Seminoles complete $22 million renovation in ... Immokalee (it has blackjack)
The Seminole Casino Immokalee — the third land-based casino in the state with blackjack — has completed a $22 million renovation.
The west Florida casino, which more than doubled its space, unveiled it this week to patrons.
The tribe rolled out blackjack last June at the Hard Rock Hollywood, last November at the Hard Rock Tampa, and last December at Immokalee, about 90 minutes west of Broward County on Alligator Alley. The tribe, which is renegotiating a compact with the state, has not announced plans for installing blackjack at Coconut Creek and the original Hollywood casinos.
The casino will have “the most modern, full service and beautiful environment,” Tony Sanchez, general manager. Restaurants, entertainment and parking also have been expanded.
The casino increased its slot machines from 750 to 1,100, blackjack tables from 12 to 22 and added other card games, such as Three-Card Poker and Let It Ride.
The casino opened in 1994 with about 30,000 square feet for gambling. Now it’s 75,600 in response to west Florida’s population growth, Tribe officials said. The casino is about 30 minutes east of Naples and Fort Myers.
NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, moved on to "night baseball" and "pass the trash" during a Dr. Pepper-infused midnight game in the 1980s at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and now play in a regular neighborhood Hold 'Em game in Plantation. I have been given the assignment of writing about the gambling life in South Florida casinos for the Sun-Sentinel...which means sitting around watching poker on TV now counts as research.
