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Seminole Casino Debuts Vegas-Style Slot Machines

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By ADRIAN SAINZ, The Associated Press

Published: January 29, 2008

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Purse in hand and eyeglasses on, 80-year-old Ruth Spivak stood behind a velvet rope Monday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, just steps away from the bright lights, musical chiming and big jackpots of the tribe's first Las Vegas-style slot machines.

Spivak woke at 7:30 a.m. and came down from Delray Beach to get in position. She was one of hundreds who showed up to feed dollar bills or casino debit cards into the 800 new slots at the Seminole Tribe of Florida's casino in this Fort Lauderdale suburb.

"I want to try the machines and win money, like I do in Las Vegas," said Spivak, who said she goes to the gambling capital about twice a year and hoped to win a "couple hundred dollars" Monday.

A flashy ceremony to introduce the new machines came just weeks after an agreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and Seminole Tribe leaders went into effect.

Sought by the tribe for years, the deal allows expanded gambling for Vegas-style games such as slots, blackjack and baccarat at its seven Florida casinos. No blackjack or baccarat was yet available at the Hollywood casino, which already offers poker.

The tribe plans to install up to 15,000 slot machines across the state, though it will take some time to get them installed at its other six facilities. No date has been set for introducing similar equipment and games at the Tampa Hard Rock, Seminole Tribe officials have said.

Players of Vegas-style, or Class III, slot machines compete against the house rather than each other, a feature of the bingo-style Class II games already available at Seminole casinos. The Vegas-style machines are seen as more lucrative, both for players and casinos.

Crist's agreement was challenged by House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt, who said lawmakers must approve any agreement he negotiates. The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments about whether the compact is valid on Wednesday.

State leaders have said they did not expect the tribe to begin operating the slots so quickly.

"When the compact went into the Federal Register it became law that we're allowed to offer Class III devices," said Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming. "Obviously, we placed our orders immediately."

Allen said two Nevada-based slots manufacturers, International Gaming Technology and Bally Technologies, delivered the machines "in weeks, when it usually takes months."

As part of the compact, Florida has received a $50 million payment from the tribe and is guaranteed $100 million in the first year. The state's share is set to increase to up to $150 million by the third year of the agreement, and after that will be based on revenue. Many expect the state's share to quickly add up to billions of dollars.

Broward County pari-mutuels already have Vegas-style slots, and Miami-Dade County voters are to decide today whether they want slots at their jai-alai fronton and horse and dog tracks.

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