Show girls and Rat Pack impersonators were on hand at Seminole Casino in Brighton, Glades County, Florida, for the recent opening of a new 750 square foot pit area, featuring five blackjack tables and a 3-card poker table. Seminole Gaming Chief Executive Officer Jim Allen said the Brighton casino has shown the highest percentage of growth among all the tribe’s gaming venues.
The casino also has expanded its non-smoking slot area to 1,300 square feet, with 54 machines.
Seminole Brighton Casino General Manager Marty Johns said, “We are excited to offer our guests this new experience. The table games simply enhance our status as being the Lake Okeechobee region’s number one gaming destination. It’s been a long time coming.” Tribal Council Vice Chairman Mitchell Cypress added, “We’ve come a long way to get here. We will continue to expand it any way we can.”
The Brighton casino dates back to 1980 when tribal member and rodeo legend Josiah Johns purchased a building meant for a hardware store and beauty salon turned it into one of the first high-stakes bingo halls in the U.S. A new building replaced the “Small Red Barn” in 1999. “This little casino has grown,” said Andy Bowers, Brighton representative to the Tribal Council.
Seminole Casino Brighton is one of several gaming facilities owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood was the first to offer table games.
