Florida casinos outside of south florida worth the drive

The Orlando area has the Seminole Hard Rock Casino which features over 4,000 hotel rooms.
The nearby Miccosukee Lodge gives off a peaceful vibe with their koi pond and nature trail.
The Brighton Seminole Casino offers rewarding poker games and affordable dining options.

Florida is known as the Sunshine State, but it could also be called the “concrete jungle state.” This is especially true in south Florida, where traffic is bumper-to-bumper and casinos are packed with people.

There is some charm to these casinos, such as the Miami Jai Alai and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, but they simply get too overwhelming at times.

The good news is that Florida has 17 casinos outside of south Florida that offer just as many slot machines and table games, along with much less traffic and crowds.

You deserve to enjoy yourself while playing a game of Texas holdem or spinning one of your favorite slot machines. All you have to do is take a short road trip to one of these underrated Florida casinos.

Seminole Hard Rock Casino

Quick Overview

Location: 35 miles north of downtown Miami and 25 miles west of Fort Lauderdale (Off I-595 and Holywood Blvd)
Slots/Machines: 1,268 + 1,200 in Poker Spot Lounge
Table Games: 55+ (Blackjack, Baccarat, Mini and Mega Baccarat, Four Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, andcasino war)
Poker Room Details: 42 tables offering No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud
Hotel Rooms: 465 (+ 5 rooms for guests with pet) – Rooms average $149 per night
Top Restaurants: Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Kuro, Constellation Sushi Bar & Lounge, The Hard Rock Cafe
Noteworthy Features: 600-seat venue for musical acts, award-winning gaming floor, non-smoking area, Rock Spa® and Rock Fitness®, 65,000 sq. ft. Event Center, high limit rooms

I could spend hours in this casino, whether I had money on me or not. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino used to be my favorite spot to hang out with friends back when I was 21.

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Located right in the heart of south Florida, this casino is easy to get to from all directions. Whether you live in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, there’s no excuse not to visit.

My friends and I would usually grab a limo and cruise around different parts of the casino. We would start by playing a few hands of Texas holdem in the poker room.

Unfortunately my cards never cooperated, so we moved on to the slot machines. There were so many unique ones to choose from. And I don’t just mean in terms of themes.

We played slots that cost a penny to spin, as well as others that required $100+.

After burning through my friend’s money, we decided to sit down at a blackjack table. One of my buddies spoke a bit of the Mandarin language and convinced a group of Chinese businessmen to let us play at their baccarat table.

Needless to say we didn’t last long there. But the highlight of the night came next when we headed up to the Hard Rock Cafe to stuff our faces with burgers and milkshakes.

In addition to all of the great games and delicious food, the Seminole Hard Rock Casino hosts some of the biggest musicians in the world. Think Tom Jones, Blake Shelton, Kid Rock, and Jeff Foxworthy.

They also boast the world’s largest Peter Criss memorabilia on display, along with other one-of-a-kind rock ‘n roll items.

If you plan on staying the night, or even the week, the Hard Rock hotel has plenty of luxurious rooms to accommodate you. You can even bring your dog if they have more fun in the casino than at home.

Miccosukee Resort and Gaming

Quick Overview

Location: 8 miles north of downtown Miami and 25 miles west of Fort Lauderdale (Off US-441 and 5th St)
Slots/Machines: 1,700 + 215 in High Limit Room
Table Games: 24 (Blackjack, mini and Mega Baccarat, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em)
Poker Room Details: 24 tables offering No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Cha and Razz
Restaurants: Kaiyo, New Wild Onion Café, Harvest Basket Buffet, Toho Grill, Wete’s South Florida Market Place
Noteworthy Features : Sabal Palm Ballroom, Natural Ki Spa & Salon, Jhinguh Indian Restaurant, airline concierge, miles from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale Airports and Port of Miami, 650-seat entertainment venue, miCKi’s playland for kids, outdoor lagoon pool with waterfall

If you’re looking for a peace oasis away from the hustle and bustle of busy casinos, then consider heading to Miccosukee Resort and Gaming.

Yes it’s only eight miles north of South Miami but it might as well be eight light years away for how relaxing it is. As soon as you pull into the parking lot you’ll see a massive koi pond with a nature trail surrounding it.

