Vegas-Style Slots Debut at Seminole Hard Rock

Jan 29, 06:43 AM

Jan. 29--Las Vegas-style slots made their official debut at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Monday in what casino officials hailed as turning point for their operations.

"It's a historic day for the tribe," Seminole Gaming CEO James Allen told visitors during a media event. "We finally have a fair playing field."

The Hard Rock in Hollywood has converted about 800 of its about 2,500 machines from bingo-style machines to Las Vegas-style machines as part of its compact with Gov. Charlie Crist. The three racinos in Broward County -- Mardi Gras, The Isle and Gulfstream -- already have Vegas-style slots.

Visitors also have something to look for this spring: news that similar slots are coming to the two other Broward Seminole casinos, and that much-awaited blackjack and baccarat are likely to hit the Hard Rock this spring.

Vegas-style slots will be coming to Seminole Coconut Creek and Seminole Hollywood in mid-February or March and the casino is currently training blackjack and baccarat dealers, with a debut "roughly sometime in the spring," Allen said.

The bingo-style machines play an instant round of bingo, with patrons competing against each other. Las Vegas-style machines are against the house. The Seminoles are not required to reveal their payout percentages, but say their machines pay out about the same as those on the Las Vegas Strip.

The machines usually take 12 to 16 weeks from order to delivery, but game manufacturer International Game Technology turned them around in two weeks this time, Allen said.

"Now that we know they can do it, we'll expect it more often," he joked. Some machines were up and running as early as Thursday, he said.

Allen said the conversion takes away the biggest complaint Seminole Hard Rock customers had: the lack of Vegas-style slots, which he called "more exciting" and which customers have generally said they prefer.

Beverly Peterson of Port Charlotte, visiting her daughter, Tamara, of Southwest Ranches, accidentally played $5 on a nickel machine and won $200 on her first play on a new machine.

"I'm a conservative and I know it," Peterson said. "But, yes, I like these better. When I played the other ones I couldn't get over the thought that I'm just merely playing bingo."

Bob Hansen, visiting from Boston, said: "I don't care either way, actually, as long as they pay me back what I put in."

But Dorise Figueroa of Hollywood said she prefers the older machines.

"I liked the bingo better," Figueroa said. "I just feel like I have a better chance to win."

Meanwhile, Allen said the tribe has no official position on Tuesday's slot vote in Miami-Dade County.

"Although, yes, we like having as big a piece of the market as possible, if slots pass, we'll wish them well," he said.

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