Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa, FL) -- FAQ in OP, updated 2019.11.24
Gentlemen. In less than 72 hours we will have legitimate poker in FL, so I figure this place finally deserves to have its own thread.
New poker limits:http://www.seminolehardrocktampa.com/gam...
I'm def planning on being a reg there, anyone else making the move? Who all is gonna be there Wednesday night for the opening? I think the "2p2 meet" spot is gonna be the center bar, then hopefully we can get some flipaments going on.
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FAQ for Hard Rock Tampa Casino. [Thank you to parisron and browser2920 for putting it together!]
Is there a poker room hotel rate? No.
Where can I stay close to the casino?
The hard rock hotel's best rate is usually around $190/night and that is slow weekdays.
Likely $300-400/night and even higher on weekends most of the time.
On US301 1 mile away there are several nice hotels, red roof inn, holiday inn express, la quinta and comfort suites. They are usually in the $70-$100/night range.
There are 2 other cheaper options, east lake inn which is half mile away and walking distance if needed on hillsborough ave that runs about $50/night and what used to be motel 6 but was recently renovated into knights inn and added coffee makers, refrigerators, microwave and free wi fi in each room. Its on US301 about 1 mile away and around $40/night.
What is the best place to park?
You should park in the Draper Place Parking Garage. The poker room is actually located on the ground floor of that garage. Just get in the elevator and push the "*P - poker" button and the doors will open at the entrance to the poker room.
The Draper Place garage is the lone garage on the south end of the property. If you are heading north on Orient Road after coming off the I4 interstate, it will be the first garage on your right. Turn right at the light onto Draper Place and the garage entrance is about 50 yards down on the right.
If you are coming from Hillsborough Ave, turn onto Orient Road heading south. Go past the parking garages on the left, and turn left at the light onto Draper Place.
It is a very long walk from the other parking garages to the poker room. Unless you plan on finishing your time in the main casino, definitely park in the Draper Place Garage
What games run there?
On a daily basis on average this is what will be running in afternoon and evening. In general, the morning/early afternoon has more limit games than during the evening. PLO is becoming more popular each month.
1/2nl $60-$300. Usually 6 to 10 games going.
2/5nl $200-$1000. Usually 3 to 6 games going.
5/10nl $500-$2500 Usually 0 or 1 game going.
10/10nl $800-$3000 usually 0 or 1 game going
2/2 PLO with $5 rock $200-$1000. 1-3 tables daily
5/5 PLO with $10 rock -$500-2500. Usually 1 or 2 games going.
10/10 PLO $1000-$5000 usually 1 game going;mostly weekends
4/8 limit hold em. Min buyin $40. Usually 3-6 tables daytime. Fewer at night unless big high hand promo going.
4/8 limit omaha h/l. Usually 0-1 game running with a half kill.
6/12 limit omaha h/l. Runs occasionally, with a full kill.
Various mixed games run occasionally when requested; very few requests in last few months [mid 2021]
Do they have comps?
Comp Dollars are earned for live poker play, using your Seminole Players Card:
$1-$2 No Limit/Pot Limit & $5-$10 Limit games and lower earn $1 Comp Dollar for every hour played.
$2-$5 No Limit/Pot Limit & $6-$12 Limit games and higher earn $2 Comp Dollar for every hour played.
Comp Dollars expire after 60 days.
Comp Dollars can be redeemed at hotels, restaurants, bars, lounges and retail stores at all Seminole casinos in Florida. They cannot be used at the Food Court.
The redemption rate for comp dollars at all locations accepted is 1 comp dollar equals one real dollar.
Comp Dollars cannot be used at slot machines, table games or poker tables.
What is the rake?
Timed rake games (5/10 NL and up; 5/5 PLO and up) are $8/30 minutes on main floor and $10/30 minutes in VIP room. Pot raked games are 10% up to $5 max and rake is rounded up at $5 with $1 minimum rake every hand that has a flop. If there is no flop, there is no rake drop. $1 jackpot drop is taken at $10 and a second dollar is taken at $20.
