Seminole Hard Rock Casino Premieres Blackjack Tomorrow
Tomorrow marks a breakthrough day for gambling in the state of Florida, as blackjack tables will open for the first time onland. While cruise ships and other boats that went offshore past the legal limit have offered blackjack and other table games for years, any form of Class III gambling had until recently been forbidden by Florida law.
However, when the state granted dog and horse tracks the right to host Class III slots, a new can of worms opened. Previously, all land-based gambling had been Class II, in which the house merely takes a cut or rake off the top, and players were in competition with each other.
Class III gambling involves direct competition with the house. By allowing this different level of slots at the tracks, the state found itself in a curious legal position with the Indian casinos. The law is written that any form of gambling available anywhere in the state may legally be offered at Indian venues.
The Seminole Tribe quickly acted to take advantage of the new Class III gaming now legal to them. Not only did they wish to upgrade their slots from the bingo-based Class II, but blackjack, bacarrat, roulette, and other table games fall under the higher classification.
After being stymied by Governor Jeb Bush, the Seminoles were about to declare an impasse in negotiations with the state, which would allow them unilateral control of their gaming. Newly elected Governor Charlie Crist acted swiftly to work out a deal, netting the state upwards of $100 million a year in return for a deal allowing certain games, including blackjack , as exclusive to the Indian casinos.
Even though the legislature has not officially signed off on the deal, and there is rumbling from the racing industry, which finds itself competitively behind again, Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood opens Sunday with 68 blackjack tables, starting at a minimum of $15 a hand.
The large number of tables was necessary to offset expected demand, which might otherwise drive the minimum per hand as high as $100, as had been previously speculated.
Soon, all Seminole gaming locations will be offering blackjack. General Manager Steve Bonner of Seminole Coconut Creek Casino said he expected the tables installed at his location within a couple months, depending on the effect of the Hard Rock's opening; if players leave his casino to head to the Hard Rock, the tribe might act faster to get tables going.
