Music Legend Barry Gibb Kicked off the Tournament with $40,000 donated to the Miami Beach Health Foundation

HOLLYWOOD, FL (June 5, 2008) -The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino hosted Florida's first $3,000 buy-in poker tournament in the Poker Room at Seminole Paradise. More than 125 players resulted in a $40,000 donation to the newly formed Miami Beach Health Foundation in support of Miami Beach Community Health Center.  

Music legend Barry Gibb was a part of the official launch of the tournament as co-chair of the Miami Beach Health Foundation Board of Directors. His call to "shuffle and deal" launched a three-day tournament, which officially celebrated the opening of the Poker Room at Seminole Paradise.

"We are thrilled to receive $40,000 as part of the first charity poker tournament," said Barry Gibb.  ‘With many people in need of quality healthcare, 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, 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. Seminole casinos are the only casinos to offer poker players what we will be able to do," Frank said.

Several other charity tournaments are being planned throughout the year for other not-for-profit groups, including the Hollywood Police Athletic League, Ann Storck Foundation and the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood 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 are the only facility that can offer this new buy-in activity in the State of Florida."  

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 http://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. 

For additional information, contact the Miami Beach Health Foundation at (888) 384-7019 or visit www.miamibeachhealthfoundation.org

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