Jeffrey Soffer’s Big Easy Casino Redevelopment Approved

Florida billionaire developer Jeffrey Soffer has submitted plans to replace Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach with a new gambling and entertainment complex. The proposal would add new gaming facilities, restaurants, bars and live entertainment to the existing property on North Federal Highway. Hallandale Beach to Review Soffer’s Big Easy Casino Plans The proposed development would occupy about 165,380 square feet at 831 North Federal Highway. It would have slot machines, a card room, a smoking lounge, a music venue, and several dining options, including a steakhouse and a sports restaurant, as reported by The Real Deal. Restaurants would take about 34,300 square feet, and administrative offices would occupy another 9,800 square feet. The project also includes about 1,700 parking spaces, with a large portion of the capacity coming from a four-story garage. The proposed facility is designed by Las Vegas-based architecture firm Steelman Partners. The company has previously worked on projects for major casino operators in the global gaming industry. Soffer, who heads Aventura-based Fontainebleau Development, needs local approval before he can proceed with the redevelopment. His application is for permission to create a land plat larger than the normal size allowed by Hallandale Beach regulations. The waiver request is set to be discussed by the city commission on October 13. If the commissioners agree, the developer can proceed with formal plat approval and submit a detailed site plan for consideration. Jeffrey Soffer Eyes Casino Growth After Miami Beach Setbacks In city filings, attorney Graham Penn, who represents the developer, said the project would be the most significant improvement ever to the property. The application also cites potential employment and increased commercial activity as benefits to Hallandale Beach. The existing complex is long established in the area. It dates back to 1934, but the current casino building was constructed in 1963. The property was formerly Mardi Gras Casino and Race Track. Soffer bought the site for $12.5 million in 2018. He renamed the facility Big Easy Casino and ended the greyhound racing that had been associated with the property for decades. The original complex is approximately 262,900 square feet on a 23.8-acre site. Soffer sold about 12.3 acres to developers in December 2025 for around $31 million. He retained the balance of the land for future development. The redevelopment comes as Soffer continues his presence in the casino and hospitality industries. His portfolio includes Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which opened in December 2023 on the Las Vegas Strip. He has also pursued plans to bring casino gambling to the Miami Beach resort. That effort included efforts to transfer the gaming permit attached to Big Easy Casino to the property, but local officials and residents have repeatedly opposed the proposal. During efforts to push the Miami Beach casino plan forward, Soffer has previously donated $300,000 to political action committees. Redevelopment of the Hallandale Beach property would provide him with another outlet to expand his gaming business without having to depend on approval for a casino at the Miami Beach resort.