When Chairman Billie took office in 1979, he saw a huge opportunity in bingo, even though Florida law only allowed nonprofit bingo halls to open two days a week and have a maximum jackpot of $100. “So we put the least amount of money into the metal building and started bingo, which generated more income than the casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.”įormer Chairman Howard Tommie considered the concept of high-stakes bingo but left office before implementing it. “There were laws in place at that time and we didn’t know if we could stay,” Chairman James E. But from the perspective of the leaders of the time, it was all a gamble – one that paid off in spades for the Seminoles and other Tribes across the United States. Looking back, it’s easy to see the evolution from bingo to the Tribe’s wildly successful and wide-ranging gaming business. HOLLYWOOD - In 1979, the Tribe’s first foray into high-stakes bingo opened on the site of today’s Classic Casino with an unassuming metal building now, 34 years later, it celebrated a $10-million renovation and continues to be a big draw.
