Jeffrey Soffer Plans Spectacular Rebirth of the Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach
The billionaire developer behind Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Fontainebleau Las Vegas proposes a major casino redevelopment featuring upscale restaurants, entertainment, gaming and a striking new architectural identity.
HALLANDALE BEACH, FLORIDA | OCTOBER 2026
South Florida's casino and entertainment landscape could be in for another major transformation. Billionaire real estate developer Jeffrey Soffer, chairman and CEO of Fontainebleau Development, is moving forward with plans to demolish and rebuild the Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach, replacing the aging gambling establishment with a modern entertainment complex designed to capture some of the glamour and excitement associated with his celebrated Fontainebleau properties.
Located at 831 North Federal Highway, the Big Easy Casino occupies one of the most historically significant gambling properties in Broward County. The proposed redevelopment represents a potentially dramatic new chapter for a location that has welcomed gamblers, racing enthusiasts and entertainment seekers for more than 90 years.
Plans recently submitted to the City of Hallandale Beach envision a substantially redesigned destination combining casino gaming, fine dining, lively bars, a music venue, poker facilities and attractive indoor and outdoor entertainment areas. The ambitious project would replace a property whose current appearance and facilities reflect an earlier generation of South Florida casino development.
A Las Vegas-Inspired Casino for South Florida
The proposed Big Easy redevelopment would bring a new level of sophistication to a property that has long competed for the attention of South Florida gamblers.
According to development plans, the project includes approximately 165,000 square feet devoted to the racing and casino complex, with substantial areas designated for dining, bars and entertainment. Approximately 34,344 square feet are identified for restaurants, along with another 11,205 square feet for bar facilities.
Among the proposed attractions are a modern slot machine gaming area, a dedicated card room, an upscale steakhouse, a sports-oriented restaurant, a smoking lounge and a live music and entertainment venue. The objective appears to extend beyond simply adding more gaming machines. The new Big Easy would offer an expanded hospitality experience, encouraging visitors to spend an entire evening enjoying dining, entertainment and casino activities.
The redevelopment also calls for approximately 1,707 parking spaces, including 818 spaces within a multilevel parking garage. Landscaped gardens, improved arrival areas and contemporary architectural features are intended to give the property a more impressive appearance from the moment guests arrive.
For a location that has traditionally attracted a loyal local gambling clientele, the transformation could introduce an entirely new atmosphere. Rather than functioning primarily as a neighborhood casino, the proposed complex would have the potential to become a regional destination for nightlife, restaurants and entertainment.
Steelman Partners Brings Las Vegas Design Experience
The architectural plans are being developed by Steelman Partners, a Las Vegas-based design firm with extensive experience creating casino resorts and large-scale gaming destinations.
Steelman Partners has worked on projects associated with some of the world's most recognizable casino and hospitality companies, including MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts and other major operators.
That background suggests that the new Big Easy Casino is intended to be something considerably more ambitious than an ordinary renovation.
The proposed single-story casino and entertainment complex would feature a coordinated architectural design incorporating attractive entrances, modern gaming spaces, restaurants, landscaped surroundings and structured parking.
Although the plans remain subject to government review and potential revisions, the involvement of a major casino architecture firm demonstrates the scale of Fontainebleau Development's ambitions for the Hallandale Beach property.
Jeffrey Soffer and the Fontainebleau Connection
Jeffrey Soffer is no stranger to large-scale luxury hospitality projects. As the driving force behind Fontainebleau Development, he has been associated with some of the most recognizable resort properties in the United States.
His portfolio includes the legendary Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura and the enormous Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which opened in December 2023.
The Las Vegas property, a 67-story resort on the famous Strip, features luxury accommodations, elaborate restaurants, extensive entertainment facilities and a major casino operation. Its opening represented the completion of a development vision that had endured years of financial challenges, changing ownership and market uncertainty.
Although the proposed Hallandale Beach casino would operate on a much smaller scale, Soffer's experience in combining gaming with upscale hospitality is particularly relevant.
Today's successful casino destinations increasingly depend on more than slot machines and table games. Restaurants, lounges, entertainment venues, architecture and customer experience have become essential ingredients in attracting visitors who might otherwise spend their evenings at luxury hotels, nightclubs or waterfront restaurants.
The proposed Big Easy redevelopment appears to follow that same philosophy, adapted to the South Florida market.
From Hollywood Greyhound Track to Mardi Gras Casino
The Big Easy property has a colorful history that stretches back to the days when greyhound racing was one of Florida's most popular spectator sports.
The original Hollywood dog track opened in Hallandale in December 1934, during an era when South Florida was developing a national reputation for sunshine, gambling, horse racing and winter entertainment.
Hallandale's gambling culture flourished during the 1930s, attracting visitors from northern states who were eager to escape cold weather and enjoy the excitement of legalized pari-mutuel wagering.
Over the decades, the facility became known as Hollywood Greyhound Track, drawing crowds of racing enthusiasts who came to watch the dogs compete while studying racing programs and placing wagers.
The property underwent a significant transformation in 2006, when casino-style slot machine gaming was introduced and the facility became Mardi Gras Casino and Racetrack. Poker, electronic gaming and expanded hospitality offerings helped usher the historic greyhound property into the modern casino era.
Hurricane Irma dealt the casino a serious setback in September 2017, causing extensive damage and temporarily interrupting operations.
In 2018, Jeffrey Soffer acquired the property for approximately $12.5 million and rebranded it as the Big Easy Casino, retaining its New Orleans-inspired identity while positioning the business for future improvements.
