Hard Rock Opens Nonsmoking Gaming Area

Casino Expansion Makes It Largest in Florida

By Felix DoBosz

HOLLYWOOD — The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opened a 10,000-square-foot nonsmoking gaming area on May 25. This newest addition makes the Hollywood casino the largest in Florida.

Guests waited patiently for noon to roll around with the local media on hand to record the celebration. A large crowd gathered in the front of the entrance next to the food court in anticipation of announcements from Seminole Hard Rock President Michael Bloom and General Manager of Gaming Operations Larry Frank.

Bloom explained that there is “positive air pressure that we have in this room; it blows air out, it doesn’t allow smoke to infiltrate into the room.” He added, “We built this room with everyone’s comfort in mind.”

The new nonsmoking gaming area has 311 games and offers ATM machines, redemption machines and even its own Players Club. Games provided featured the usual nickel, dime and quarter machines, and multidenominational games including Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune, Wheel of Gold, Double Diamond, Triple Diamond, Snow Globes, Wild for Dolphins, Shake your Booty, and Mr. Cashman, just to name a few.

Four of the famous “Elvi,” Elvis impersonators from Las Vegas, were on hand again to greet guests just as they had done back in May 2004 for the Hard Rock Grand Opening celebration. While walking on stilts, the Elvi pulled back the red curtain to reveal the gorgeous, newly renovated gaming room as The Doors’ “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” played appropriately in the background.

Attendees remarked how cool and refreshing the air felt as they enjoyed roaming around the game floor. Guests enjoyed complimentary refreshments as they scrambled to be the first to play their favorite gaming machines.