Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in $75M Expansion

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. July 05, 2012

July 5, 2012 - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa recently completed a $75 million expansion, making it the world's sixth-largest casino, based on gaming positions or number of seats at a table or slot. It is also larger than any casino in Las Vegas. The casino floor is now larger than five football fields combined and features more than 5,000 slot machines, 110 table games and 50 poker tables. An enclosed smoke-free slot room with 70 machines is located next to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's newest restaurant, Rise Kitchen & Bakery™.

Also, players will enjoy unmatched views of the pool area and tropical landscaping from within the casino. While some casinos have hinted at providing natural light in limited areas, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa has embraced the ability to feature it along with the pool. Players can take in Florida's summer sun and beauty while they play at Florida's ultimate entertainment destination.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is one of the largest employers in Tampa Bay and pays more than $74 million annually in salaries and wages to local team members. The property currently employs over 3,300 people. The overall expansion project created nearly 1,000 jobsin construction and hospitality, two of the hardest hit jobs sectors in Florida. Hillsborough County's unemployment rate is currently 8.4 percent and remains above the national unemployment rate of 8.2 percent.

“A construction project of this magnitude was only made possible because of our incredible team members, business partners and our guests, who patiently waited for us to create what they've been asking for: more space, more dining options and ultimately more of what they wanted and needed,” said John Fontana, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa.

For the Expansion Digital Press Kit with high resolution photos, facts sheets and press releases, click here: http://seminolehardrocktampa.com/media-room/expansion2012.

About Rise Kitchen and Bakery™
It is the ultimate twist on nostalgic favorites with 10 hearth ovens baking specialty artisan breads, fresh soups, inventive salads, flatbreads, sandwiches and over 40 sweet treats made from scratch daily. All items are prepared in an open view kitchen. Among the regional and local treats are Yoo-Hoo, Dr. Brown's Black Cherry Soda and whoopie pies. Freshly baked bread is available to go or dine-in from morning until late night. The non-smoking restaurant is located near the new pool and seats 228. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

About the Pool Area
Guests can soak up the sun and listen to tunes at the new pool area. They can relax in the privacy of their very own chickee hut cabana decked out with flat screen TVs, refrigerators and other cool toys. The pool bar features items from Rise Kitchen & Bakery™. The pool is open exclusively to hotel guests or those renting chickee hut cabanas.

About Winner's Way Parking Garage
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino also added the new five-story Winner's Way parking garage with 1,300 spaces, bringing the property's total number of parking spaces to over 5,000. Now there is a parking space for every slot machine in the casino. This is the casino's third parking garage. The other garages are Lucky Street and South Garage.

About the Pedestrian Bridge
A new pedestrian bridge connects the Winner's Way garage to the casino. Guests will travel through music history starting with the 1950s to the 2000s. Iconic memorabilia includes Elvis Presley's military uniform, Jimi Hendrix's leather jacket, Bette Midler's mermaid suit, one of Lady Gaga's iconic costumes and more.

About Development & Design
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino put together an impressive, diversified team for its expansion. Klai Juba Architects, the premierhospitality and gaming resort specialist, was the project's architectural firm, and Cleo Design was the casino expansion's interior designer. Turner Construction was the project's builder.

The last major expansion at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa was in 2007 when 55,000 square feet was added to the casino along with more than 1,000 new gaming machines. Also in 2007, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood opened its doors. In 2008, the property had a table game expansion and added close to 1,000 jobs. More recently, in December 2010, the Hard Rock Cafe Tampa opened its doors with much fanfare, and the property added a new poker room. Additionally, the Penny Slots Room opened in March 2012. It features hundreds of one-cent machines.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Fla. is now one of the largest casinos in the world. This ultimate entertainment destination features 110 table games including Blackjack, Mini and Midi-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker and Texas Hold 'em Poker, along with over 5,000 slot machines and a smoke-free poker room with 50 tables offering high stakes action. It is the sixth-largest casino in the world, based on gaming positions. For the sixth year in a row, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has awarded this 250-luxury room hotel its prestigious Four Diamond rating. Guests can enjoy a new pool area and restaurants including the Hard Rock Cafe Tampa, part of Hard Rock's 138 globally recognized rock 'n' roll themed restaurants, the award-winning Council Oak Steaks & Seafood Restaurant, and Rise Kitchen & Bakery™, which features freshly baked breads and entrees made with fresh ingredients. Valet and more than 5,000 free, self-parking spaces are available. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is located off of I-4 at North Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue, between I-75 and I-275, about 10 minutes east of downtown Tampa. For more information, please call 1-800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrocktampa.com or www.facebook.com/seminolehardrocktampa. Follow us on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/SHRTampa.