South Florida Casino Offering $1 Million if Satellite Debris Falls On it

COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- If debris plummeting from the shot-down U.S. spy satellite hits his casino, the general manager of Seminole Casino Coconut Creek in northwest Broward County, Florida will give away $1 million to a lucky gambler through a random drawing.

"The Navy hit the satellite in just one shot, so we'll give our patrons one shot at winning a big pile of money," said Steve Bonner.

The Pentagon noted debris not burned up on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere within 24 to 48 hours, "should re-enter within 40 days" in football-sized pieces.

To give it a better chance of meeting its million dollar target, Bonner even painted a 100-foot bull's-eye on the roof of the casino, which includes two restaurants and an ultra-lounge. It is one of seven casinos owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which last year purchased Hard Rock International for nearly one billion dollars.

"It's a crazy idea, probably more than one in a million chance but who knows, anything's possible," said three-time-a-week patron, Mercedes Isabel, a resident of Coconut Creek.

If the drawing for a million dollars takes place, "I'll be here," she said.

So the casino players in South Florida will look toward the sky, wait and see. The odds of a spy satellite piece crashing into it must be more than a few million to one, but that's why it's called gambling. And in this case, players will only need to show up to win.

The Seminole Casino Coconut Creek opened in March 2000. In April 2007 a $32 million expansion was completed, including a new valet portico entrance, the unique multi-station 290-seat Fresh Harvest restaurant, Nectar ultra lounge and additional space accommodating a total of more than 1500 electronic gaming machines. Future plans call for expanded casino space, a 1500-room convention hotel with indoor amphitheater and more restaurants, retail shopping and nightclubs.

The casino is located just east of State Road 7 (U.S. 441) and north of Sample Road on 40th Street. For more information call 954-977-6700; fax 954-970-7721; write to: 5550 NW 40th Street, in Coconut Creek, 33073; or visit www.seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com.

Editor's Note: Aerial photo of bull's eye on casino roof available upon request.