Florida has long been considered a pit stop for travelers moving between Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolina states. But there’s more to this sunshine state than meets the eye – especially if you’re a gambler with a penchant for .
In this guide, we’ll look at the best places to play poker in Florida today. There are 12 seminano and tribal casinos that feature card rooms with tables spread by legendary dealer crews. You can expect high-quality service all round, so it pays to know what sets each one apart before committing to a road trip.
We’ve ranked the top five Florida poker rooms below based on several key factors, including game variety, promotions, player traffic, surroundings, food/drink options, staff professionalism, table comfort, and overall value for money.
PokerRoomname
Game Variety
Promotions
Traffic
Surroundings
Dining Options
Professionalism
Comfort
Value
The Best Poker Roards in Florida
- #1 – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood)
- #2 – The Victory Casino Cruise Liner
- #3 – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa)
- #4 – Kraken Poker Club
- #5 – Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino
- #6 – Casino Miami Jai-Alai & Poker
- #7 – Seminole Casino Hard Rock (Fort Lauderdale)
- #8 – Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
- #9 – Isle Casino Kapok Road
- #10 – The Poker Room at Bonita Billiards
Online poker in Florida
Before we begin, we should talk about online poker in Florida. Although state lawmakers have yet to regulate online poker and casino games, residents and visitors can still access offshore online casinos and .
These sites enable you to play Texas hold ‘em and Omaha against players from around the world for either cash or tournament prizes. Some of the top sites offer mobile apps, generous bonuses, and daily guaranteed tournaments.
We’ve listed some recommended online poker sites for Florida residents below. Please note that playing on offshore sites is not legally authorized but considered gray area instead of an outright offense.
Can Floridians play poker online?
Yes, Florida residents can play online poker at offshore gaming sites. While there are no locally licensed FL online poker sites just yet, offshore operators accept players from the state.
Is Poker Rooms at The Villages, Florida open ?
Unfortunately, the poker room at The Villages IS NOT OPEN anymore! :( I know, I can hardly believe it myself. After 12 years, Corporate decided to close the poker room effective June 16, 2015.
Which casino in Tampa Florida has poker rooms?
Best Poker Rooms and Games Near Tampa, FL
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Poker Room ...
- Derby Lane Poker Room - St. Petersburg, FL - PokerListings 31 reviews of Derby Lane "Great place for Greyhound racing"
- Hialeah Park Casino & Poker Room
- The Card Room Gainesville, FL - The Card Room ...
What casinos in Florida have poker rooms?
US Casinos with Best Odds for Table Games & Video Poker - 2023- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood)
- The Victory Casino Cruise Liner
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) *
- Kraken Poker Club
- Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino
- Casino Miami Jai-Alai & Poker
- Seminole Casino Hard Rock (Fort Lauderdale)
- Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
- Isle Casino Kapok Road
- The Poker Room at Bonita Billiards
1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood, FL)
What is the best poker room in Florida? If we’re talking size, table variety, promotions, and cash games stakes - this Hard Rock property is king. With 51 tables spread across 50,000 square feet of gaming space, SHR Hollywood comfortably beats its Tampa brother for size. It also offers higher stakes cash games than any other room in the state - with regular prize pools exceeding $1 million.
However, this mega poker room isn’t for everyone. The sheer scale of the operation means it can feel impersonal at times - especially during the day when traffic is low and most of the tables are closed. The view from each table looking out into the expanse of empty chairs reminds me of a Western saloon after the gold rush.
SHR Hollywood really comes alive at night - especially on weekends - when traffic surges and all tables are in use. Regular visitors will never be bored due to the varying styles of local grinders - who tend to be very aggressive and willing to bluff in positions 2-6.
If you prefer to play against tourists, head to the tables in the middle or at the very back of the room. Finally, the cream of the crop will find their matches at the elevated featured tables located near the cable TV stream that shows everything that happens at the peninsula stage.
Amazing Slots Tips & Tricks - How to Win at SlotsWhen you need to get some fresh air away from the action, the Hollywood Seminole Hard Rock poker room is connected to one of Florida’s best casinos. There are hundreds of slot machines and table games like blackjack and baccarat to try. There are also dozens of restaurants and bars to grab a quick bite or enjoy a world-class dining experience - with music from the famous Hard Rock wall of guitars providing the perfect background soundtrack.
