in Florida gaming. 

A-listers expected to attend the event include 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, and Prince Royce, among others.

proud to point to a new era in Florida gaming”

Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. said they are “proud to point to a new era in Florida gaming with the unveiling of our new casino games.” With the inclusion of craps, roulette, and sports betting, the Hard Rock brand now offers a range of casino games, putting them among “the ranks of leading casinos around the world.”

Positive impact

In addition to launching the in-person games, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is planning a four-day residency of Carbone, the famous New York-style Italian restaurant. Prices for the prix-fixe family-style menu start at $250.

During the event, The Guitar Hotel will have a pool party featuring Tiësto and a skydiving stunt by Red Bull Air Force. Bruno Mars will perform on December 7 and December 8 and on December 9, there will be a $200,000 cash giveaway in which five winners will get $4,000 every 30 minutes.

According to Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen, the new casino games will positively impact the state’s entertainment, travel, and tourism industries.

Long-running legal battle

The news comes after a legal battle involving a 2021 compact between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Seminole tribe to legalize sports betting across the state.

a Florida federal judge deemed the compact illegal

The 30-year deal paved the way for the tribe to launch online and retail betting. However, Florida’s betting market lasted less than a month when a Florida federal judge deemed the compact illegal, putting an end to Hard Rock Bet. According to the judge, the gaming compact violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

West Flagler Associates (WFA), a Florida parimutuel operator, is seeking to overturn a June ruling which saw a three-judge panel rule in favor of the tribe, agreeing that federal gaming laws allow the Florida government to enter into the 30-year compact with the Seminoles.

More recently. attorneys for WFA submitted a seven-page letter requesting an extension until February 9 to postpone the Seminoles’ monopoly hopes.

Despite the ongoing legal battles, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is keen to move forward with its in-person sports betting.