You can park your car and walk around the pond before you even think about hitting the casino and poker rooms. The Miccosukee tribe takes great pride in their culture and traditions, which is why everything inside the casino reflects their heritage.

Every time I look at the artwork and sculptures I remember where I am and what the Miccosukee people stand for. They are very protective of their land and will go to battle if needed.

The Miccosukee Indians are one of the four original tribes in South Florida and have been fighting since the 1960s to keep outsiders from developing their land. This battle peaked in 1982 when the tribe blocked the construction of the Granada Race Track on the east side of their reservation.

The Governor of Florida responded by cutting off their monthly stipend, which amounted to $8,000 for each of the 550 adults. Rather than give in, the tribe opened a bingo hall on their reservation in December of 1982.

This later turned into the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Center, which generated $7 million in its first year alone. The tribe now has over 600 members and continues to thrive with their resort and casino operations.

The casino floor measures 50,000 square feet and contains 101 table games, 1,700 slots and a 24 table poker room. The non-smoking area is particularly nice because it’s sectioned off from the rest of the casino. It feels like a different casino altogether.

Speaking of different casinos, the Seminole Hard Rock Casino is also worth mentioning in this region.

Casino @ Dania Beach

Quick Overview

Location: 15 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood (off I-95 and Stirling Rd)
Slots/Machines: 1,000 + 185 in High Limit Room
Table Games: 15 (Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em)
Poker Room Details: 10 tables offering No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-card Stud
Restaurants: New Style Food Court (3 eateries), Louie’s Restaurant (American cuisine), Jerry’s Deli (NY style deli)
Noteworthy Features : 500-seat poker room, Keno, Jai-Alai TV Viewing, airline concierge, miles from Port Everglades and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport

Dania Beach used to be known as “Big Name Stadium” and then “Dania Beach Jai-Alai and Racing Fronton” before finally becoming the Casino @ Dania Beach in 2013.

Jai-alai used to be the main attraction here but the Casino@Dania Beach still shows the sport on five giant TVs above the food court.

The small casino attracts a mix bag of players, from young gamblers trying to win some money for spring break to elderly women who seem to know a thing or two about winning big on the penny slots.

One thing I love about this place is the low ceiling; it makes the noise level more tolerable than other casinos. I once spent three hours playing blackjack with a group of friends and hardly noticed the time going by.

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Another plus is the location. It’s just a few blocks from the Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades. If you’ve got an hour or two to spare before your flight, feel free to stop in and try your luck.

Most of the games here are located in the middle of the casino, with the exception of the high limit area towards the back. The non-smokers will appreciate the fact that the majority of the slots and tables are in the non-smoking section.

Smokers will have to trek outside to the covered walkway that connects to the former jai-alai fronton. This area contains 350 Lucayan Limestone slots that range from a penny to $25.

All in all the Casino @ Dania beach is a decent-sized casino that always seems to have enough occupancy but never feels too crowded. Parking is abundant and free, which is always a nice touch.

The Casino @ Dania Beach does have a bit of competition from other Broward County casinos though. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino is the most popular, while the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park is a close second.

Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park

Quick Overview

Location: 1 Mile East of Intersection of I-95 and Copans Road
Slots/Machines: 2,000 + 175 in High Limit Room
Table Games: 18 (Blackjack, Mini & Mega Baccarat, Three & Four Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em)
Poker Room Details: 24 tables offering No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud
Restaurants: Embassy Suites (on site), Eaton’s Choice (upscale steakhouse), Club One (buffet), Tropical Tavern (pub fare), PanchoVilla (Mexican), Fonda San Miguel (Cuban), Jerome’s (New York Style deli)
Noteworthy Features : 550-seat poker room, Harness Horse Racing & Wagering, Keno, Race Book, high speed Internet access, valet & self parking

The Isle Casino and Racing Parlour used to be known as Pompano Park until it underwent a major renovation in 2006. That’s when they added another 800 slots and changed the name to what it is today.

Whether you prefer to gamble on horses or slots, this casino has everything you need for a fun night out. They have a one mile track that hosts live Standardbred pari-mutuel racing events throughout the year.

But if you don’t feel like waiting for your horse to run you can always sit in the race book and bet on races from around the country. The Isle Casino also has 650 slot machines as well as table games spread throughout the casino floor.

