Seminoles Break Ground On Florida Casino-Hotel

Ground was broken for the Seminole Casino Hotel Brighton near Lake Okeechobee in Florida, less than two hours from the Treasure Coast. The venue will replace the tribe’s existing facility and be completed in late 2024.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida and Seminole Gaming recently broke ground on the new Seminole Casino Hotel Brighton, to be built on the Brighton Seminole Reservation northwest of Lake Okeechobee.

The new facility will replace the existing Seminole Brighton Casino, opened in 1980 and located about three miles north of the future casino site, a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the popular Treasure Coast.

In a statement, Seminole Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., said, “Breaking ground for the new Seminole Casino Hotel Brighton represents a major economic step forward for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the entire Lake Okeechobee region. We’re excited to bring a new level of gaming, dining and entertainment to the area and we look forward to welcoming our current and future guests.”

Officials said the new entertainment complex, expected to open late 2024, will include a 38,000-square-foot casino with 623 slot machines and 18 table games, including a smoke-free gaming space with 101 slot machines and a high-limit area with 42 slots and four table games.

Dining options will include a 24-hour, 124-seat restaurant, a 60-seat steakhouse and a fast-service/carryout café. There also will be a 900-seat indoor event space, plus an outdoor concert stage accommodating an audience of 3,000. In addition, a 72,000-square-foot, 4-story hotel will offer 100 guest rooms and a fitness center. Also located on the property will be a 10-acre lake and parking for 1,000 vehicles.

The property will be the first Seminole Casino to include a bowling alley; the 8,400-square-foot venue will have eight lanes and 32 seats for dining or events. It also will offer a 1,500-square-foot pool and a 12,500-square-foot pool deck.

The existing 27,000-square-foot casino offers around 400 slots and eight table games, plus a full-service restaurant and lounge.