Hard Rock Tampa?

My friend in Florida wants me to play golf with him at Innisbrook which I believe is in Clearwater. His wife is a frequent gambler at the Hard Rock in Tampa and he told me she can land me a wonderful room/suite for a few days. Since I’ve never been there, I’m seeking opinions of that hotel/casino from this vast experienced members of this board who has. If you’re knowledgeable of this place, can you give me a comparable to a Similar Vegas strip casino? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Ooooh. Boy.

In a nutshell. Lousy comps, lousy rewards program, lousy rules and limits on table games (bj and poker only - no craps, roulette.)

You pay for drinks at the bar and on the floor - and they're expensive - paid $18 for a vodka on the rocks last time I was there.

Had some security concerns last time we were there, saw several sketchy people that should have been booted out allowed to meander and panhandle players - one dude was hawking his CD...

Rooms are really nice - don't expect a comped one unless you're a HL room regular though. It takes literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in coin in to achieve that.

I can't compare it to any Vegas casino, the differences are just too stark .

Its in a real shitty area of Tampa, be prepared.

The new pool area is fantastic and the food options are outstanding. Council Oaks is one of my favorite steakhouses - although crazily overpriced imo - and Tampa is home to Berns Steakhouse, voted one of the best in the country, year in and year out.

A lot of non smoking gaming area also.

Have fun and good luck!

 

Although Gino and I reside but blocks away from one another in Tampa, we are miles apart in our assessment of the Seminole Hard Rock.

To begin with, the Seminole Hard Rock is in fact the only game in town. And as such it is run like the only game in town.

The gaming floor is huge, and depending on the source, is one of the largest (245K sq. ft., 5,000 slots, 200 tables; allegedly 4th largest in the U.S., 6th largest in the U.S.). They've put forth a lot of effort in improving it over the years. Great restaurants (https://www.seminolehardrocktampa.com/dining), now they have a number of Vegasy shops in the casino as well.

You pay for drinks, assuming you're gaming with the hoi polloi, but if you're in the high limit salons, drinks are comped. Don't know anything about the rooms, other than - for some bizarre reason - this place sells out on a nightly basis.

Now, let's have a chat about demographics. The SHR is frequented by a lot of locals. And when I say locals, I mean the elderly (I'm 60, so I can say that). Lots of walkers, oxygen tanks and buses unloading out front, from various senior facilities throughout the peninsula. Also, given that the patrons are locals, you don't have a place flush with vacationers, as would be the case in Vegas. So yeah, you're gonna have your fair share of guys who just got off shift or some extras from the cast of Trailer Park Boys wandering the floor. As for being in a shitty part of Tampa...I can't argue that. It's right off I-4 on Orient Road, home to one of our numerous jails and a plethora of bail bondsmen. Why? 'Cause that's where the tribal land is located which dictates where the facility could be built. 'nuff said.

We go there about once per month. I play blackjack, the Mrs. plays slots, and we sip cocktails at either the Center Bar or L-Bar (https://www.seminolehardrocktampa.com/bars-and-lounges). We've dined at every restaurant there, except Rez, and Council Oaks is a great place for upscale dining.

You said your pal's wife is a 'frequent gambler' at the SHR/Tpa...so what's her take? And this "land me a room/suite"...are you saying comped or are you saying she can recommend one? 'Cause that's apples and oranges. If the room ain't free...I'd vacay in C'water and drive over to the SHR for an evening or two. The SHR is nice, but it ain't Vegas...it's a tribal casino; very much 'local' (but for some reason, a lot of Asians actually fly into TPA for this place).

BOTTOM LINE: It's a giant ass casino. But ultimately, it ain't Vegas.

 

Don't walk outside at night. Nothing nearby but trouble.

 

What'd you say? What? Hey, sport...don't make me "stand my ground"!

 

They both have valid points, went this past weekend for promotion the place was packed on Friday night as usual. Great rooms, I did see some shady individuals and their ladies. They are not hard to pick out as they hawk them. That being said never had an issue there rooms are really nice, clean good food. Yes you pay for drinks unless playing HL room at 100+ a hand. If it’s free go just realize it’s far from Vegas. I would almost classify as a Bahamian or Caribbean casino. Just my .02

Dawg

 

I was in Tampa for a family wedding about 4 years ago. We decided to make a vacation out of it and stayed for a week. I visited the casino 5 nights out of the 7. Honestly I found it okay.

If anything the poker room was big and it had some of the wildest games.

 

Sounds fun...if I can tear myself away form the beach, I'll give it a try.

 

Its the 5th or 6th largest casino in the US I think...

 

Yeah, but it ranks #1 in the number of slot machine patrons on oxygen tanks who continue to smoke.

 

Thanks all for the assessments, I appreciate the candid responses, even when disputed. I really don’t know exactly the level of my friend’s wife’s slot play (she only plays slots) but I assume it’s quite substantial simply the way he always says “she’s at her second home” referring to the casino. He claims she goes a minimum at least twice weekly and often more than that. My friend is a Trump loving millionaire business owner and evidently can easily afford the wife’s very expensive gambling addiction as it has been this way for a long time. He says when she drives her car to the valet, they address her as Mrs. C and asks if she’ll be staying the weekend. Yes when she does, everything is comped so I assume lots of my friend’s money is spent in those slot machines. My friend asked me to stay at his home (which is on the course) but I told him I’d rather stay at the HR casino and commute back and forth to play golf. Is that even reasonable for this is my first time visiting his home. DeansRobinson asked if my room will be comped and the answer is no, but his wife will insure I’ll get the room. Thanks for all the information.

 

Turned out that some downtown development was going up on top of an ancient Seminole burial ground, so in exchange the tribe was given an irregular shaped parcel of land sandwiched in between two exits to Interstate 4 east of Tampa. The closest thing to this land is the Florida State Fairgrounds on the other side of the interstate. There is nothing notable to the exterior of the property as it was developed over a decade in five stages filling out the unusual shaped property provided. You asked what it would compare to on the Strip and I believe it would probably be the fourth nicest because of its new interior. The machine and facility maintenance would be nearer to the top. HR is larger than anything in Nevada. The bad news is that it’s not Vegas but that is also the good news. After fifty visits to Sin City, we gave up on its trending a decade ago and have satisfied our gaming enjoyment 40 minutes from home since. You won’t find a Seminole at HR as its managed by AC and Vegas people. My biggest regret is that HR is determined to become a destination resort in lieu of continuing its local’s tradition. I have heard many times from staff that the high rollers they are flying in dwarf the low rollers revenue thus the helicopter pad and the limos from the Tampa airport. As for the other players, you will feel like you are at a regional shopping mall. I’m sure your friend is getting the room comped for you. It’s not that difficult, even for regular low rollers. A comped room means nothing to us as we have stayed there so many times in the past. In summary, I wouldn’t fly from UT to go to HR but while you’re here, take advantage of it. Have fun and good luck!

 

Does anybody know the typical table minimums for 3 Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em?

 

I've played $15 3CP (upstairs). Sincerely doubt three's a $5 table...anything. I've played $10 BJ.

 

I haven't been to the Tampa Hardrock in awhile, how are the Blackjack conditions now?