$500,000 Winner-Takes-All
Blackjack Tournament
You could almost hear the electricity in the air as the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa prepared for
the biggest blackjack tournament in Seminole Gaming history on February 8, 2014. Team members spent weeks
preparing to amaze and delight our invited guests; from
the executives who planned the tournament, to the
pastry chefs who spent hours toiling over a decedent
dessert amenity for players staying in our hotel, there
was not one detail missed as our team worked to deliver
the most memorable tournament to date.
The cocktail hour featured flavorful hors d’oeuvres and an
exotic champagne-pouring aerialist. All of which seemed
to temporarily ease player’s nerves, that is, until the
emcee announced it was time to “choose your pick.
”
After two exhilarating hours of playing, there were six
players remaining. They were to take the stage in the Hard
Rock Cafe and compete in 21 hands of blackjack for an
unforgettable winner’s package: a Tiffany & Co. bracelet, a
customized Hard Rock guitar and the best prize of them all,
a half a million dollars.
The final players sat on the edge of their seats as the dealer
dealt the final round; she showed a face card. Each player
was dealt their card and had an option to either hit or stay.
Joseph hit. The table was astounded, he showed 21. The
dealer then turned her second card over and showed 20.
$500,000 richer, Joseph beat the odds with an exhilarating
win and it was a moment and evening to remember.
Players eagerly selected their seat from a table filled with
engraved guitar picks. Each player was accompanied by
our very own Seminole Hard Rock Calendar Girls who
wished them luck as the crowd watched the players take
their seats.
There were six tables and 36 players that filled up the
tournament in the Hard Rock Cafe; that’s a 1 in 36 chance
of winning. Silence could be mistaken for tension, but this
competitive group of players were merely concentrating
and showcasing their true skills for the game. An occasional outburst of cheer or sigh broke the silence during the
intense rounds of the tournament.
Photos credited: David Galindo