WTTA - Tampa-StPetersburg • Jul. 01, 2008. 10:04 PM EST
Tampa Seminole Hard Rock Casino is bucking national trend.



The chips are down for casino operators in las vegas. money is tight all over and that means profits are often a business that has long been considered recession proof. the tampa seminole hard rock casino is bucking a national trend. >>reporter: i'm krista klaus in tampa where the seminole hard rock casino is thriving in spite of some tough economic times for the gaming industry. many operators in sin city are saddled with debt business is no longer booming, but in tampa it's a much different story. >> overall, business is up for us. >>reporter: professional gamblers speculate business is booming because the state recently eased gaming restrictions, making way for slots and blackjack. hard rocker rhonda says she hits the slots a couple times a month and tough economy or not, she says, she'll keep coming back. >> right now, the economy's doing so bad, nobody can afford to fly anywhere. so you can just hop in your car and come here. >> 20 minutes away. >>>