As you can tell, I’m a big fan of this place. The only real drawbacks I can think of are the tight rake policies on cash games and lackluster tournaments. It’s 10% rake across the board - including on $1/$2 - which puts SHR Hollywood among the highest rakers in the US. Tournament buy-ins often include an extra $75 + grats fee too. At least the latter is waived for the deepest events - such as the annual $250,000 GTD Legends of Poker series, which runs over three weeks in October/November.
Cash games run around the clock from $1/$2 blinds up to $100/$200 with a $10 ante and $200/$400 with a $20 ante. PLO games are spread when traffic is high, going up to $50/$100 with a $10 ante. shootout MTTs running most days, starting from $40 buy-ins.
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2. The Victory Casino Cruise Liner
Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood may have the biggest Florida poker room, but The Victory takes the award for the largest in the Eastern seaboard. This casino poker ship sails out of SeminoleHard Rock to international waters three miles off the coast of Hallandale Beach - where gambling is legal.
Gamblers have been enjoying tax-free slots and table games on this boat since 1997. A poker room was added later down the line, complete with 12 tables, tournaments, and great views of the Atlantic Ocean. Indeed, you can watch the sunrise and sunset games from the same seat - provided you can stay awake for the early morning voyage.
Day trips last around eight hours, so there’s plenty of time for cash games and tournaments. Like all cruise ships, things can get rocky out here. Unlike others, the nausea is unlikely to come from rough waters because the tables can get choppy at night when locals let a few beers loosen their grips.
Best Beat The Casino Games with Low House Edge (2023)Jokes about walking the plank are inevitable when discussing this Florida poker room. However, I can confirm the deckhands are far more friendly than gruff. Indeed, the whole crew - from dealers to floor managers - provide a high standard of service.
By nature of being on a ship, everything costs a little more at The Victory Casino Cruise poker room. Drinks, tips, photos, and meals are pay models rather than complimentary. However, the quality of the food and entertainment onboard is much better than many land-based casinos. We’re sticking to the poker room, of course, so tip $5 to $10 per hour for the dealers (cash only).
Drinks are supposed to be free for anyone spending $25 on slots or making $75 in poker profits. However, some players complain floor managers try to renege on this policy at times. If you do need a refill, make sure your play is visible on the table and someone can verify your time on the boat.
Speaking of time, it's easy to lose track thanks to all the fun. Did I mention that alcohol flows freely, and they serve delicious food 24/7? Okay, maybe that’s three things. Anyways, don’t forget to keep an eye on the time so you can get in one last session before disembarking.
When it comes down to it, this is the biggest poker room in Florida and probably the Eastern Seaboard. The crew is friendly, and there’s something special about grinding in an international tournament while watching the sunrise over the ocean. If you fancy a new experience away from the usual dank city card rooms, I strongly recommend giving The Victory Casino Cruise a shot.
There are around 12 tables spreading No-Limit Texas hold ‘em and Omaha games. Cash games start at $1/$2 blinds, with a $2 ante and $3/$6 with a $3 ante. The max games usually run on weekend nights.
Tournaments cost between $5 and $45 to enter and tend to be NLHE shootouts with decent structural depth. Overprints are often available if entries are high.
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3. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa, FL)
The original home of Hard Rock poker in the Sunshine State, this property moved into a new skin in 208 following a $700 million renovation. The new Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa looks amazing - especially if you love guitar-themed walls. However, the smaller size of its poker room may put some players off compared to the Hollywood site.
The old Tampa poker area used to be vast. Spread out over two floors and multiple rooms, it offered around 30 tables plus a separate high stakes area. However, everything changed when Hollywood stole the spotlight and overtook its little sister for size. These days, the Tampa poker room features around 12 tables and games ranging from $1/$2 blinds up to $5/$10 with an ante.
Despite the smaller size, this remains one of the best Florida card rooms for poker fans living in the west of the state. The dealers are superb, the promos are solid, and the games are juicy - especially on weekdays. As with any semi-major poker room, it pays to know when the grinders go to work and head home.
In Tampa, this tends to happen between 6pm and 10pm. Local players seem to wake up from their office jobs, log onto Poker Atlas to see the best spots, and flock to the tables with wallets full of corporate coin. You'll encounter a lot of aggressive players trying to blast your stack within the first orbit. If you can survive this period, the games can be very loose and juicy into the evening.
One nice touch at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is the ability to earn points through cash game play and use them to buy into tournaments. It creates a level playing field and allows grinders to satellite into big events without paying a cent in rake.
