My husband and I lived in South Florida for 14 years. We would go hit the casino's for dinner and play on average three times a week. For 14 years, we had an envelope exclusively for casino winnings, and money left over. When we went, we would each take a hundred or two out of the envelope, and usually come home even, sometimes ahead. Never touched any personal accounts. We both would average 2 or 3 nice hand-pay's a year. My highest was 7,700$ on a quick hit fever machine at the Hollywood Hard Rock. My husband once hit for 10k at Gulfstream. We moved to Tampa 3 years ago because we wanted to be closer to family. We started going to the Tampa Hard Rock, our "envelope" quickly vanished, and two years later realized neither of us has had a winning trip. Neither of us had a hand-pay. We were playing about the same amount as we played in South Florida. We were getting on average 15 dollars free play a week, whereas, we were both getting anywhere from 100$-250$ a week in South Florida. We racked our credit cards up, checking accounts depleting, and you are so in the moment, you don't even realize it is happening until you sit down and realize how much you are being screwed. All those trips between the both of us, never once got that feeling of "winning", which happened oh so often elsewhere. Last time there, I lost five hundred bucks in about 30 minutes. No bonus', not one line hit more than my bet, and we decided to call it quits. Recently took a trip back to South Florida, hit Coconut Creek, and left 800$ ahead. First time either of us won at a casino in years. I will not get into payout percentages, or anything of that sort what I think. However, I will just leave it at that.
I have wasted enough money at Hardrock Tampa to have a Elite wildcard. A couple of weeks ago while at casino I was unable to download freeplay from my wildcard so I went to the players club. They had me reset my password and update my information. Last week I tried to check comp dollars and free play using internet but was unable to log in. I called and was told that I would have to go back to the casino and visit players club again. After trying to have issue fixed with three different people I realized that really don’t care if you are satisfied or not.
Went to Rock Saturday for my birthday, ate at new location, The Rez. The food and service were excellent. 2 appetizers, fried chicken, shrimp/grits, pork French dip, 2 deserts came to $130.00. A little bit pricey with no steaks. They charge $20 to valet and they've reduced the size of the free coffee. How money hungry to you have to be to shrink the free coffee cups. Oh yea, hit maybe 4 bonus spins in 5 hours of play. Same old shit.
After a 5 month no slots hiatus of not going because I never win, I decided to go back for my birthday today. Having 600 bucks for a bankroll, I thought I'd play, then hit the Fresh Harvest for dinner. Got there at 12:30pm. 1:24pm, I'm in my car totally pissed off. Slots just sucked every penny I had down to 0 without one bonus, oh, excuse me, one bonus on a 2.50 bet and won 2.80. Dead spins the entire time on every slot. Nothing has changed. I should of went to Disney World for the day. You don't get play-ability at all. Place sucks.
I wanted to raise some legitimate concerns about the video poker machines at the Tampa Hard Rock Casino. We know that IGT manufactured machines must deal 52 random cards if they are placed anywhere in the State of Nevada. But what about the State of Florida on an Indian Reservation? I find it interesting that the Video Poker machines (manufactured by IGT) found at the Hard Rock Tampa do not state on each machine "each card randomly dealt from a 52 card deck" like all the IGT machines do in Nevada. Are the cards dealt from the Hard Rock Tampa actually random? This question should be added on to any analysis of how the games work when we already know that all of the pay tables are "Short Pay" (7/5 or 8/5) (exept one bank of 9/5 machines in the high limit room at $50.00 a hand). Those interested in gaming have recently learned about Galaxy Gaming (run by the Billionaire Packer family) in Australia fixing video poker machines so that they do NOT hit Royal Flushes. We have to wonder if the same thing is being done at the Hard Rock Tampa. Is there really any meaningful regulation? I ask, "Will the National Indian Gaming Commission really care or investigate this issue? Does the State of Florida care? While these musings may just be my imagination, the truth is we can't be sure. The Hard Rock Tampa managment could change these perceptions by offering some "Full Pay" games and allowing betters to win occasionally. Since they won't (or don't appear to be listening or just don't care), the obvious answer seems to be don't play them. Boycott them and let them see the handle drop. Better yet, take your action to Mississippi wherer the Mississippi Gaming Commission is active and gives gamblers a fair chance. In Biloxi, you can at least be sure that you will get a fair game.
