Money, certainly. Gorbachev is a professional lecturer, whose speeches 10 years ago reportedly commanded $125,000 an hour. The cheapest seats at Hard Rock Live! go for $55.

Notoriety, no doubt. Gorbachev was the architect behind perestroika and glasnost, the landmark economic and political and reform policies that broke up the communist superpower in 1991.

One thing is certain: Gorbachev is popular among top Seminole tribal leaders.

''As the former leader of the Soviet Union, he's been an enormous figure in the world. Mikhail Gorbachev is living history. Hosting him at the Seminole Hard Rock is quite an honor for us,'' said Seminole Tribal Council representative Max Osceola in an e-mail response to The Miami Herald.

Gorbachev's one-hour lecture will be held Wednesday night at Hard Rock Live! at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Hollywood, beginning at 7:30.

Ryan Rogers, spokesman for the Seminole Hard Rock, said the Seminole Tribe, owners of the casino, invited Gorbachev because his message of political reform, peace and environmentalism is popular among Seminole leaders. He wouldn't disclose his speaking fee.

Since the former Soviet head of state isn't an entertainer, Seminole officials looked beyond the traditional gambling populace for an audience by targeting chambers of commerce, professional associations and universities.

Rogers admits that the public's response to Gorbachev's appearance ``has not been overwhelming.''

Robert Walker, CEO of the speaker's bureau American Program Bureau, said the tribe has given 400 complimentary tickets to students at the University of Miami.

This isn't the first time Gorbachev has lectured in a gambling locale, said Walker, who noted that Gorbachev once lectured (at) the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where he was the featured speaker for a food retailers' convention.