Tournaments generally run from $25 buy-ins for shootouts and daily events costing $125. There are occasional series like the $40,000 guarantee for $550 and the popular Summer Series, which had $200,000 in guarantees across nine tournaments back in 2023.
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4. Kraken Poker Club
Anyone visiting South Florida looking for a high-end poker room should head straight for the Kraken Poker Club inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood (not to be confused with the bigger Hard Rock sister property further north on the same chain). Located in the posh Guitar Hotel tower, this private members club offers stunning views of Fort Lauderdale and the Atlantic Ocean.
Indeed, the location on the 17th floor and floor-to-ceiling windows gives the kraken poker south florida an authentic Monaco Grand Prix feel - assuming you sit down cash games or tournaments by the window. Of course, you could always ask your friendly dealer to change seats if you prefer to play by the bar while gazing at the champagne.
Kraken poker south florida games are mid-high stakes, so you can expect to play $1/$2 blinds with a $100 big blind ante or higher most of the time. Cash inflow also determines the popup tournaments that occasionally run in this VIP poker room. For example, a recent $2,635 buy-in event generated a $67,400 prize pool despite only 27 entrants.
Casino Apps That Accept Real Money (2023)Access to the kraken poker miami is free if you sign up online and get approved. Indeed, the vetting process ensures this private poker room in Florida attracts the right type of player. Once inside, you’ll benefit from luxurious surroundings, impeccable service, and some of the best cash game talent in the southeast USA.
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5. Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino
Florida might not be horse country, but Gulfstream Park makes up for the lack of steeds with thousands of slot machines and quality poker games. This track has been hosting races since 1939 - originally as the Gulfstream Park Race Course. However, modernization works over the years turned it into a full casino venue with restaurants, bars, and lots of poker tables.
Indeed, the Gulfstream Park poker room is one of the best places to play cards in Broward County. Spread over 20 tables, games include Hold ‘em and Omaha from $1/$50 blinds with an ante up to $20/$40 with an $80 ante. Wild Card Weekends and other special events can bring $30/$60 +$4 ante tables.
The biggest downer about this card room is the 10% rake with absolutely no cap or dead button adjustments for unreasonably long wait times. In fact, the terms & conditions page explicitly says “all pots” are subject to a 10% house rake regardless of size. Ouch.
No Deposit Bonus Casinos in the USA for 2023 [New Sites]On the bright side, the Gulfstream Park poker room does at least offer some compelling promotions for Texas hold ‘em and Omaha players. Daily leaderboards, high hands, bad beat jackpots, and cash drops are among the usual suspects. There are also monthly tools worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the month.
For example, the Gulfstream Park May poker promotion included $17,580 for tools and $6,000 for the Grand Royal Flush Bounty. To put that into context, hitting a royal flush in this room will earn you $25,000 - the biggest reward I’ve seen anywhere in America.
Finally, be sure to check out the weekly tournaments. Buy-ins range from $65 for shootouts up to $220 for deeper formats with $5,000 guarantees. Reentry is permitted, late registration closes four hours in, and overlay is not uncommon judging from previous results.
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6. Casino Miami Jai-Alai & Poker
Casino Miami Jai-Alai & Poker is a medium-sized room filled with locals in Dade County. That means the games are loose and juicy - especially on weekdays when the pros go to work. Indeed, base levels of $1/$2 with a $2 ante run all day, but the real action starts when the suits arrive home from the office. You can expect three-bet shoves and coolers galore from 6pm onwards.
Base stakes rise to $2/$5 with a $3 ante, $5/$10 with a $5 ante, $10/$20 with a $10 ante, and $30/$60 with a $20 ante. There are sometimes $50/$100 +$10 antes during busy periods or for high roller visitations.
Best Real Money Casino Apps of 2023Tournaments are another good way to squeeze profit at this Card Club Cruises & Event Center venue. Daily events range from $65 single table shootouts to $220 deepstackers with $5,000 guarantees. Reentry is allowed on all events except singles, and late registration closes four hours into the contest.
Overalls, Casino Miami Jai-Alai & Poker is a solid choice for casual players looking for loose games and big structures. Raks are 10% across the board and there are some nice promotions, happy hours, and comps available for loyal customers.
There are around 400 slots and 70 live table games on the main casino floor, including classics like blackjack, baccarat, paigow, and roulette. If you like to watch a ball being thrown at a wall and placed in a winning pocket via a stick, there’s also a jai-alai court in operation daily from 11:30 am until shortly before dawn.
