News: (May 13, 2008)

Poker Tournament Benefiting Miami Beach Health Foundation

Music Legend Barry Gibb Kicks-off the Tournament with a Portion of its Proceeds Benefiting the Miami Beach Health Foundation

HOLLYWOOD, FL (May 13, 2008) –The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is hosting Florida’s first $3,000 buy-in poker tournament in the Poker Room at Seminole Paradise on May 30 and 31 with a portion of the tournament proceeds to 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.  

Music legend Barry Gibb, co-chair of the Miami Beach Health Foundation Board of Directors, will kick-off this inaugural event at 11:30 a.m.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the Miami Beach Health Foundation as we get underway to raise funds to provide quality health care for those in need,” said Barry Gibb,  ‘With many people uninsured or underinsured, we salute the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for  their generosity and ability to make a difference.”

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, that aren’t subject to Florida law with the stipulation that 70% of the net poker income 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. Non-Seminole casinos are unable 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’ve been seeing a direct relation to new traffic since the room move. Additionally, we are the only facility that can offer this new buy-in activity in the State of Florida.”   

Tournament registration begins Friday, May 16 in the Poker Room at Seminole Paradise. Cash sales only. For more information, call 954-327-ROCK.

*Total prize pool based on number of tournament participants. Must be 21 years or older to participate in tournament. Management reserves the right to change or cancel promotion at any time. You must be 18 years or older to play live poker. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-888-ADMIT-IT.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is South Florida's leading entertainment destination featuring more than 2,500 of the most popular Vegas-style slots and games on its 145,000-square-foot casino floor including Multi-Area Progressive Jackpots and Mega Jackpots. The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise is a 12,000-square-foot

private room offering no-limit Texas Hold ‘em, limit Texas Hold ’em, Seven Card Stud and two dollar and four dollar limit Omaha Hi Lo games. Our casino offers a non-smoking room and a high-limit gaming room with a cashier booth, check cashing services, and safe deposit boxes. The high-limit room also includes a VIP Plum Lounge exclusive area for loyal Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Players Club members and a celebrity show kitchen. This Four-Diamond, AAA rated, 500-room hotel offers 16 restaurants and lounges, 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting room space, a full-service, European-style spa, environmentally friendly hand car wash and auto detail salon, and 23 retail shops and 11 nightclubs in Seminole Paradise. Entertainment aficionados can enjoy national and international musical acts, comedic performances, and more in Hard Rock Live--a state-of-the art and acoustically-sound arena located on property. Lucky Street parking garage offers guests an additional 2,300 spaces for parking. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. From I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way. For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1-800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com.       
 
About Miami Beach Health Foundation and Miami Beach Community Health Center

To meet the growing demand for quality and affordable health care,  Miami Beach Health Foundation, Inc., a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3),  was formed with the primary goal of raising awareness and funding for Miami Beach Community Health Center and related entities.

The Miami Beach Community Health Center, now operating five health centers: South Beach, North Beach, North Miami, Little Haiti and a school-based health center at Miami Beach Senior High School, provides a full-range of health care services, including primary, behavioral health, dental and specialty care, including OB/GYN, prenatal, HIV/AIDS and pediatric services.  In 2006, the centers provided 85,000 visits to 20,000 patients, including 90% who were 150% and below the Federal Poverty Level.