Examples:
No flop, no drop
$1 rake on any pot up to $9 that has a flop
$1 rake plus $1 jackpot drop on $10 to $14
$2 plus $1 on $15 to $19
$2 plus $2 on $20 to $24
$3 plus $2 on $25 to $34
$4 plus $2 on $35 to $44
$5 plus $2 on $45 and up
100% of the jackpot drop goes to the Poker Marketing Promotion Fund to pay for all the promotion payouts such as high hands, time played based promos, and hot seat promos. and Poker Rewards (comps).
Reduced rake is available when there are 5 players or less. The max rake when reduced is $3 rather than $5. The jackpot drop is taken regardless of number of players and table remains eligible for promos.
Is there a bad beat or promos?
There are various promos from month to month, with different ones rotating in and out month to month. Currently there are high hands every half hour, 24/7. The amount varies by day and by hours, usually between 100-800. They also have selected mega high hand days that can have high hands in the thousands. Other promos have included cash for reaching certain levels of hours played, hot seat drawings, and an hours played leaderboard.
There is no bad beat jackpot.
Jackpot awards - IDs required
To receive any sort of jackpot/promotional award, including high hands, bad beat, gas card awards, tournament seats, etc. (as well as tournament wins over 5K), two forms of government issued ID are required. If you have just one ID on you, they will allow you to come back later with another ID to claim the award. If you have no ID on you, they will deny you the award and may kick you out of the casino. It is a requirement to have an ID on you to play in the Hard Rock.
What tournaments are available?
The room offers a wide variety of both daily tournaments and tournament series. Daily tournaments range from around $40-$500 and the bigger the buy in the more chips and time between levels. Tournament series offer a range of buy ins up to the main events of 1000-1500 or so. The complete tournament schedule can be found on the poker room website or on their Bravo Poker app page.
Are there player cash boxes? No.
Does the poker room have a website?
Yes. https://www.shrtpoker.com. You can complete listing of monthly promos and tournaments at this site, as well as on their Bravo Poker app page.
***If you would like to contribute to this FAQ, please send a PM to Browser2920***
17 Replies
Wondering why this thread gets no love? I have to believe that with all the action the room gets on a day to day basis from cash and tournament that there has to be some regular 2+2 members that frequent the room.
Going again in April for the 2nd time this year. Spreading a lot of mixed games in their tournament series from what I’ve seen. Only complaint is the cash game poker room is quite a haul from the conference rooms where they have the tournaments.
I am coming for the first time next month and wondering where the best place to stay is without having to rent a car?? Any decent hotels within walking distance or better just to rent a car?
the casino itself has one of the nicest hotels in tampa bay
i don't think there any others within walking distance. there a bunch one exit over. its not a very walkable area... and they're all a long walk but short drive. you can always stay close-ish and uber?
good luck
I am coming for the first time next month and wondering where the best place to stay is without having to rent a car?? Any decent hotels within walking distance or better just to rent a car?
There's a new (1-2 years old) extended stay at 8940 E. Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL. It's within walking decent of the Hardrock.
Man and woman win jackpot at Tampa casino before they're followed, shot and robbed
Don’t they issue checks for large winnings?
Man and woman win jackpot at Tampa casino before they're followed, shot and robbed
Don’t they issue checks for large winnings?
If the prize is large the winner has a choice: cash, chips, check, leave on account with casino, wire transfer to your bank/brokerage or a combination of these. Not every casino will offer all of these. Not every option is always available as sometimes it depends on prize size. E.g. probably won’t get a wire transfer on a $1200 slot jackpot. In most locations, if not all, regardless if size of prize, cash is an option. Generally casino is required at all times to have cash on hand to pay any prize won in cash.
Anyone notice decline in 2/5 game quality since max raised to 1500? There are def a lower number of 2/5 games there on weekdays than before. I would of thought opposite with how much Tampa has grown in population last couple years
Anyone notice decline in 2/5 game quality since max raised to 1500? There are def a lower number of 2/5 games there on weekdays than before. I would of thought opposite with how much Tampa has grown in population last couple years
Deeper stacked games, uncapped buyins, match-the-stack and straddles (or unlimited straddles) are all things that benefit your professional grinders to the detriment of your recreational player pool.
The grinders often aren't thinking about long-term sustainability of the player pool, they want to gobble up the fish as quickly as possible. So they overfish, slaughter the sheep instead of shearing them, and you wind up with less fish in your pond and more sharks.