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7. Seminole Casino Hard Rock (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
This Seminole Hard Rock Casino Fort Lauderdale has nothing to do with the Pokers Capitol in Hollywood or the Anti-Grind Machine of Tampa. Nevertheless, this poker room in South Florida deserves a shout because it offers non-stop cash games and tournaments six days per week.
Credit goes to veteran poker room manager Chad Holloway for turning this card room around since taking charge in November 2019. Chad’s team provides some of the friendliest service in Florida, and he listens to player complaints/ideas then implements positive changes. Indeed, many grinders that fled this room in search of Hollywood now split their time between both Seminole Hard Rock poker tables.
The dealers at this Fort Lauderdale card room are excellent too. You'll notice a dip in quality during training periods, but the bar is set relatively high. Games mostly run in thirds, so aggression is rewarded. However, it can be dangerous to blast short stacks, otherwise, you’ll end up facing four tough players instead of two fish.
The best time to play at Seminole Hard Rock Casino Fort Lauderdale is between 6pm and 12am. That’s when the grinders switch off and novices take over. There aren't many of them, so the games can be pretty dry at other times aside from odd balls or visitors from other cities. Incidentally, this is a great destination for playing the WPT Deepstaks Online on Mondays and Tuesdays.
When I say non-stop cash games, there may be a 30-minute dinner break. However, they usually have a second dealer running the same stake game at a different table to ensure action doesn’t halt completely. The minimum buy-in is $100, but the rack is 10% regardless of the stakes, so plan accordingly.
Tournaments at Seminole Hard Rock Casino Fort Lauderdale usually cost $125, although there are shootouts from $75 and cheaper on Sundays. Postings vary but were around $5,000 - $8,000 in 2023. There are also series with larger guarantees held occasionally, and the team welches new ideas like bounty and shootout combos or pot limit games.
8. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
The Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is a popular destination in southern Florida due to its elegant ambiance, quality amenities, and awesome staff. The pokers here are no joke either. Indeed, you can often find juicy games at base level then ramp up the stakes when the sunshine grinders go to work at 6pm.
Spread over 50 tables, limits range from $1/$2 blinds with a $1 ante to $5/$10 with a $3 ante plus a $3 Jackpot drop. Things get even juicier when the local lawyers, doctors, and businessmen arrive home from work and decide to blast away with little regard for chip counts. This is the time to milk some pots and leave with a healthy profit.
DraftKings Casino Bonuses and Promos You Need to TrySeminole Casino Coconut Creek hosts weekly tournaments costing $125, plus rebuys and add-ons. Occasional series boost the action further, - e.g. The $125,000 guarantee back in 2023 with $100 buy-ins and $1,100 megasatellites.
A solid rake race program helps loyal players maximize their earnings potential. Indeed, cash rewards increase based on the number of qualifying hands you play each month. Handoadults are capped at 20%, and the room uses a proper dead-button rule meaning wait lists move faster during peak demand.
The one major drawback at this card room is the lack of high stakes games. The max cash game buy-in is $200, and tourneys seldom pass the $500 mark. If you’re a big bettor checking out Florida poker rooms, move along. Everyone else should at least give Seminole Casino Coconut Creek a try.
9. Island Casino Riverwalk
The Island Casino Riverwalk sits next to the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers. It’s not the flashiest card room in Florida, but the games are loose, the staff are welcoming, and there are some interesting promos if you know where to look. Island Casino Riverwalk has 20 poker tables spread at limits from $1/$2 blinds with a $2 ante to $5/$10 with a $5 ante.
You’ll find a mix of transplants, snowbirds, and locals at this Fort Myers poker room. That’s industry slang for “tourists,” “older players from up north,” and “regular joes.” The snowbirds and Joes provide the juice, so target them while they acclimatize to the heat. Transplants are a different kettle of fish. Many of them moved to Florida to escape the 9-5 grind, so they’re very aggressive players who view poker as a part-time job.
Some people would consider that description of all comers as a downer, but I see it as an opportunity. For instance, the fish will make lunch for any opponent all day, but the transplants can get nasty once dinner settles in their stomachs. It’s wise to conserve chips and avoid hazardous showdowns when the local pros arrive at around 6pm.
betmgm best rtp slotsThe best time to play at Island Casino Riverwalk is early, ideally from opening time at 10am until lunch. Another good window is between noon and 4pm. At these times, you’ll struggle to distinguish the fish from the felt.