The best part is that non-smokers and smokers can both enjoy themselves. Non-smokers will want to hang out in the 25,000 sq. ft. non-smoking gaming area, while smokers can chill on the heated patio to get their nicotine fix.

I’m not much of a smoker myself but I do like to hit the golf ball-themed slots while sipping on a Jack and Coke. My girlfriend prefers to sit next to me without smelling like smoke. Problem solved.

While the Isle Casino doesn’t get as much attention as the Seminole Hard Rock or Casino @ Dania Beach, it’s still one of the better places to gamble in south Florida. They even have 18 table games that offer complimentary lessons if you’re a newbie.

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The best way to get here is by taking I-95 to Copans Road and following the signs. Once you arrive you’ll have plenty of parking spaces to choose from – all for free.

The casino may be considered “small time” compared to its neighbors but it gets the job done. There’s something to be said about a 30-story neon Doritos bag looming over the Seminole Hard Rock but maybe that’s just me.

Seminole Classic Casino

Quick Overview

Location: 25 minutes from Orlando and 10 minutes from Orlando Executive Airport
Slots/Machines: 500 + 60 in High Limit Room
Table Games: 12 (Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em)
Poker Room Details: 6 tables offering No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud
Restaurants: The Fresh Deck Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Noteworthy Features : Self and Valet parking, Keno, airline concierge, miles from Orlando Intl. and General Aviation Airports

Seminole Classic Casino used to be known as “The Old Camp Meeting” for the religious retreats that took place there during the late 1800s. Visitors would come for spiritual cleansing during the day and return at night to gamble at the makeshift casino.

Today the Seminole Classic Casino is a class act that attracts thousands of visitors every month. Like the old days you can certainly say that you’ll be spiritually cleansed after spending all of your money on the slots and tables.

The best part is you won’t have to deal with drunk idiots throwing their drinks at you or blaring music in your ear. This is a smoking establishment so you will have to deal with secondhand smoke though.

I personally don’t mind a little smoke in the air when I’m gambling but my girlfriend prefers to wait outside every once in a while. She doesn’t seem to mind though because they have a beautiful koi pond out front surrounded by fountains and plants.

Once you’re finished admiring the scenery you can head back inside to play a variety of classic slots and video poker machines. Most of them accept denominations ranging from a penny to a dollar but you’ll find a few higher limit machines scattered around.

If you’re feeling lucky you can try your hand at blackjack, pai gow, three card poker, or ultimate Texas holdem. The latter is particularly enjoyable for poker players like me. It lets us use our skills to beat the dealer and walk away a winner.

When you get hungry you can indulge in fresh seafood and grilled steaks at The Fresh Deck Restaurant & Oyster Bar. Their award-winning restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has won several awards for their cuisine.

If you’re flying into Orlando you may want to take a short detour to the Seminole Classic Casino for a fun gambling experience. Just make sure your spouse or girlfriend enjoys the smell of cigarettes. Otherwise they’ll spend the entire time pouting and checking her perfume at the door for smiles.

You could always ask the dealer for a lighter, that usually works.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Quick Overview

Location: 1760 E. 56th Street, Tampa, FL (10 minutes from Tampa Intl. Airport)
Slots/Machines: 50,000 square foot center with more than 1,800 slots, MegaPROGRESSIV and PROGRESSIVE fuel displays, electronic roulette, video poker
Table Games: 80+ (Blackjack, Mini & Mega Baccarat, Spanish 21, Pai Gow, Texas Hold’em Bonus, Craps, Roulette, Three & Four Card Poker)
Poker Room Details: 18 tabless offering No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Omaha Eight-or-Better, Lowball, Razz
Hotel Rooms: 662 + Rock Spa® suites and ROCK LUXESuites (+ 5 rooms for guests with pets) – Rooms average $149 per night
Top Restaurants: Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, The Rez Restaurant, Hard Rock Cafe, Taco Temple, Good Vibes Bar & Grill, Sac Bistro, Yellow Fever
Noteworthy Features: High-limit table game area, 65,00 sq. ft. event center, full-service Rock Spa® and Rock Fitness®, 50-lane luxury bowling alley, seven pools, 11 restaurants, two hard wood venues for concerts, conventions seats up to 7,000

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is arguably the best place to gamble between Tampa Bay and South Florida. It’s practically in the middle at 25 miles north of Tampa International Airport.

