Destination Florida: Casinos in the Sunshine State

Florida is well-known worldwide for entrancing beaches, a heart-stopping dance scene, and some of the best Latin American cuisine anywhere outside of Central and South America.

However, Florida is also a gamblers paradise, with casino destinations hosting Vegas-style games such as craps, roulette, baccarat, poker, pai-gow, and a whole host of other games of chance and skill. In addition, some have lavish resort-style amenities including pools, lazy rivers, nightclubs and more.

While there are countless gaming options in Florida,we’re going to take a look at some of the must-visit casinos in the Sunshine State.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

1-866-388-4263 – SeminoleHardRockTampa.com

While many casinos cater to a more mature crowd, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa takes the “rock” in their name seriously. The property is still family-friendly, but they also offer a showcase of music and nightlife options that set this hotel apart for the party-inclined. With that being said, this is definitely not a European-style hostel. The property has all the bells and whistles and luxury options that discerning gamers have come to expect, including flat screens in every room, digital device connections galore, and Egyptian cotton sheets.

The property sits right on the thick of things in downtown Tampa, close to the Florida Fairgrounds as well as the city’s most prominent concert venue, the Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheater. Fine dining options at the casino include Council Oaks Steak and Seafood or The Rez Grill and for a more casual dining experience be sure to check out the Hard Rock Café or the Fresh Harvest Buffet.

The casino offers a rewards programs called the Seminole Wild Card, which tracks points and enters users into giveaways for cash and other prizes, including a new member giveaway held each month for $5,000 in cash or a casino credit. The casino boasts slots, table games, poker rooms, and self-pay jackpots on many of their machines.

What they have: 24-hour casino, poker room, suites available, fine and casual dining, bars and entertainment lounges, and a pool and cabanas, player’s club.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

1-866-502-7529 – SeminoleHardRockHollywood.com

While this property is the sister casino of the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, there are many similarities, and differences between the two. The most prominent difference being the brand new, 34-story guitar shaped hotel they recently unveiled. Covered in Aqua glass and offering light shows nightly, and the amenities you might find at a luxurious Caribbean resort. Guests will surely find the games they want in the 195,000 square-foot casino offering a full spread of everyone’s favorite casinos games and slots. The entertainment options at the property are bar-none among the best in the state. The pool area offers a lagoon, lazy river, beach pool (with actual sand) and day parties where the action always carries over into the night.

When it comes to entertainment, Hard Rock Live! is one of the premier entertainment venues in the region and home to 7,000 seats. Guests will get the feel of a big show, yet an up-close and personal experience with some of the biggest names in the business including Billy Joel, Jerry Seinfeld, Rod Stewart and more. Despite the fantastic entertainment and food options, where this resort really shines is the casino, which features a 50k rolling jackpot, a 777$ giveaway every 7 minutes during the Hard Rock 7’s event, as well as the many bonuses and gifts that come with being a Hard Rock Seminole Wild Card Member.

What they have: 24-hour casino, poker room, retail promenade, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment lounges, full concert venue, meeting and convention center, golf excursions, and poolside cabana and rec areas, player’s club.

Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami)

1-305-222-4600 – Miccosukee.com

Miccosukee Resort & Gaming is located in the heart of the Everglades and is among South Florida’s oldest and most-loved gaming centers. They pride themselves on having the highest payouts in the area and visitors will can enjoy a full-service hotel with more than 300 rooms and suites as well as fantastic dining, entertainment and, of course, gambling. Many other Florida casinos are in less-populated, or out of the way areas, this isn’t the case at Miccosukee as it is located just a short-drive from the nightclub and shopping districts of South Beach, Miami Beach, and downtown.

If you’re hungry, be sure to check out one of the many dining outlets on property, each representing the culture of Miami and the surrounding regions, The popular International Buffet features crab legs, sushi, prime rib, and many other delights, and if you’re looking for some night time action, you can hit the casino or one of the bars or lounges, like the Cypress Lounge or the Martini Bar.

Speaking of gaming, the casino offers their own Miccosukee One Rewards program with several benefits for players including bonus points they can exchange for cash and prizes, as well as special offers and discounts. Bingo games and gaming machines are both available for visitors, and more than 2,000 machines on the casino floor will keep you entertained for hours.

What they have: 24-hour casino, poker room, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment lounges, and poolside cabana and rec areas, salon and spa, and teen and kids areas/arcades, player’s club.

Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino (South Florida)

1-954-454-7000 – GulfstreamPark.com

What sets Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino apart from the other properties on our list is the presence of live horse racing and betting. While all of the properties offer live gaming, they cannot all match the excitement and fun that comes with placing bets on beautiful thoroughbred horses in person. The property sits on scenic Hallandale Beach, and while they do not have a hotel, there are a number of premium hotels nearby to ensure that visitors receive top accommodations. There are also a number of buses and shuttles that run from the property out to hotels and other nearby gathering places, so getting to Gulfstream Park is easy.

In addition to the horse track, Gulfstream Park has events and entertainment, dining options, an 800-slot, two-story casino floor, a poker room, and a “Champion’s Card” that gives regulars the opportunity to rack up points or cash rewards. Live thoroughbred racing occurs between Wednesday and Sunday every week, with exceptions for major holidays. There are several special events at Gulfstream, typically centered on big races, which tend to happen in early spring, as the racing season ends in March. The two biggest racing event would be the Pegasus World Cup held January 25th as North America’s richest race, and the Florida Derby which is held this year on March 28th and serves as a major prep race the Kentucky Derby contenders. The park also offers a number of retail and shopping options, so visitors can bring the entire family to enjoy a day of excitement that only off-track horse racing can offer.

What they have: live and off-track horse betting, 24-hour casino, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment lounges, and poolside cabana and rec areas, salon and spa, and teen and kids areas/arcades, retail options, poker room, player’s club.

Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee (Southwest Florida)

1-239-658-1313 – SeminoleImmokaleeCasino.com

The Seminole Casino Hotel in Immokalee, Florida is Southwest Florida’s premier gaming and entertainment resort. Located on the famed Paradise Coast, the property combines the best of old Florida, think smugglers, pirates, lush beaches, with the luxuries and amenities discerning vacationers and gamers have come to expect. Within the hotel complex there are 19 suites, and 81 deluxe rooms. The pool comes stocked with complimentary towels and lounge chairs and sits directly adjacent to their free-to-access world-class fitness studio. If you are planning a corporate event, family vacation, or other gathering, the Seminole Center Event Space is available for guests. There is also an office center which guests can access whether they are visiting for business or for pleasure.

The Seminole Center also hosts regular musical and comedic performances, with some of the best acts in Florida coming through on a regular basis. There are four dining options within the casino, including the well-reviewed Lucky-Mi Noodle House, and 1st Street Deli for food on the go. The gaming options are numerous at the Seminole Casino Hotel in Immokalee, with more than 1,300 slot machines and 38 live table games including blackjack, mini-baccarat, pai gow, and many others. Whether you are interested in a night at the tables, some phenomenal Asian cuisine, or a concert from one of your favorite artists- the Immokalee Seminole Casino Hotel has you covered.

What they have: 24-hour casino, table games, slots, hotel/accommodations, poker room, suites available, fine and casual dining, entertainment/event space, pool, fitness center, player’s club.

 

Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club

1-386-252-6484 – DaytonaGreyhound.com

Daytona Beach is famed for being a hub of auto racing and other motorsports. However, there is another type of racing in the city, and that is Greyhound Racing- which you can enjoy at the Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club. The facility offers live greyhound racing, poker games, and off-track betting on televised horse races and the casino has a rewards program for regular and new visitors, called the Lucky North Club, which offers cash prizes, free bets, and food and dining options.

There are two dining options available at that include the Clubhouse Restaurant, which serves traditional American food and some world options, as well as the Trackside Dining Experience, which brings food right to you in the stands. While there are no lodging facilities or rooms on the property itself, the casino’s location on Daytona Beach allow guests to stay at any of the many hotels near the property, some of which offer incentives and discounts through the Lucky North Club rewards program offered by the club.

What they have: live greyhound races, off-track horse and greyhound betting, casual dining options, poker room, player’s club.

The Last Word
Variety is the spice of life, and the casinos on our list have a bit of everything Florida has to offer in terms of casino gaming and resort destinations. One competitive advantage Florida casinos will always have over others is the ability to place a wager, and then walk outside into a tropical paradise for a bonfire on the beach or a daiquiri out by the pool. If you are a casino gamer interested in slots, poker, table games, horse racing, or other forms of wagering- try some of these casinos out for size- you won’t be disappointed.