Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa prepares to open a smoke-free gaming area, responding to growing demands for non-smoking areas at casinos. Renovation works are set to begin later this year, but a temporary venue will allow players to enjoy smokeless gaming earlier.
Over 40% of the Slot Machines Are Going Smokeless
In line with an earlier announcement, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa confirmed that it is set to add a smoke-free gaming space to its offering. While the casino has had a dedicated smoke-free area for a while, it has been fairly limited.
In June, the Hard Rock-owned casino confirmed that the new smokeless area will host roughly 40% of its slot machines. This decision was prompted by a growing demand for non-smoking gaming spaces, reflecting broader shifts in player preference.
In any case, setting aside the non-smoking area will require some significant renovations. According to Hard Rock, these works will kick off in October. In the meantime, the Hard Rock Event Center will function as a temporary smokeless casino, allowing customers to continue enjoying the operator’s gaming offerings. Gaming at the Event Center will begin in September.
Hard Rock said that the Event Center will function as a 24/7 casino during this transition period. It will host 682 new slot machines, including Lightning 10 Year Storm, Dragon Link, Phoenix Link, Railroad Riches, Monopoly and Thunder Empire. The temporary casino will also include 34 table games, which will be relocated from the existing casino floor. These games will include Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud and Roulette.
Cash centers and ticket-redemption services will be available inside the Event Center. At the same time, the main casino cage on the primary floor will remain open. The main casino floor will be enhanced with 243 slot machines during the renovations.
The Whole Area Will Be Refurbished
As for the renovations, Hard Rock said that the areas that will make up the new smoke-free casino include portions of the casino floor stretching from the Elvis piano display to the Cipresso restaurant, along with the hotel lobby and L Bar.
Hard Rock noted that all carpets, chairs, gaming table felts and ceiling treatments will be replaced.
Travis Lunn, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, commented on the changes, saying that they seek to provide guests with more choices and ways to play and enjoy what the property has to offer.
The temporary casino inside Hard Rock Event Center will allow guests to continue enjoying a wide variety of gaming options while this incredible transformation takes place.
Travis Lunn, president, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
It should be noted that existing smoke-free venues and amenities throughout Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa will remain unchanged. These include the Draper Room, Rock Spa & Salon and the Mezzanine Casino. Hard Rock added that resort amenities and restaurants will remain open throughout the renovation process.
The casino company promised to share more news at a later date.