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The Hard Rock brand speaks for itself so there’s really no need to explain how nice this place is. From the moment you walk in and see the wall filled with guitars signed by the worlds greatest musicians, to the time you leave holding a pillow imprinted with the logo, you’ll be swept away by the atmosphere.

The Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa has 1,800 slot machines, 80 table games and a full service poker room. The latter is separated into two separate areas, one for limits up to $3/$6 and another for higher limits up to $100/$400.

The stakes are lower at the Hard Rock Casino Tampa compared to the other room in Hollywood, Florida. This caters more to the standard player whereas the Hollywood room attracts pros from all over South Florida.

If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by loud players and loud music you can always take a seat at the non-smoking table games area. Same goes for the slot machine area although you will miss out on the occasional cigarette ash to your shoes.

I suggest heading up to the hotel to relax for a bit. Not only will you escape the chaos of the casino but you’ll also get a chance to swim in one of the six pools. My favorite is the lagoon style pool situated in the middle of the property.

For a smaller fee you can bring along your wife, kid, or pet. Yes pets are allowed with a $300 deposit and certain restrictions. I saw an older couple with their small dog walking around the casino floor one day and couldn’t help but smile.

It’s a shame more hotels don’t allow pets. I miss my golden retriever when I’m gone for weeks at a time. Maybe I’ll take her to the Hard Rock with me next time.

As for eating, you can choose from any number of award-winning restaurants. I recommend the Council Oak Steaks & Seas for an elegant dining experience and the Taco Temple for fast and cheap Mexican food.

Make sure you earn yourself some comp dollars at the casino so your meal is free! Comps are calculated based on the amount of time you spend playing and the amount of money you risk.

So rather than blowing $500 in an hour and leaving, slow it down to $100 for two hours and you’ll have a free meal. Trust me, I learned the hard way.

Read more about the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa here:

Casino Majestic

Quick Overview

Location: 1600 North Federal Highway, Ybor City (Exit 24 off I-275)
Slots/Machines: 600 slot machines, 30 Table Games, 17 Poker Tables (hold’em, omaha hi-lo, 7 card stud)
Restaurants: Cafe Majestic
Noteworthy Features : Live entertainment, valet /self parking, sun deck overlooking harbor, historical ambience, Mediterranean-inspired decor, private event space, happy hour, complimentary gaming lessons, complimentary valet and self parking

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Ybor City used to be the “Cigar Capital of the World” for producing over 10 billion handmade Havana cigars annually. Today it’s home to the Casino Majestic, one of the top centrally located casinos in Tampa Bay.

Like many historic buildings in Ybor City, the Casino Majestic started out for a different purpose. In 1926 it opened as the Turf Theater to showcase the latest “talkies”. Over the next few decades it transformed into the Royal Theatre and a Mexican bingo hall before closing in 1994.

The Casino Majestic was reborn in 1997 with a $10 million renovation project. They restored the theater to its former glory while adding the modern amenities needed for a successful casino. Some of the architectural details remaining from the original building include the plaster moldings, chandeliers, marble lobby floors and balcony.

Although the Casino Majestic isn’t as big as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa (above), it’s large enough to provide endless excitement. With 600 slot machines, 17 poker tables and 30 traditional table games, there’s something for everyone.

The best part is the historical ambiance that transports you back to the early 1900s. For more information about the history of the Casino Majestic you can click the link below.

Slots lovers will have a field day with banks of nickel, dime, quarter, fifty-cent, one-dollar and two-dollar machines. Video poker fans can enjoy a variety of games ranging from five-cent single-line machines to two-dollar multi-lines.

Some of the hot games at the Casino Majestic include Wheel of Fortune, Hot Shot, Hashoshi, Red White & Blue, Reel ‘Em In, Luxury Living, Sailin’ the Seven Seas, Prince of Wales, and Fireball Classics. They also have progressive jackpots that climb until some lucky sonuvagun hits them.

