Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

I wonder if it would be helpful, since we have higher betting limits, to have a thread devoted to comparisons of what each room is offering (or not offering as the case may be).
I live in S. FL and may start going to the B&M's to at least see if it's possible to have a positive outcome over the long haul.
I have, as best I can figure, 6 choices, Hard Rock Hollywood being the closest to me.
Perhaps people could post things like better rakes, comps, what the rooms are spreading, etc.

Thanks in Advance
P.S I accidently posted this in Legislation so I moved it here. Hopefully it will be removed from that forum.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

I spent the afternoon just checking in on a few places though didn't play, as I didn't want to deal with long waiting lists. Just was curious as to what was going on around town.

Hard Rock is offering NL of a variety of buyins and blinds, even down to .50/$1 blinds with $30 max buyin (this was on one of the electronic tables). Don't know about Coconut Creek or the old Seminole casino, as I didn't stop there today on my tour. All the parimutuels only have $100 buyin with $1/$2 blinds.

Hard Rock had all limits of LHE listed, even the infamous $2 straight, but I don't know what was active and what wasn't.

All had 2/4 LHE. The Isle also had 3/5 LHE and 1/2 LHE. The Isle and Dania were offering 2/4 Stud. All also had waiting lists for 2/4 Omaha H/L, though none had a game going. Dania still has it's double-flop game -- it's graduated from a $2-straight game to a $5-straight.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

Worth noting that some of the rooms might switch very quickly on what they offering due to demand and just general experimentation.
What they are spreading on the very first day might not be the same as what they are spreading just a few days from now after things settle in a bit.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

Hard Rock was [censored] amazing today. They spread .5/1 all the way up to 10/25 and will go higher if there are requests. Definitely definitely go to the Hard Rock over any other casino and its not even close.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

Just got back from the Isle of Capri and all I can say is wow. It is as nice as any poker room I have been in. The tables are big and comfy, with a wooden strip area for your chips. Plenty of space between their 34 tables.

They were spreading 1/2, 2/4 and 3/5 limit. Played for couple of hours at the 3/5 and broke even. Action was very tame and friendly.

Then played 1/2 NL $100 max buyin for about 3 hours and won about 100. Again you got to see a lot of flops cheaply. Could have won much more but I was card dead most of the night.

Their SNG's are offering twice as many starting chips than at the Hard Rock (unless they have changed). The rake is also quite a bit less. For ex. The $100 SNG starts with 2000 units and the rake is $150. At the Hard Rock you get 1500 units and the rake is $200 total. The $200 starts with 4000 units while the $250 at the Hard Rock starts with 2000. They are starting some really nice Tournaments July 9th. There is a $350 Sunday event with 10,000 units and 30 minute blinds. Awesome.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

any poker rooms having $2-10 spread limit or PL omaha high or hilo? which casinos have NO ANTE in the stud games? and how does the rake work on pots of under $5 (just a $2 blind and one $2 call?) what i mean is they rake a $4 pot??

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder if it would be helpful, since we have higher betting limits, to have a thread devoted to comparisons of what each room is offering (or not offering as the case may be).

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought I'd revive this thread in the hopes that we can now get some kind of meaningful database going for us Florida players. I'll lead off with my "home" casino, the Brighton Seminole.

First off, as for cash games limit is dead, dead, dead. Saturday night is the only time they can get enough interest to run a limit holdem game, and then it's one table of $2 straight. Other than that it's 1/2 NLHE with an occaisional 2/5 NLHE. They used to be able to get a $2 straight O8 game going on Saturday nights, but not this past Saturday.

Rake on all cash games is 10% up to $5 + $1 jackpot/bonus drop. Minimum rake is $1 on all hands (they do not observe the no flop-no drop convention), then in multiples of a quarter (yes, they use 25-cent chips). The $1 jackpot/bonus drop is taken when the pot reaches $10.

Tournaments are almost entirely dead too. I haven't seen a tournament go in weeks other than the Wednesday night $20 "no-vig" game at 7:00. $2 goes to the RF jackpot pool and the remaining $18 goes to the prize pool. The house makes its money by keeping the entire $20 from the optional rebuys. Last night had about 20 runners. 2000 starting chips, 15-minute levels starting at 25-50. Antes kick in at level 6, 300-600-25.

SNG's are available, but I haven't seen one fill in weeks.

Brighton has one of the few remaining smoking rooms in the state.

They have a progressive spade RF jackpot. The club RF, which used to be progressive, was frozen at about $2000 and will revert to $1000 when hit. Hearts or Diamonds RF get a flat $1000. There is a $100 SF bonus and a $50 Quad-Aces bonus. All jackpots and bonus hands require both of your hole cards to play.

If other Florida 2+2'ers could chime in with information like this, we can have a nice list of what's out there for us.

