Seminole Casino in Tampa now worlds 6th largest.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/262119/8/Tampa-Hard-Rock-now-worlds-sixth-largest-casino


Tampa, Florida -- Is the Tampa Hard Rock really the world's sixth largest casino? You bet, says the Seminole Tribe following a $75 million expansion that includes more slots, more parking, another restaurant and a renovated pool area.

Based on the number of gaming positions, or seats at gaming tables, or slot machines, Hard Rock officials say there are only five casinos bigger in the world. The casino floor is now bigger than five football fields combined.

"I don't think anyone could have imagined how well [the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino] was going to be embraced by the community and the growth that was going to happen from it," Tampa Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino V.P. of Sales and Marketing Doug Hoppe told 10 News.

The hotel and casino now employs more than 3,300 people, up from 1,800 when the Seminole Tribe opened the casino in 2004. The Tampa facility also has an annual payroll of roughly $74 million, according to Hard Rock officials.

With the latest expansion, the casino now boasts more than 5,000 slot machines, 110 table games and 50 poker tables.

But Hard Rock officials say they may not be done yet. The Seminole master plan calls for a hotel expansion that would nearly triple the number of rooms currently available.

Officials would not say if or when work on that part of the master plan would begin.

But the burning question is: is their blackjack 3:2 or 6:5?

Last time I went there, which was a long time ago now it was still 3:2, and Ive not heard of them reducing it.. frankly the house rules already set a high house edge on most games- they dont need to do 6:5.

Quote: Malaru

Last time I went there, which was a long time ago now it was still 3:2, and Ive not heard of them reducing it.. frankly the house rules already set a high house edge on most games- they dont need to do 6:5.

I was there in April and it was 3:2 on the tables I played.

Now you know why the Seminoles and particularly their bankers wanted a zone of exclusivity around their casinos.
Even those tiny Seminole places in the middle of sugar cane fields are pulling in a mint.

"The life of an Indian is like the wings of the air. That is why you notice the hawk knows how to get his prey. The Indian is like that. The hawk swoops down on its prey; so does the Indian. In his lament he is like an animal. For instance, the coyote is sly; so is the Indian. The eagle is the same. That is why the Indian is always feathered up; he is a relative to the wings of the air." - Black Elk, Oglala Sioux Holy Man

With their popularity, it must be a crappy place to play. They don't need to draw in customers with good games or promotions, they've got a nice built in losing base!

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Quote: adimat111

Overall everything is quite fantastic in your thread but the most impressive thing was the phrase written in your sig..



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Been there once before this expansion. Don't look for a Craps or Roulette table; just card games I think. And slots of course. A poker room.

Come to think of it, maybe they should take a page out of Maryland's book and have Organic Craps stick in their electronic machines with the giant dice under the plastic dome.

Quote:

In 1979, the Seminole tribe in Florida opened a high-stakes bingo operation on its reservation in Florida

Wiki implies this was the start of Indian gaming in the USA.

I didn't know that. But everyone can add it your list of trivia fact, assuming it's true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_reservation

I've been there a couple of times over the years. No reason to go back. It just wasn't a fun place for me to play and my money went fast...

Quote: rxwine

Wiki implies this was the start of Indian gaming in the USA.

Arnold Snyder's Big Book of Blackjack says that Michigan was the start of Indian gaming in the USA (at least for slots and blackjack). Maybe Tampa started Indian bingo parlors?

I stopped by my local casino last Saturday.
Was just interested in the buffet.
Pigged out then walked around.
I was amazed how busy this place is.
Who knows what the win percentage is at a slot machine but it cant be good.
America casino guide has tons of reviews complaining how tight the machines are here.
Regardless the place was packed.
After the buffet, wanted to play a little video poker.
Could not find an empty machine.
Then decided too maybe play Pai Gow poker.
They used to have 5 tables of pai gow poker, now down to 3 and all were filled.
2 of the old pai gow tables are now Saigon 5 card tables.
WTF is Saigon 5 card.
Oh well, checked out the poker room, place is rocking, I estimated about 30 full poker tables.
Got immediate seating for a 1 1 no limit holdem.
Played a couple hours, left up 50.
With no casino within 100's of miles, this place does an incredible amount of business.

I was there once, only time I ever played Pai Gow Poker

re tight slots, I don't think I have ever seen a slots player review anywhere that wasnt a big whine. Maybe the thing is to make a quantitative instead of qualitative analysis LOL. I don't doubt they have little motive to loosen them up though.

If they would just get craps tables I would go alot - only 4 or 5 hours from me and a very easy drive

Last time I was there -- maybe 2 years ago -- they did have a bubble craps machine. But, yeah, not the same as real craps.

I remember my first time there in '04 or '05. I played some poker -- back when the $1-$2 limit game was the highest stakes cash game they were allowed to offer. It was a Thursday afternoon, and I (in my 30's at the time) was the youngest player at the table by at least 30 years! The one hand that stood out was when I tried to bluff on the river with a K high. I got called down by one opponent... who showed Q high!

Tampa casino's cashier cage held up by lone robber displaying a firearm,

Wow, they have a lot of games... even Midi-Bacc and Pai Gow Tiles!

Why can't I have that at the Hard Rock in MY town??

Quote: TigerWu

Why can't I have that at the Hard Rock in MY town??

Its 'hard rock' in name and décor only, totally owned by Seminole tribe and its a monopoly in a wealthy area filled with people whose only other alternative is that rickety off-shore casino and its 50 passenger shuttle boat that recently made unfavorable headlines.