HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott and the Seminole Tribe of Florida are seeking to increase pressure on state lawmakers to approve a new gaming compact by unveiling a proposed $1.8 billion expansion plan at two tribe casinos.
Scott and Seminole Chairman James Billie signed the seven-year compact in December. So far, it has languished in the state Legislature's annual session. They met Monday at the tribe's Hollywood headquarters to make a renewed push for approval.
A 30-floor additon shaped like a guitar would be the centerpiece of the revamped Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.
There would be 800 rooms in the guitar-shaped addition and many new amenities in the expansion, including swim in, swim out hotel rooms.
"We certainly have designed something that we think creates an international tourist destination and integrated resort that's not just about gambling," Billie said.
Tribe officials said they're ready to break ground as soon as the Florida legislature approved the new project.
"We did our part, the tribe did their part. We negotiated a compact that is fair to the citizens of our state. Now it is up to the House and Senate to do their part," Scott said.
The Seminoles said the expansion plan at its Hollywood and Tampa locations would create more than 4,800 permanent full-time jobs over 14,500 construction jobs. The tribe wants the compact's certainty to move the plan forward.
The compact would provide Florida $3 billion over seven years in exchange for limits on the tribe's competition and other guarantees.