Seminole Indian Tribe casinos (the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and casinos in Hollywood and Coconut Creek) generally don’t offer free drinks as a “business decision,” according to the Seminoles’ Joe Giaimo. But the Hard Rock makes an exception in the high-roller areas and table games where the action is at $100 minimums or more.

Slot areas at Gulfstream Park, Mardi Gras and the Isle, which are regulated by the state, are not allowed to give away drinks because of Florida State statute 551.121, created two years ago when the slots came to Broward County. The rule reads, in part, that slot players can’t get any breaks on alcoholic beverages that anyone else who walks into that casino can’t have.

“The concern of the legislature was that that casinos not provide some incentive for people to just sit there for eight hours at a time,” said David J. Roberts, director of the state’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

Poker players generally aren’t big drinkers – they concentrate on the cards – so in some cases the free-drink issue is moot. That said, in September the card room at Dania Jai-Alai began offering free drinks to those playing “cash” (non-tournament) games.

“We’re trying to entice the players that come for the tournaments and bust out to go play live cash games,” assistant GM Marty Fleischman said.