Often rooms ONLY hear from the vocal minority of grinders who have a vested interest in structuring games and tournaments in a way that is beneficial to their personal pockets, but is a net negative for your poker economy and your business model as a room operator.
The silent majority of recreational players don't speak up and no one is advocating for them.
Thanks for the reply^
I agree completely with what you’re saying and from what I’ve heard the 1500 has made the games worse. Figured I would ask here to get other opinions and yours seems spot on
Deeper stacked games, uncapped buyins, match-the-stack and straddles (or unlimited straddles) are all things that benefit your professional grinders to the detriment of your recreational player pool.
The grinders often aren't thinking about long-term sustainability of the player pool, they want to gobble up the fish as quickly as possible. So they overfish, slaughter the sheep instead of shearing them, and you wind up with less fish in your pond and more sharks.
Often rooms ONLY hear from the voc
100%. perfectly stated
Man and woman win jackpot at Tampa casino before they're followed, shot and robbed
Don’t they issue checks for large winnings?
A few years ago at Parx someone one 40 or 50k at blackjack,took it as cash was followed home and killed for the money.
The savages who robbed him lost a lot of the money back to the casino and are now in prison for life.
He easily could have just gotten a check.
Either way he was getting a form filled out for getting more than 10k and these jackpot people were getting tax forms so it really makes no sense to take it as cash.
Deeper stacked games, uncapped buyins, match-the-stack and straddles (or unlimited straddles) are all things that benefit your professional grinders to the detriment of your recreational player pool.
The grinders often aren't thinking about long-term sustainability of the player pool, they want to gobble up the fish as quickly as possible. So they overfish, slaughter the sheep instead of shearing them, and you wind up with less fish in your pond and more sharks.
Often rooms ONLY hear from the voc
I don't think I could have written a better response. Very on point. This scenario has played out in other poker rooms across the United States in the last couple of decades. The players are who they are, it's up to the Poker Room decision makers to be smarter.
Ok here's my trip report from the perspective of an online born, primarily live 1/2 player from CT/MA.
I ****ing love Florida poker.
Played on a Sunday evening into early morning. Great game selection.
Played 1/2 for 3-4 hours. My only gripe was the kids with short stacks. Limits maneuverability but they were playing soooo poorly and telegraphing so plainly I was ok with it. They reloaded a couple times too. Other players were predictable and bad 1/2 players. Like the ones I'm excited to get 2-3 on a table in CT. That was everybody. Love it.
By the time I decided to take a shot at 2/5, what appeared to be juicy games had dried up. I played three orbits before deciding to leave. Just about every hand was heads up, often 3 bet pot. There was only one old Asian guy I could have pegged for loose passive. Everyone else seemed to be playing some type of reasonable or good poker. Ugh.
Back to 1/2 and I get an absolute peach of a table. PFR of 15-20 gets called 3-4 ways reliably. Nice. Those same players play fit or fold after flop. I'm trying not to bluff multiway so much but JFC the width of these ranges begs me to. So I do. 1 decent player at the table, prolly on my level or above, and it happens to be Philip Seymour Hoffman via Owning Mahoney. After punting a little into his strong range, I decided to focus on isolating and playing pots with other players.
Best part of this game was the kid with the supreme bag and super hot girlfriend VPIPing like 90% with a 1k stack. He started tilting when his sunrun faded, completely shocked that he was now losing! How could this be? I was up $900!
Overall, this games net was precisely $0 which has never happened to me before in 275 recorded sessions. It felt like a victory though, given the swings that kind of game can have. I think I played pretty well given the late hour.
Session net was $237 which is better than zero. Had lots of fun in these games.
Nice meeting you Mr Mahoney.
Oh a fun quote from Mr Mahoney:
Dealer:Hows it going Phil?
PSM: card dead and three hands an hour so...
(Supreme bag was slowing game down significantly)
Does limit omaha h/l still get spread here? It's mentioned in the OP FAQ I'm not seeing it on the Bravo app at the moment. Perhaps there are only certain days where the games goes? Perhaps the FAQ is way stale now?
Am I crazy or is $10 per half hour for time rake, plus $2 per hand for jackpot too much? It use to be $6 + $2 per hand for rake. I estimate around 12 hands per down.
