Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Poker Room Guide and Review
The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is a prominent casino destination, and its Poker Room is a central draw for many players. This review compiles recent guest experiences to provide an informative overview of what to expect.
The Poker Action and Dealers 🃏
Many visitors commend the poker room for its "great action" and the professionalism of its dealers. Players looking for lively cash games and tournaments will likely find what they're seeking here.
Challenges and Areas for Improvement in the Poker Room 📉
- Wait Times: A recurring complaint is the significant wait times for popular games, such as 2/5 No-Limit Hold'em. One reviewer mentioned waiting over an hour, despite a list of 16 players, and found staff slow to open new tables to meet demand.
- Dress Code: Some players express concern about the lack of a formal dress code, specifically noting men in tank tops, which can detract from the atmosphere for others.
- Historical Issues: One long-term poker player vividly recalled negative experiences from 15 years ago, including alleged mismanagement of pot distribution and unhelpful supervisors, indicating a perception of fundamental policy issues at the time.
Casino-Wide Experience and Comfort 🚶♀️💨
Beyond the poker tables, the overall casino environment also impacts a visitor's experience:
- Size and Navigation: The casino is described as "massive," leading to long walks. One guest noted a 20-minute walk to the poker room from the main entrance, which can be challenging for those with mobility issues.
- Lack of Seating: A significant drawback mentioned is the absence of benches or resting spots outside of slot areas. This can be problematic for guests needing to catch their breath or wait for others.
- Ventilation and Smoke: Despite designated smoke-free areas, the ventilation is criticized as poor, making even these sections "unbearable" after prolonged stays.
- Blackjack Table Minimums: For general casino-goers, blackjack tables were reportedly unavailable under $25 on a Saturday morning, though staff indicated lower minimums might be found on weekdays.
Customer Service and Policies 💳
Interactions with staff and casino policies have drawn mixed, often critical, feedback:
- Membership Card for Payouts: One visitor was surprised to learn that a membership card was seemingly mandatory for collecting winnings, an unadvertised policy enforced by an "unfriendly" cashier. This created a frustrating experience for someone who had previously collected payouts without one.
- Accessibility Service: On a positive note, a guest in a wheelchair highly praised a specific bathroom attendant, Marie Noel, for her exceptional service and understanding, ensuring easy access to an accommodating single-stall restroom. This highlights that individual staff members can make a significant positive difference.
Final Thoughts ✨
The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Poker Room offers vibrant poker action and competent dealers, making it a go-to for players seeking games in the area. However, the overall casino experience can be hampered by its sheer size and lack of general seating, poor ventilation, and potentially frustrating customer service encounters related to policies like mandatory membership for payouts. While some staff members provide excellent individual service, others might not meet expectations. Prospective visitors should be prepared for potential waits at the poker tables and consider the broader casino environment.
I couldn’t find any black jack tables under 25 at 9 in the morning. Granted, it was Saturday, and multiple pit bosses told me they are cheaper on weekdays. Place is massive, and there are no benchs anywhere to rest if you have trouble getting around. There are plenty of slots to sit at, i guess, to catch your breath. Had to walk for like 20 minutes to get to the poker room when dropped off at the front door. I struck out pretty fast and to stand 2 plus hours while waiting for the rest of my party.
Great poker room, good action and good dealers. Problem one no dress code, men in tank tops ( who wants to sit next to that ) problem two, I drive an hour and half to get there then have to wait over an hour to get a seat at 2/5 nl table. Finally asked a red shirt if they were going to open another table as there was a list of 16 waiting only one via phone. He went and asked a floor woman, she finally got a couple decks and opened a table. This was on 4/4/25 around three to four pm this has happened a lot to me. Otherwise great casino.
I visited the casino last Saturday. After losing a significant amount of money, I finally managed to win some of it back. However, when I went to the cash desk to collect my winnings, the cashier asked if I had a membership card. When I said no, she requested my ID and made me wait for a while. Then she told me that next time, I would need to have a membership card in order to receive my payout.I was shocked by her unfriendly attitude, something I’ve never experienced at any other casino. I had no idea a membership card was mandatory, and there were no signs indicating this requirement. And I did collect money without issues many times before. I don't want a membership card. Needless to say, I won’t be returning. Since there's no alternative here in Tampa, my gambling days here are over.One other issue is the poor ventilation. even the smoke-free areas are unbearable after staying long.
Marie Noel has been an awesome bathroom attendant. In the past few months she has made it so easy for me, in a wheelchair, to gain access to the single stall that can accommodate me. If she sees me wheel in, she makes sure I have precedence. She knows me and I know her. I cannot rave more about her!!!
Woke up this morning and the memories are still etched in my mind. The abuse and mistreatment is still burned in my mind, after fifteen years. I’m never coming back, and I’m still actively telling others not to ever go to Seminole hard rock Tampa. I play poker every day. I lived at the hard rock in Hollywood. Hard Rock Tulsa was great. biloxi, hell yeah. Tampa, no, never going back because of how you treated me fifteen years ago. It wasn’t just one incident. It was abuse over a weeklong poker trip. It was so bad and then my brother wanted to go back the next year, I was like idk, they kinda sucked, he talked me into it. Someone up there in power is sucking all the life out of everyone and making all the employees miserable and they turn around and take it out on poor little old me. I even asked for the supervisor to address the issues. The supervisor told me it was policy to give the pots to the wrong players in that situation. I’ve played poker every day since and no, you’re just wrong and you cost me money, cost me my poker trip, and then you were really mean and rude about it all.