We are offically done with this place. I fail to see the fun here any longer as you can not win more than 3x your bet back on anything, any denomination, any slot, any bonus, any time. I don't get it. You lose 1000s a week, and if you're lucky, they will give you $10 free play. I've been reading through the reviews, and I feel everyone's pain. Walking back in today, I passed someone saying out loud why do I even bother.... That was a sign. Played 100 in 10 different slots. All dead spins and bonus'. Lasted about 40 minutes. Never won more than 3x my bet. Go to South Florida, Biloxi, hell, you will get more pleasure and fun driving all the way up to AC. My disgust for this place reached its peak. No more.
I came back to play at the Hard Rock in Tampa after a several year hiatus. What I found surprised me. The slots and video poker are even tighter then before. The Tribe has billboards that read "A Jackpot Paid Every Minute". What a joke! There own published statistics state that 97% of all jackpots will be between $1000 and $3000. And I can confirm that most of them will be just above the $1200 limit necessitating a W2G. What they don't tell you is that you will have to spend between 5 to 7 times that amount to win that $1200 jackpot. I have gambled in 18 States and several foreign countries and this casino is the tightest that I have ever played in. The slot club is horrible and the place still smells like an ash tray. Second hand smoke seeps it's way everywhere including into the non-smoking area. Only 13% of Americans still smoke yet the Tribe seems intent on exposing everyone to the dangers of second hand smoke. I also believe that their Video Poke offerings are not dealt fairly. The VP machines just don't act like other casinos that I have played in. But why should they? The Tribe regulates it's own casino ("The Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission") and the National Indian Gaming Commission is a farce. I have never seen a large jackpot on a VP machine where the bettor did not bet $500.00 a hand. In fact, the Tribe published that only about 300 people won jackpots over $100,000 in a year in Tampa so if you go expecting that result then think again. The facts are that you will lose, lose, lose. A Slot Floor Manager told me that the return to player is 92%. Oh yea, that is 92% ON AVERAGE. With their very occasional big winners (see below), that means that the average gambler on the floor probably has a true return to player of around 75 or 80%. There are no regulars there anymore. How can there be when everyone's losses are so great? This casino burns any regulars out: no occasional wins of any significance to keep them coming back. And don't try to reconnect with your old host. They will no longer be there. They rotate out and move out regularly. Who could continue at that job when everyone you come into contact with complains about how they just can't win? Just don't go there. Sure "Anybody Can Win" but only after losing 100 or 200 Percent more of their hard earned money before you finally hit a jackpot of maybe $10,000. I know of several players who are down $250,000 for the year to date from slots and video poker losses. The tribe loves those players. If you are a tourist checking out whether to come to the Hard Rock Tampa on your trip to the Gulf Coast do yourself a favor and don't stop there. Go somewhere, anywhere else to gamble. Think South Florida where there is some competition, Biloxi, etc. Just avoid the Hard Rock Tampa. You will regret it. It will be a terrible experience.
Went today for my birthday with 300 bucks. Plan was to gamble, eat, gamble.. Played 10 different slots my highest win was 2.20. Yes 2.20$ on a bonus on a 1.50 bet. This place is depressing. Just got the hell out of there and went elsewhere to eat. Every trip there is the same. Lose. I go to South Florida and win or at least win more than my bet.
Just be warned. Whatever you walk in with, you will lose. 99% of the slots, whether you put in 20$, 100$, 500$, will suck it straight down to 0. If you are lucky enough to sit at a "loose" slot, you will win your bet back a few times, then go straight to 0. I have been a frequent here since 2004. I still go at least once a weekend. I haven't even seen anyone win a jackpot since 2008, even on busy weekends. I spend a lot of time walking around watching people since my bankroll is usually gone in 60 seconds. Slots here are programmed to pay very little amounts. I take trips to South Florida, and usually always leave casino's ahead or even, never at Tampa. I saw someone bet 6$ max on buffalo gold, get over 100 spins with retriggers, and win 40$. I guess that is considered a jackpot payout for this place. So in a nutshell, at this place, you "pay to play" and that's it. You don't win.
I used to go with a group of 20 people every other weekend. No one goes anymore because the payouts are too bad. We go now to South Florida once a month. You know it is bad when 20 people go in with an average bankroll of 1k each, and an hour later, everyone is broke. We also used to get meal comps, and eat lunch or dinner there. The comps and free play stopped also.
