Hurricane warnings across Florida are closing airports, schools and colleges across the state as Hurricane Milton closes in. The storm is expected to cut a path through Tampa Bay, Orlando and Melbourne beginning Wednesday before heading back out to sea later this week.
The casino industry stands to take a financial hit because of the storm. According to Florida Gaming Control Commission figures, slot revenue alone in the state can approach $10 million in a typical September/October gaming period. But the last couple of weeks have been anything but typical, as many Florida resorts and casinos are still trying to bounce back in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which reached landfall September 26.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida owns all but one of the seven Indian casinos of Florida, while the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida owns the other.Two Seminole casinos are located in Hollywood, Florida, and one each in Hollywood, Coconut Creek, Immokalee, Tampa and Okeechobee. Meanwhile, the Miccosukee Tribe's casino is in Miami.
All of the casinos in the path of the storm have precautions in place or have already shut down operations.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Remains Open
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is still open, for the moment. The resort is posting updates on its website.
There’s already a message that reads: “The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority. As we actively monitor Hurricane Milton, we want to keep you informed of any changes to our services and operations. On this page, you'll find the latest updates. Please check back frequently for any changes or cancellations. We will provide real-time updates as the situation evolves.”
Gary Bitner, a public relations representative for Seminole Hard Rock, told Action Network: "The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is well inland, four miles northeast of any of the areas impacted by storm surge."
The Seminoles take storms seriously. Two years ago, when Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, approached, they closed their operations in the middle of the state. Although they allowed current hotel guests to stay, they stopped accepting new guests and suspended all gaming activities due to the storm's impact.
Poker Room Closes Operations Ahead of Hurricane Milton
The Win! Derby poker room in St. Petersburg, which is nearer the ocean and more vulnerable to storm surge, shut down operations Tuesday at 4 am.
An Instagram post said it will remain closed until Hurricane Milton safely clears the area. Win! Derby is still trying to fully recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene, as several weekend events were canceled or cut short because of the damage.
Other poker rooms in the Tampa Bay are also taking a cautious approach. TGT Poker and Racebook, in the heart of Tampa, closed because of the approaching storm. It hopes to reopen as early as Thursday.
The potential for damage and power outages are only part of the problem. Roads connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg are closed due to the threat of the storm surge, which some weather watchers are calling potentially “catastrophic."
Tampa Bay Typically Lucky With Hurricanes
Although Tampa is situated in a hurricane-prone area, it has been fortunate to escape the worst of these storms. The last time a major hurricane directly struck Tampa was over a century ago.
In contrast to 1921, Tampa now has a population exceeding 3 million.
Meteorologists with the National Hurricane Center say that Milton may gain strength and grow in size, posing “even more danger” as it makes landfall.
