Compacts

Seminole Tribe plans $1.8B in gaming projects with new compact

Monday, February 1, 2016

Employees of the Seminole Tribe welcome Gov. Rick Scott (R) to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Photo from Seminole Hard Rock / Twitter

The Seminole Tribe of Florida plans to invest $1.8 billion in expansion projects if lawmakers approve a new Class III gaming compact.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood will see a guitar-shaped hotel tower with 800 rooms, five restaurants, a buffet, a nightclub and a larger swimming pool area. The Hard Rock in Tampa will see its own hotel tower with 500 rooms, a 2,000-seat entertainment venue, new poker rooms, more stores and restaurants.

“We want to create a destination that has longevity for the state and the tribe,” said Seminole Gaming CEO James Allen said at a press conference, The South Florida Business Journal reported. “We’re not just looking to be a casino.”

Gov. Rick Scott (R) attended the conference and praised the tribe, according to news reports. He signed the Class III gaming compact in December and is calling on state lawmakers to ratify it.

Despite the tribe's promises to create more than 15,000 construction and permanent jobs and share $3 billion over seven years, lawmakers remain skeptical of the agreement due to pressures from non-Indian gaming interests.

Get the Story:
Seminole Tribe promises $1.8B expansion at Hollywood, Tampa properties if new compact is approved (The South Florida Business Journal 2/1)
Seminoles unveil plans for guitar-shaped hotel, expansion (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 2/1)
Rick Scott and Seminole Tribe begin PR effort for new blackjack deal (Florida Politics 2/1)
7 Points About The Florida Gaming Compact (South Florida Reporter 2/1)