Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Crosses $2B Jackpot Milestone, Awards Player with Sweet Ride

Richard B. hit a $1,680 slots jackpot at the SHR Tampa and lucked his way into a $100,000 Mercedes SUV as a bonus for his hard work. (Image: Brenna Walton / Seminole Hard Rock Tampa)

Anyone who has been around a casino knows that people are there for one reason – the dream of scoring one of the massive jackpots. At the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, that dream has happened to the tune of more than $2 BILLION in payouts over the course of 2024. To celebrate that milestone, the Hard Rock rewarded the player who pushed them over the top with a special prize to commemorate the event.

How About a $100,000 SUV?

Last week, spectators gathered beside the gold piano once owned by Elvis Presley to see just who the lucky $2 billionth dollar winner was. The player was, of course, paid out their jackpot before being whisked down the aisle to a special ceremony that was being held to commemorate the event. That lucky winner, Richard B., was not just going to get that jackpot payout – he was going to receive much more. 

Along with winning the $1,680 from the jackpot (off a $18.75 bet), Richard also was gifted a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 53 hybrid SUV to celebrate the $2 billionth payout. “This is absolutely amazing,” Richard said during the ceremonies. 

“I stopped in to play for just a minute, hit a jackpot, and suddenly I was whisked away to find out I won a car!”

“I’ve been playing at Hard Rocks forever, but this is the first time I’ve ever won a car.”

Watching from the wings was the president of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, Steve Bonner. “It’s exciting that we have paid out more than $2 billion in jackpots,” Bonner said after seeing Richard’s reaction. “We are always dedicated to providing exceptional guest experiences while ensuring that each visit to Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is truly unforgettable.”

The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa was ready to turn one man’s casual afternoon at the casino into a dazzling surprise celebration. (Image: Brenna Walton / Seminole Hard Rock Tampa)

Breakdown of $2 Billion Jackpot Payouts 

The statistics on the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa’s 2024 jackpot payouts are truly staggering. It was the third year in a row that the casino has awarded over $2 billion in jackpots to its players. 

During 2024, more than 723,505 jackpots have been received by the players on the grounds (for that statistic, jackpots of more than $1,200 were counted). There were 294 jackpots of more than $100,000 for the year, with nine of those jackpot payouts cracking the $1 million mark. 

The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa broke down what players were wagering to win these jackpots, and that information was astonishing. 

Of the 294 jackpots over $100,000, 40 of those payouts were on bets of $5 or less. In a stunning one-day period, one player was able to pick up 465 jackpots, the most in a single day to one person in the history of the Hard Rock Tampa. Finally, each day of the year saw action; roughly 2,000 jackpots of more than $1,200 were paid each day on the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa property.

The jackpots were not the only big story of the year for the Seminoles. The expansion of gaming across the state was reason for celebration, as new table gaming including craps, roulette, and blackjack saw hundreds of millions enter the Seminole coffers along with the ability to wager on sports. 

The expansion of gaming also allowed the tribal leadership to meet their duty of paying the state of Florida $2.5 billion per year for the exclusive rights to gaming in the Sunshine State. 

There is more than just gaming to transfix the visitors to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. The 1,500-seat Event Center hosts top national entertainment in its cozy theater setting. 

Over the next few months, the Event Center will welcome Rock & Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top and bluesman Gary Clark, Jr., comedian Mike Epps, and the legendary Sir Rod Stewart.