Game on: Blackjack now at the Hard Rock

Tampa, Florida -- It's time to double down if you are a blackjack player and place your bets at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.

The Seminoles are going all chips in and ignoring the Florida Supreme Court Ruling that says Governor Charlie Crist violated the law when he signed a compact allowing expanded gambling here.

The Governor signed the compact, because under federal law, the Tribe was going to be able to expand their gambling operation regardless of the compact or not. Once Florida voters approved expanded gambling in South Florida, it meant the Seminoles would be able to expand.

In signing a pact with the Tribe, the Governor agreed to allow the Indians to add card games like blackjack in addition to class three slot machines. In return, the state gets a percentage of the take.

Seminole Hard Rock Casino spokesman Jim Allen says it all happened early Thursday morning, about 10 minutes to five. Allen says the general manager of the Casino got on the intercom and told everyone playing the slots they were about to become part of history. Then he told them all the gaming tables are open.

In addition to blackjack, gamblers can play baccarat, pai gow, let it ride, 3-card poker, Texas hold 'em bonus poker, and Asia poker. Although the Florida Supreme Court says the compact -- and therefore the new games -- are not legal, the Tribe says it has a valid legal agreement with the United States of America and it intends to keep operating.

The state cannot step in and stop the games, because the Seminoles are a sovereign nation. And while some are trying to stop expanded gambling by the tribe, surveys show that Floridians approve of it 2 to 1.

People we talked to at the Casino are ecstatic about the new games here. Scott Hunt, who was sitting at a blackjack table, told us this is the greatest thing he has seen since he doesn't know when.

Angela Jones says it is nice because it keeps gamblers here instead of going to Mississippi to play.

Besides the money the Casino will make, the expanded gambling is a boon for the economy. The Tribe has hired more than 2,000 people in the last six months with salaries ranging from $8 an hour to up to $120,000 a year for dealers.

Allen says the economic impact to Florida is tremendous. The state gets a take of the money that comes in. It is guaranteed at least $100 million a year. The better the Seminoles do, the better the state does.

Mike Deeson, 10 Connects