Edited to add rake information.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

I normally play at Coconut Creek...they are normally spreading like 4-5 1/2 NL tables, a $2 straight table, 1 table of limit O8 (I think it is 2/4 but it could be straight 2 not positive) and a table of 2/5 NL also. The rake I believe is 10% up to $5 and then the $1 for the jackpot...tournaments are completely gone as there hasn't been enough interest since they started having NL cash.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

I can't imagine a better cardroom in Florida than TAMPA GREYHOUND.

Do a search here on this forum to find out why I believe this to be true.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

Here's information for the Hard Rock in Tampa -- I was there last Saturday.

1/2 NL runs on the vast majority of the 50 (up from 48 -- PokerPro is gone) tables. I'm pretty sure all the tables have shufflers now. 2/5NL also has a few tables. 2/4FL also goes off regularly, but 3/5FL only had a LOI. There's a 2/4 O8 w/kill to 5/5, but it's full of regulars -- this may not be a bad thing. 1-5 Stud on several tables, too -- money can be made here, it's all about game selection.

SNGs at $120, $225, $535 and $1050. The first two run constantly, the higher ones less so. The winner has $50 held out, for the dealers, I guess.

Multis run every day -- they have a calendar here.

Rake is 10% up to 5, every hand is raked, including the SB's $1 on any attempt at a chop. NL is raked to the dollar, other games are raked to 50c pieces. $1 Spade Royal Jackpot (often 5 digits, Omaha is a separate jackpot that sometimes edges north of $10K) drops at $10. If someone hits a "bingo", what they call any royal flush, since the other suits pay $100, your game will break, as they spend 30 minutes running the tape, counting the cards, etc.

No smoking in the cardroom, but there's still a tobacco girl, and smoking is allowed in most of the rest of the building.

New Kem cards, Chipco chips in $1 white, $2 purple, $5 red and red w/ ugly bikini girl, and $25 green, with metal 50c tokens. 10 seat tables, 8 seated Stud. Dealers are chatty, but otherwise on par with what you'd find in, say, Biloxi. Brushes are sloooow. Cocktail service (free non-alcoholic bev, $2 beer specials, and reasonable cocktail prices, compared to the hotel bar prices at the bars) is slooooow. Seating is done with buttons, and they get messed up often. At peak times, expect a long line just to get on the list.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
I can't imagine a better cardroom in Florida than TAMPA GREYHOUND.

Do a search here on this forum to find out why I believe this to be true.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm just glad they changed their commercial. It wasn't epic FAIL lulz like Hamilton Jai-Alai's, merely discomfortingly bad.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

Daytona Kennel Club:
1/2NLHE main game
2/5NLHE insane game 3-4 tables daily
25c/50c, 1/2, 2/5 LHE
Stud offered, rarely active.
Omaha 08 $5 straigt (trying to convince them to go 2/4spread tough sell) 1 table daily. included in RF jackpot so when JP gets over 10k a 2nd table usually gets active.
Hearts RF...$500 bingo for other suits
Touneys suffering...125 6 ppl 1 winner
120 10 ppl 1 winner SNGs
some $50 and $65 buyins. A $225 Sunday MTT on occaision
No comps. (other than an occaisional tshirt)

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

i hear you fishhead im headed down there next weeknend. when i come back i will post my experiences right here.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
Daytona Kennel Club:
25c/50c... LHE

[/ QUOTE ]

... what? No way -- how do they make any money raking this?

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Daytona Kennel Club:
25c/50c... LHE

[/ QUOTE ]

... what? No way -- how do they make any money raking this?

[/ QUOTE ]

It is pretty funny...they all post 25c as the rake! do the math! Pretty sick -EV imo

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Daytona Kennel Club:
25c/50c... LHE

[/ QUOTE ]

... what? No way -- how do they make any money raking this?

[/ QUOTE ]

It is pretty funny...they all post 25c as the rake! do the math! Pretty sick -EV imo

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't follow. Wouldn't that be a 25c "ante" that goes to the rake instead of the pot? That's what they did in the "old" days in Florida when they had a $10 limit on the size of the pot.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

holdem dont have antes, except in tournies on stars.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
holdem dont have antes, except in tournies on stars.

[/ QUOTE ]

You haven't played much holdem in Florida, have you?

Before July 1, the date when no-limit games were legalized in Florida, a form of holdem called "action holdem" was very popular with the action junkies. It had a $2 ante (yes, before any cards were dealt out), and a $2 bet + 3 raises structure on each betting round. 10-handed games frequently saw 10 players seeing the flop with $100 in the pot pre-flop. This was a $2 game!

Now these action junkies play 2/5 NLHE with a $100 capped buyin.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

I got a PM asking:
[ QUOTE ]
Do you have any information on the blind structures and starting chips they use in the MTT's

[/ QUOTE ]

So I'll answer here. I've played the $50+rebuys, and you start 25/50 with 1000 chips. Unlimited rebuys, $25 for 500 chips, if you're at 1000 or below you can buy 1, 2, or 3 at once, such that it won't put you over 1500 chips. 15 minute blinds, 25/50, 50/100, 75/150, greens off 100/200, rebuys end, 2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 6/12, 8/16, i think antes are in there somewhere. $120 SNG gives you 1500 chips and the same structure, higher SNGs get more chips, 10-hand levels. Otherwise I'd have to ask. Hard Rock's number is on that calendar.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

I just wanted to say that JCKC no longer has a time rake!!! I'm quite happy with them right now.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
i hear you fishhead im headed down there next weeknend. when i come back i will post my experiences right here.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hope to see you there in the RED SUNGLASSES...

