1979-2001: Early roles Allen has worked in the
casino, hotel, and gaming industries since 1979. His career began as a cook at Bally's Park Place in
Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he has been credited with helping successfully implement data tracking software to balance profit and food costs. Allen worked at
The Trump Organization, which had taken over the Atlantic City Hilton, until 1993. He was promoted to senior vice president of property operations in Kerzner's company,
Sun International, which included Mohegan Sun, Atlantis Paradise Island, and the Ocean Club and the former Desert Inn, Las Vegas.
2001-2020: Joining Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock Allen is chairman of
Hard Rock International (or Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment) and CEO of Seminole Gaming. Allen, who is not of
Seminole origin, has led the
Seminole Tribe of Florida's gaming operations since 2001. He was initially hired to operate five casinos on the
Brighton,
Coconut Creek,
Hollywood,
Immokalee, and
Tampa reservations, and to develop the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood and
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa. Allen is credited with driving the 2003 development of bingo-based "Class II" gaming machines that are similar to slot machines. The award was established in 2004 to recognize individuals who have made "outstanding contributions in the area of casino marketing, promotions and customer service". In 2019, Allen was named a Business Hall of Fame Laureate by
Junior Achievement of South Florida. He was honored as a 2020 inductee into the
H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship's Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame at
Nova Southeastern University in
Davie, Florida. By 2020, Allen had been credited with the Guitar Hotel expansion of the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, as well as the guestroom tower expansion of the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. He also remained chair of Hard Rock International. After joining the board of the
American Gaming Association (AGA) in 2015, Allen was AGA chair from January 2022 until January 2024. Also in 2022, he led Hard Rock International's purchase of
The Mirage on the
Las Vegas Strip for $1.1 billion. The hotel remained open until 2024, when it was closed for redevelopment. Allen stated it would reopen as the Hard Rock Hotel and Guitar Hotel casino resort, likely in 2027. and in 2024, the American Gaming Association inducted him into their
Gaming Hall of Fame. Also in 2024, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the East Coast Gaming Congress (ECGC). Remaining CEO and president of Seminole HR Holdings, By that point, he had overseen Seminole Gaming's growth to include 300 locations in 80 countries, with 60,000 employees. He had also overseen Hard Rock's expansion into sports, including a naming rights agreement for
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, and partnerships with the
Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix and
Oracle Red Bull Racing. With the
World Cup soccer games of 2026 to be held at Hard Rock Stadium, Allen is on the event's Miami Host Committee board of directors. He has been a speaker at events such as the
New Jersey Governor’s Business Development Conference, and on networks such as CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. ==Personal life==