Things get trickier in the afternoon/early evening because anyone with an ounce of poker skill will spot the weak players and jump in during their bubble periods. My advice would be to feed the fish during bubbles then step aside when the pros go to work. You can always grab some lunch, walk along the riverfront outside the venue, or enjoy the smoking area overlooking the water.
Tournaments at Island Casino Riverwalk cost $75 most days, dropping to $50 on Tuesdays. Rebuys and add-ons are allowed, and overlays are common. Other events at this Fort Myers poker room range from singles costing $20 to $125 freezeouts.
10. Gulf BreezeOasis Poker
Formerly known as Oasis Poker, this card room started life as a tiny joint with a few tables in the corner of a gas station. It has since evolved into Gulf BreezeOasis Poker, a spacious, standalone venue with 20 cash games spread over $1/$2 blinds with a $2 ante up to $5/$10 with a $5 ante.
Loyalty rewards, rakeback, and freerolls are available for frequent players, plus there's a food menu if you get hungry. The team also tries hard to make things fun with ladies nights, charity events, and promotions like random prize giveaways every two hours.
I’d describe the games at Gulf BreezeOasis Poker as loose and juicy. However, the local grinders are no pushovers. They’ll defend their stack vigorously once they wake up, so it pays to pick your spots at this Santa Rosa card room.
Head there early for some easy wins against the confused and the blinds. You’ll know the fish when you see them - they’re the ones with wide eyes and mouths agape as they take in the sights and sounds of this bustling Florida poker room.
Simple Tips to Improve Your Slots Session in 2023Tournaments at Gulf BreezeOasis Poker tend to cost $75 with rebuys/add-ons allowed. Occasional satellites run into Sunday majors at other Florida card rooms. Check the website or speak to a member of staff for the latest info.
What Are the Most Popular Poker Games in FL?
No surprise here - Hold ’em rules the roost in Florida and beyond. Almost every poker room in the state spreads some form of this cherished Cherokee tribe game, from lowboy to highboy tables with blinds ranging from $1 to $30+ and various antelopes, prop bets, and straddles in action.
Other popular Florida poker games include Omaha (also known as Omaha Hold ’em or Better than Hold ’em), which tends to follow Hold ’em on the same table when it gets busy. Stud and mixed games are rare unless semi-pros or retirees request them.
Short-handed tables are becoming more popular in Florida poker rooms. Lowboy tables seat just three players, while highboys typically have four seats plus a dealer. Both options can be fun and juicy when everyone knows the basics and enjoys a bit of banter. However, I personally prefer the standard nine-max Florida poker tables because it gives fish more time with chips and reduces the variance.
Florida Poker Laws
Can you play poker in Florida? Yes. Are there Florida poker laws? Also yes. Indeed, chapter 849 of the Florida Statutes governs gambling within the state, including games like Texas hold 'em and Omaha.
Generally speaking, Florida poker clubs are exempt from these rules if they charge a flat fee to play on their tables and don’t take rake. However, law enforcement officials have raided card rooms in the past despite this exemption, so it pays to choose well-connected venues or those that actively lobby government officials.
Another thing to remember is that reputable Florida poker clubs still take a rake of around 10%. That's higher than you'll find in California, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other poker hotspots. However, it's better than nothing and ensures the lights stay on and the best dealers, floor men, and managers work at your tables.
A final point to bear in mind is the legal drinking age in Florida is 21. Smoking is also banned in most venues, so ask the staff for assistance if you want to find the smoking area outside.
High Limit Slots with Great Odds - The Best Games To PlayHow to Find Top FL Card Rooms
So you’ve got some Florida poker laws and facts in your head. Now what? Well, the best way to turn theoretical knowledge into cold hard cash is to hit the road and explore the top Florida poker rooms in person.
Of course, you can save time and money by using my reviews to narrow down the options. I’ve spent countless hours playing cards in the sunshine state, so I know the best locations. If you prefer loose games in crowded rooms, my recommendations will point you in the right direction.
Alternatively, if you like to pick off timid chip stacks like a shark smelling blood in the water, I can also help. Just read my reviews, compare FL card rooms, and make an informed decision. Either way, the important thing is that you take control and play an active role in your poker journey.
Happy hunting, and I’ll see you at the tables sometime.