Live greyhound racing subsequently disappeared from Florida following the statewide prohibition that took effect in 2021. The Big Easy continued operating as a casino with poker and simulcast wagering, demonstrating how former racing establishments could adapt to a changing gambling environment.
Now, more than nine decades after the original dog track opened, the property could undergo its most dramatic transformation yet.
Why Soffer Is Reinvesting in Hallandale Beach
For several years, Soffer explored the possibility of transferring the Big Easy's gaming license to his landmark Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort.
The idea attracted considerable attention because it raised the possibility of introducing casino gambling to one of Miami Beach's most famous luxury hotels.
However, Florida's complicated gaming regulations, combined with political obstacles and strong opposition to casino expansion in Miami Beach, prevented those efforts from advancing.
Redeveloping the existing Big Easy property offers a different approach. Instead of attempting to move the casino business to Miami Beach, Fontainebleau Development would reinvest in a Hallandale Beach location that already has an established gaming history and regulatory framework.
For the city, a modernized casino could also represent an opportunity to attract additional visitors and encourage spending at surrounding restaurants, hotels and businesses.
The strategy comes at a time when Hallandale Beach is experiencing considerable real estate investment, including new residential developments, hospitality projects and upscale amenities designed to serve the growing communities between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
A Changing Neighborhood and a Major Land Transaction
The proposed casino project is unfolding alongside a broader transformation of the surrounding property.
In late 2025, Fontainebleau Development sold approximately 12.3 acres associated with the Big Easy site for a reported $31.16 million. Portions of the former casino land are being repositioned for mixed-use residential and commercial development.
One neighboring proposal, known as Greenzone, calls for two eight-story residential buildings with approximately 278 apartments and nearly 18,000 square feet of retail space on land formerly used for casino parking.
These residential plans are separate from Soffer's proposed casino reconstruction, but together they illustrate the changing character of Hallandale Beach's North Federal Highway corridor.
What was once largely devoted to greyhound racing, parking lots and gambling facilities is gradually being reimagined as a more densely developed neighborhood combining residences, retail, restaurants and entertainment.
For the Big Easy, that changing environment may create opportunities to attract an expanded customer base living and working nearby.
Competition With Gulfstream Park and Seminole Hard Rock
The South Florida casino market is competitive, and the proposed Big Easy redevelopment would enter a region already known for prominent gaming destinations.
Nearby Gulfstream Park combines thoroughbred horse racing, casino gaming, restaurants, shopping and entertainment, making it an established attraction for residents and tourists throughout South Florida.
Farther north and west, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood has become one of the region's most recognizable entertainment destinations, particularly since the introduction of its spectacular guitar-shaped hotel tower.
These properties illustrate the increasingly sophisticated expectations of contemporary casino visitors. Many guests are no longer content with a gaming floor and a modest restaurant. They are looking for entertainment, comfortable surroundings, quality dining and a complete evening out.
The new Big Easy would not necessarily attempt to match the scale of the Hard Rock resort. Instead, its proposed combination of gaming, dining and entertainment could allow it to establish a distinctive position within the Broward County casino market.
For poker players, slot machine enthusiasts and visitors who enjoy wagering on horse racing through simulcast facilities, a thoroughly modernized Big Easy could offer an attractive alternative to the region's larger gaming properties.
What Happens Next?
As of October 2026, the Big Easy redevelopment remains a proposal rather than an approved construction project.
An application submitted by 831 Federal Highway Property, LLC seeks a plat waiver that would allow the proposed casino property to function as a development parcel exceeding the maximum lot area normally permitted under the applicable Hallandale Beach zoning provisions.
The application is scheduled for consideration by the Hallandale Beach Planning and Zoning Board on October 13, 2026.
Additional land-use approvals, permitting and construction-related reviews may be necessary before redevelopment can begin. A definitive construction schedule, completion date and overall project budget have not yet been publicly established.
Questions also remain concerning the timing of demolition, how existing casino operations would be affected during construction and when visitors might be able to experience the proposed new entertainment complex.
Nevertheless, the submission of detailed architectural and site plans marks an important step toward realizing Soffer's vision for the property.
A New Chapter in South Florida's Gambling History
South Florida has always had a distinctive relationship with gambling and entertainment. From the fashionable winter horse racing crowds at Gulfstream Park to the greyhound tracks and casinos that once dotted Broward County, wagering has played a prominent role in the region's recreational culture.
The Big Easy Casino sits at the intersection of that history and a changing future.
Its original identity was built around live racing and the excitement of betting on the outcome of a sporting contest. Over the years, it evolved into a casino featuring slot machines, poker and simulcast wagering. The latest redevelopment proposal would carry the property into another era, when gaming increasingly shares the spotlight with fine dining, live entertainment and sophisticated hospitality.
For Jeffrey Soffer, the project represents an opportunity to apply his Fontainebleau experience to a longstanding South Florida gambling destination.
For Hallandale Beach, it could mean a striking new commercial landmark along North Federal Highway, additional economic activity and a broader selection of entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors.
And for longtime patrons who remember the days of Hollywood Greyhound Track, Mardi Gras Casino and the early Big Easy, the prospect of a completely rebuilt casino offers something particularly interesting: the possibility of seeing a historic gambling property reinvent itself once again.
Whether the finished development ultimately resembles a boutique Las Vegas casino, a fashionable South Florida entertainment complex or a combination of both, Soffer's proposal signals that the Big Easy's long and colorful history may be far from finished.