Jeffrey Soffer Seeks to Redevelop Big Easy Casino With 165,380-SF Entertainment Complex

• Jeffrey Soffer, chairman and CEO of Fontainebleau Development, proposes replacing the existing Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach with a 165,380-square-foot casino and entertainment complex.
• The proposed project includes restaurants, a live music venue, gaming facilities and 1,700 parking spaces across surface parking and a four-story garage.
• The development would transform part of a 23.8-acre property at 831 North Federal Highway, subject to city approvals. The Planning and Zoning Board is scheduled to consider a plat waiver on October 13, 2026. 

What Jeffrey Soffer Is Planning

Billionaire developer Jeffrey Soffer is pursuing a major redevelopment of Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

The proposal calls for a new gaming and entertainment destination at 831 North Federal Highway, replacing the existing casino complex. The planned facility would combine gambling, dining and nightlife in a single development.

Soffer acquired the property for $12.5 million in 2018, when it operated as Mardi Gras Casino, before rebranding it as Big Easy Casino and ending greyhound racing.

What The New Casino Would Include

The proposed 165,380-square-foot facility would feature slot machines, a card room, a smoking lounge, a central bar and a live music venue.

Dining would be a major component, with approximately 34,300 square feet of restaurant space, including a steakhouse and sports restaurant. Administrative offices would occupy another 9,800 square feet.

Steelman Partners, a Las Vegas-based architecture firm, is designing the project. The plans also call for approximately 1,700 parking spaces, including a four-story garage. 

What The Site Means For Soffer

The property spans approximately 23.8 acres, although Soffer previously sold 12.3 acres to multifamily developers while retaining the remaining casino property.

The redevelopment represents a new investment strategy for the site, shifting the focus toward a modern gaming and entertainment destination rather than the existing aging complex.

Soffer leads Fontainebleau Development, whose portfolio includes Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The company has extensive experience in hospitality, residential and entertainment projects. 

What Approvals Come Next

The project remains subject to municipal review. On October 13, 2026, Hallandale Beach's Planning and Zoning Board is scheduled to consider a plat waiver allowing the property to be treated as a single development parcel despite exceeding the applicable maximum lot area.

If the waiver is granted, the applicant can pursue plat approval and subsequently advance a site-plan application. The proposal should not be treated as fully approved or construction-ready at this stage.

What The Redevelopment Could Mean For Hallandale Beach

For Soffer, the proposal would expand the entertainment component of his South Florida portfolio while reinvesting in a property he has owned since 2018.

For Hallandale Beach, the development could bring new dining, entertainment and commercial activity to Federal Highway. The project's next major milestone is securing the required land-use and site-plan approvals.

The takeaway for investors is that existing gaming properties can offer redevelopment opportunities, but entitlement requirements and regulatory approvals remain critical factors in determining whether a proposed project advances.