If you’ve never been to Ybor City I highly recommend stopping by the Casino Majestic for some historical gambling. It’s only 8 miles from Busch Gardens and 7 miles from the Port of Tampa Cruise Terminal so you have no excuses.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

Quick Overview

Location: 14551 Banks Grade Road, Hollywood, FL (15 Minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport)
Slots/Machines: 1,600+ slots and games, including multi-state progressive and denomination murals
Table Games: 35+ (Blackjack, Mini & Mega Baccarat, Spanish 21, Pai Gow, Texas Hold’em Bonus, Craps, Roulette, Three & Four Card Poker)
Poker Room Details: 21 tables offering No-Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Razz, Lowball and Mixed Games
Hotel Rooms: 469 (+ 5 rooms for guests with pets) – Rooms average $149 per night
Top Restaurants: Kuro, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Constant Grille, Hard Rock Cafe, Rare Steakhouse, Martorano’s, New York Style Deli, Fresh Harvest Buffet, Starbucks
Noteworthy Features: High-limit table game area, 17 table poker room with PLO games up to $3/$6, 650-seat poker room with action games up to $100/$400, 55,00 sq. ft. of meeting facilities, 40,000 sq. ft. Retail promenade with 18 stores, 6,500 person capacity Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, full-service Rock Spa® and Rock Fitness®, 12 lane premium bowling alley, three resort-style pools, 11 restaurants, two hard wood venues for concert, conventions seats up to 7,000

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is one of the highest grossing casinos in south Florida, coming in third behind the Seminole Classic Casino and Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa. It’s also the closest Hard Rock Casino to my house so I tend to visit often.

From the moment you arrive at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood you’ll be blown away by the sheer size and grandeur of the place. The guitar-shaped towers glow in the night sky and can be seen from miles away.

I’m pretty sure the motto at this casino is “Bigger is Better.” The Hard Rock Hollywood boasts the largest Hard Rock Poker Room in the world with 45 poker tables. It also has the largest Hard Rock Retail Rock Shop®, Hard Rock Spa® and Hard Rock Fitness Center®.

Don’t forget about the 1,600+ slots and 85+ table games either. The hardwood venue called “Hard Rock Live” can fit up to 6,500 people and has hosted numerous famous artists over the past decade.

Situated in the heart of south Florida, the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood attracts millions of tourists and locals each year. If you’re driving down I-95 you may want to take a quick detour and experience one of the best casinos in America.

I’m not saying you should gamble away your life savings but a little fun never hurt anyone, right?

Read more about the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hollywood here:

Best Casinos Near Me in Florida Summary

Well there you have it, FloriDUH, the Sunshine State has more than enough casinos to keep you busy. Okay fine, ten isn’t exactly a huge sample but it’s better than nothing. At least you’ll have more motivation to travel and see the sites.

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Instead of visiting the same casino every weekend, change things up and explore Florida’s diverse gaming scene. You may prefer the bright lights and high stakes poker in Hollywood but your partner might enjoy the serene atmosphere of the Brighton seminole casino.

That’s the beauty of having 10 fantastic casinos within reach. Next time your significant other drags you to the casino of their choice, remind them about all the awesome gambling spots you passed up. More than likely they had no idea there were so many casinos in Florida.

If you’re planning a trip to Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, check out the top casinos below:

Three big additions to Florida’s casino list are the Hard Rock Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, as well as the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Coconut Creek. These three Seminole Hard Rock Casinos are definitely a force to be reckoned with as far as Florida casinos go.

And now…drumroll please…there’s more exciting news for casino aficionados! The opening date for the new Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood has finally been announced.

Everyone get ready to rock n’ roll because the new Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL will open its doors on October 30, 2018.

This momentous occasion brings the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Hollywood, FL, to new heights with a completely updated facility. Of course, the world-class poker room isn’t going anywhere.

In fact, the new Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL will have the largest Hard Rock Poker Room in the world with 50 poker tables. Plus, the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL will continue to feature the signature smoky poker section and non-smokers section.

You can also expect to see a few changes like more tournaments, bigger guarantees, and more guaranteed adds in poker tournament events.

Ahead of the grand opening on Oct. 30, 2018, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Hollywood, FL will be closed from October 1 to October 29, 2018. So, set a reminder for the grand opening on Monday, October 30, 2018, at 1 p.m. EST.

Of course, you can still get your poker fix at the current Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, and the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Coconut Creek. Meanwhile, the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood prepares for its grand reopening.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a local poker room, check out the top poker rooms in South Florida. Maybe you’ll see me there!

Footnotes:

Population data provided by the United States Census Bureau – -Population Estimates