Zach Thomas to play blackjack
Zach Thomas

When the new blackjack tables are opened at the Seminole Casino Hollywood in Florida this Friday night, recently retired Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas will be among the first to play the ceremonial first hand.

Also among those to be dealt one of those early hands of two will be Alfonso Ribeiro of TV’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and the immortal Jimmie Walker of “Good Times” fame. Walker will also be performing his standup routine at the casino in the evening. Several local celebrities, including what seems to be the entire FM band of Miami with eight radio stations represented, will also be there to open the fesitivities.

The Seminole Casino Hollywood was founded in 1980 and, though the tables offering blackjack variations, roulette and others are brand new, Seminole Casino is already gaining notoriety with them thanks to the cheap $5 blackjack tables to be offered. Seminole will have blackjack gaming (including the $5 tables) open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has hired an incredible 90 blackjack dealers.

The agreement for Seminole Casino to provide blackjack and table gaming was finalized in a reported $1 billion deal earlier this year. The license provides for Seminole Casino to provide table gaming through 2014.

Thomas was drafted by the Dolphins in 1996 and spent 12 of his 13 seasons playing in Miami. He is ranked fourth all-time in career tackles among linebackers, implying that after seeing his first two cards, Thomas will most likely say “hit.”