Hardrock Tampa

will be in orlando latter this month...we are thinking about renting a car & driving to the Hardrock Casino in Tampa.

Anyone ever gambled there?

I have. It used to be awful. Now its much, much better.

Several years ago it was a Class II slot parlor with a handful of tables...and the casino was ranked among the worst in the nation for machine paybacks. That has all changed. It now features Class III slots that are reportedly much looser and more tables. It is an absolutely huge property.

My most recent visit was about a year ago. Table minimus were typically $10 on BJ, Craps, and Roulette. I found some 8/5 Bonus Poker at the quarter level and above. That was the best VP game I saw. The buffet was very good.

Overall, its about as good of a casino as you are going to find in Florida...definitely better than the little day-cruise-gamble-ships you find scattered around the coast.

Went there last spring. Got a slot card and walked through a very nice casino with overpriced food and no playable VP. Left without betting a dime.

I work in Tampa and get over there a few times per month. Nice, very large casino, and fairly easy to get mailers. No comp drinks, by the way. The gambling, as pj said, is mediocre but a lot better than it used to be. Mostly Class III machines, still a few Class II's here and there; the slots are set to require multiple lines and/or coins, so about the cheapest you'll find is around 40 or 50 cents per pull. VP is mediocre; JoB is 8/5 at the quarter, 50 cent and dollar level, gets to 9/6 at the $2 level (in the high-limit slots room). Best game for me is Illinois Deuces (I think about a 98.9% game), at the 50 cent level. Lots of tables, usually crowded; no craps or roulette, only card games. Blackjack is $10 minimum with a CSM, some tables DAS, some not; there's also one $10 virtual blackjack machine. I think the shoe games (6-deck) start around $25. There's also pai gow poker, usually $15 or $25; don't remember what else.

Food in the food court uniformly sucks. The buffet is good, if you like buffets; lots of people (myself included, I get off work early) get in line by 3:50pm to get the dinner buffet (which includes fairly good snow crab legs) at the lunch price. I haven't been to the other food venues (Green Room, Floyd's) in a long time; they used to be pretty good. The hotel is nice, but the rack rate is ridiculous, and it's not located in a particularly nice or interesting area.

Hope this helps; let me know if you have any other questions.

I appreciate the info Jstew, kseitz and PJ. I just started making plans to visit the Hardrock in late May while my Nephew is playing in a JUNIORs Golf Tourney in Cypress gardens for 3 days.

I didnt know that there was even gambling in Florida until this weekend ( when I mentioned to some poker buddies, in Seneca Niagara casino in NIagara falls NY, that I was going to Florida in May).

I'll be keeping a close watch on this thread in the coming months so please let me know if any update occur.

I play low - limit hold em ( do they have high hands/bad beats/free rolls?), Paigow ( I hope that they have the Bonus bet?!) and 8/5 BP (quarter to dollar)! And I looooove a good buffet!!!

If you're going to be in the area, might as well. I drive over from the east coast of Florida (2 hour drive) and spend a weekend night every once in a while. VP is no worse than what is on the LV strip but the hotel is not in that category. It's not bad for me since I get it comped. The rack rate is steep. If you reserve a few weeks in advance I believe they have reduced rates. I don't play live poker but I've heard they have a decent bad beat pot. The buffet is good, don't forget to get a player's card so you can get the reduced rate. I like the Green Room better than Floyd's if I'm not in the mood for a buffet.

I like the Hard Rock in Tampa, we have been to many casinos both east and west of the Miss. We have had alot of big wins there on their slots. Our most recent being Xmas Eve. Mr Lucky hit for $3300.OO on 25 cent Cleopatra. Hit the 1 cent progressive twice for $300 just about back to back. Also hit some really good bonus rounds ($200 -$300) on the 1 cent perisian treasures. We played for 12 hrs and had a great time. We went with $100 each and came back with $3000 for him and $290 for me. Not a bad way to end the New Year. Last year on his birthday (2009) he won a Hummer in one of their drawings. They usually have a drawing for swiping your card on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Tampa Hard Rock has come a long way baby!! )
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Mr & mrs Lucky...yes you are! congrats on such great wins. My husband & I did drive over to the Hard Rock back in October...played for about 8 - 10 hrs. and drove back to orlando. I never hit a thing...he won some small stuff - enough to keep him going and handing me a $100 now and then. but no big wins. We went on a Thursday during the day and stayed until 9 or 10 pm. it was pretty crowded the entire time. during the day - with an older group of folks - after 5 pm it was more of a mixed type of gambler. but it was always pretty full of people gambling.

Not a lot of $.25 machines or V.P. machines. $.01 and $.05 machines were abundant.

The food court was simply dreadful. don't eat there. we did find the Green Room later on and had an enjoyable meal. otherwise eat before or after...

We just don't enjoy buffets unless there is no alternative. or its free. Free is always good.

Keep your eyes peeled for the free slot play coupons. I was there last year, and there were plenty of $30 free slot play coupons just for signing up for their card available in the hotels in Kissimmee and Orlando.

I was there a month ago. Everything is overpriced from gambling to food, but the place is packed. I wouldnt go back. I found better gambling on those boats that go out on ocean for a 3 hour cruise. But as they say, Build it and they will come,