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i hear you fishhead im headed down there next weeknend. when i come back i will post my experiences right here.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hope to see you there in the RED SUNGLASSES...

[/ QUOTE ]

Picked up $400 yesterday at TG and other than just one FULL HOUSE, never hit anything higher than a flush all day long(10 hours).

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

JCKC?

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

Does anyone have or know where I can get the full Tampa Greyhound Tournament schedule (I checked the internet)
Here is what I have please confirm accuracy
Sun 1pm $120 Start Chips 4000 20 min levels
Structure 25/50 50/100 75/150 100/200 +25 200/400 +25

Sat 1pm $225 5000 chips 30 min levels
Same structure add 150/300 +25

I am evaluating the best offerings in the Tampa area as far as tournaments and structure. This is part of a larger project I am working on. Anyway anyone who has structures of good Florida tournament offerings please post them here. Once I finish collecting this data I will post the results of the best offerings in the Tampa area here and listen to feedback. At this point it appears that Tampa Downs offers the best structure for money with their $80 buy-in events

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
JCKC?

[/ QUOTE ]

JCKC is a decent room. Most of the dealers are good. They have about 25 tables. They just switched from a $5 per half time drop to 10% up to $5 rake. 1/2 NL is really the only thing that runs regular. $5 limit O8 sometimes runs on the weekends. The tounaments have been pretty dead lately and don't even run some of the time.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

It seems like the Friday evening $110 MTT always runs @ JCKC--don't know about Saturday day or evening though, since I rarely go then. I haven't seen a tourney run on any other day of the week, and SNGs never garner enough interest to happen ($100, $200, or $500; 10-person).

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

FLORIDA tourneys are all crapshoots and most have ridiculous rates.........a novice player will have ALMOST the same chance of winning as Phil Hellmuth or Phil Ivey in these events.

Fun for some...........yes. Highly profitable longterm, in my opinion no. Profitable to a very, very small extent. The above average 1-2 NO LIMIT CASH GAME player in the state will fare well better off longterm than playing tourneys.

-FH-

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
FLORIDA tourneys are all crapshoots and most have ridiculous rates.........a novice player will have ALMOST the same chance of winning as Phil Hellmuth or Phil Ivey in these events.

Fun for some...........yes. Highly profitable longterm, in my opinion no. Profitable to a very, very small extent. The above average 1-2 NO LIMIT CASH GAME player in the state will fare well better off longterm than playing tourneys.

-FH-

[/ QUOTE ]

My recommendation is to only play those that are FREEROLLS(no buy-in) or those with NO HOUSE RAKE involved.............

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

You are correct sir, but there are a couple of ok ones such as the Tampa Downs $80 buy in which is actually reasonable value while such places you speak about (Tampa Greyhound) claim to offer the best tourneys but do not. A place such as Tampa with 5 card rooms in the vicinity should offer better value and the purpose of collecting the data is to expose those who offer poor value and maybe they will improve.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

So everyone in the Tampa area stop playing in the crapshoots and if you must play in Tourneys go to tampa downs

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

Coconut Creek for me too, since it's basically a couple blocks away from my house. But I haven't gone in about a month - been focusing more on online play as that doesn't require me to get dressed and look presentable.

[ QUOTE ]
I normally play at Coconut Creek...they are normally spreading like 4-5 1/2 NL tables, a $2 straight table, 1 table of limit O8 (I think it is 2/4 but it could be straight 2 not positive) and a table of 2/5 NL also. The rake I believe is 10% up to $5 and then the $1 for the jackpot...tournaments are completely gone as there hasn't been enough interest since they started having NL cash.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

[ QUOTE ]
FLORIDA tourneys are all crapshoots and most have ridiculous rates.........a novice player will have ALMOST the same chance of winning as Phil Hellmuth or Phil Ivey in these events.

Fun for some...........yes. Highly profitable longterm, in my opinion no. Profitable to a very, very small extent. The above average 1-2 NO LIMIT CASH GAME player in the state will fare well better off longterm than playing tourneys.

-FH-

[/ QUOTE ]

Since my hope is to get some kind of database of the various Florida card rooms and the games and tournaments they offer, would you be able to post the types of cash games offered and the buyins + entry fees of the tournaments offered at the card rooms you frequent?

Rakes/time charges taken in cash games would also be nice, as would the blind levels in the tournaments.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Re: Comparing Florida Poker Rooms
 

Was at Coconut Creek yesterday and they actually had a 5/10 nl game going, not sure how often that happens, or if it is even worth playing since it's $100 max lol..but just to let everyone know.