Tribe Makes History with First Blackjack Deal

By FELIX DOBOSZ
Staff Reporter

HOLLYWOOD — Famed boxing announcer Michael Buffer had to change his trademark phrase “Let’s get ready to rumble” to “Let’s get ready to gamble” as he announced that Blackjack can now be played at the Hollywood Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

“This is obviously a historic day for the Seminole Tribe and the Hard Rock,” said CEO of Seminole Gaming and Entertainment James F. Allen. “For many years the Tribe has tried to pursue its dreams of being all — with poker, slots and table games — and tonight we control our goal.”

June 22 marked the newest chapter in Seminole Gaming’s history, and a first for the state of Florida, as the Hollywood Hard Rock added 71 new card tables to the gaming floor, with 55 devoted mainly to Blackjack.

Besides popular Blackjack, other table card games added with the hopes of bringing in high rollers from around the globe include: Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Let it Ride and Three Card Poker. The minimum bet on games is $25.

During the ceremony, Buffer also introduced special guests such as Cherokee vocalist Shea who sang an a capella rendition of one of the Tribe’s favorite songs, “Seminole Wind” by John Anderson, and Medicine Man Bobby Henry from Tampa, who provided the invocation in Mikasuki. Buffer also called members of the Tribal Council to the stage to address the gathering.

Chairman Mitchell Cypress acknowledged the hard work of one of the Tribal elders in attendance, gaming pioneer Howard Tommie.

“I’d like to go ahead and thank the gentleman, the founder of Seminole Bingo gaming, named Howard Tommie,” Chairman Cypress said. “Without his type of knowledge we would have never had all of this. He was a brave man, without him this would have never got done.”

Chairman Cypress explained that Tommie successfully petitioned the federal government for Tribal gaming rights almost 30 years ago. The Chairmen also commended the work of all the Tribe’s “courageous elders” who fought for Tribal sovereignty more than 50 years ago.

Blackjack and other table games are slated to come to the Tampa Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino later this year. Dates have not yet been set for the installation of these games at any other Seminole gaming facilities.

When the games got underway, Tribal representatives, Tribal citizens, invited celebrities and VIP Players’ Club members were escorted to their designated chairs and the games began. Other excited Blackjack fans waited several hours for a chance to play on this historic day as costumed showgirls with their bodies painted to look like playing cards and other Vegas-inspired décor set the mood.

“I think this is a great opportunity that’s open to everybody,” said Tribal senior Connie Gowan. “I’m happy to be here to witness history.”

Celebrities including Frank Vincent, Heather Graham, Lorraine Bracco, Alonzo Mourning, Bernie Kosar, Dywane Wade, Gino Torretta, Carmen Electra and her fiancé Rob Patterson of the band Korn were also on hand for the event. Patterson did the honors in one of the Hard Rock’s traditions — the ceremonial smashing of the guitar — which released blasts of smoke and colored confetti that signified Blackjack is now at the Seminole Hard Rock.

Nationwide, Indian casinos have experienced increased attendance by grabbing a piece of the market from other gambling Meccas, such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and the Bahamas. Skyrocketing fuel prices have decreased travel to many of these higher-priced destinations, but the gambling public have adapted quickly by flocking to Indian casinos closer to home.

Philip N. Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, announced at the event that net revenues from Indian gaming continue to grow, increasing five percent from 2006 and generating $26 billion in revenues in 2007.