The Seminoles hold the exclusive right in Florida to operate class III gaming, which means 'banked' games such as slots and blackjack.
The powerful Seminole tribe operates seven of these casinos under its Hard Rock Casino brand, and the Miccosukee tribe owns the eighth. The local tribes established eight casinos that host legal slots and table games. Tribal gaming was introduced to Florida with the federal Indian Regulatory Gaming Act of 1988.
Nowadays, most of these parimutuel facilities host poker rooms and other gambling games. The history of state-sanctioned gambling in Florida dates back to 1931 when local legislators legalized on-site betting on dog and horse racing as well as jai alai.
