The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is hosting Florida’s first $3,000 buy-in poker tournament in the Poker Room at Seminole Paradise from May 30 – June 1.

A portion of the tournament proceeds will benefit the newly formed Miami Beach Health Foundation in support of Miami Beach Community Health Center. A potential prize pool of up to $500,000 is up for grabs, according to a press release.

Barry Gibb, co-chair of the Miami Beach Health Foundation Board of Directors, will kickoff the event at 11:30 a.m.

Currently, Florida law dictates a maximum buy-in of $1,100 for poker tournaments. The recent compact agreement permits the Seminole Tribe of Florida to hold six poker tournaments annually, with the stipulation that 70 percent of the net poker income ("the house rake" in poker talk) is donated to a 501 C3 charity.

This legislation was long-awaited by poker tournament players across Florida and locals according to Larry Frank, general manager of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “The compact for charity poker tournament buy-ins places the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in a league of its own. Seminole casinos are the only casinos to offer poker players what we will be able to do beginning May 30,” Frank said.

Several other charity tournaments are being planned throughout the year, according to Peter Arsenis, director of poker operations for the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

“Poker activity has been increasing across the board and we’re responding to the demand. We are the only facility that can offer this new buy-in activity in the State of Florida.”

Tournament registration involves cash sales only. For more information, call 954-327-ROCK.

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