Video poker is now excluded from the Instant Rewards promotion as of today and Video poker play is also now excluded from earning tournament entries for the Bonus Times Slot Tournaments"

They shut down all the machines in the VP section near the food court tonight (6/28), so the last 4 with 15/9 DW44 are now MIA. It looks like they will be moved to the area between Council Oaks and the High Limit room but that area is still under renovation so they may not return for a while.

There is no longer any single line VP in the (new) non-smoking section between the poker room and the south players club desk. The original non-smoking section between the hotel check in and the valet parking has been closed for remodeling. The new section of the casino that recently opened has many new VP machines, however they require twice the coin in to earn $1 in comps compared to machines in the VP section near the food court.

$10 parking fee eliminated...at least until 4/30.

Now charging $10 for parking, and $20 for valet. The fee can be paid with comp dollars. Elite and X Card members are exempt, as are hotel guests and people spending $50 or more on dining, spa or store purchases.

New high limit slots now open. There is a bank of uprights against the wall that includes $1, $2 and $5 JoB and BP. Not sure of the EV's.

Reportedlt the high limit room as been elimated and some of the machinest that were there are now on the main floor

Hard Rock is in the process of revamping the high limit slot area. Some of the vp slant tops are across the isle. The $2 multi line JB have been reduced to 9/5. The higher denominations are still 9/6. They are also moving machines almost on a nightly basis. You need to look for the better pay tables.

Players club card no longer accepted in the food court. The lines are shorter. Also, drinks are comped now in the high limit slot area.

Caution: While JoB remains 9/6, it's now only 98.88%, with shorted RF.

Several months ago the players reward program made it more difficult for status credits but easyer to earn comp dollars. It now takes $850 in coin in for one comp dollar whereas before it took $1600. Comps have to be used in 60 days or they go to comp dollar heaven. So far there has been no comp dollar exchange for free play. Near as I can tell, it takes $50 coin in for one status credit. To maintain elite status it takes 3750 status credits or $187,500 coin in. That level must be maintained in a running 3 month period. Under the old program it took $100,000 coin in for 3 months. Also, beware of the machines in the high limit area. Some require $3,750 coin in for 1 comp dollar. I have complained about the discrepancy.

There's a host there named Arcadia (forgot her last name)-- she can help you get free rooms if you play. The HR Tampa has a chemical smell throughout (that kind of makes me queasy). Smoke is also bad on weekends.

It now takes $4 coin in to earn a point as instead of $2...a pathetic .06%. This change occured within days of the Seminole tribe having a compact with Florida signed by our govenor where the tribe would pay $150 million to extend Las Vegas card games to all their casinos. Need to play at least $10/hand in the high limit area to get a decent pay table.

The Hard Rock continues to be creative with their mailers. In addition to the monthly mailings(see below), they routinely send out Monday mystery free plays during the month along with postcards for free gifts, food, and drawing entries. After recieving elite status(100,000 pts in a 3 month period), for the next 3 months on a monthly basis I recieved approximently $160 in freeplay, a $40 property credit, food coupons to be used twice during the month at anyplace but Council Oak, and additional drawing tickets for the Tues/Wed drawings. This in addition to the surprise mailings I listed above. I know of other players that have recieved free room offers and invitations to the VIP lounge and surprised that my elite status has not garnished me either of these.

March 11th---The Tampa HR will be offering player club members the oppurtunity to earn 2x-5x pts on their card corresponding to the amount of years they have been a players club member. Eg....3 years translates into a player earning 3x pts.
Still at least one back of Class II VP uprights-- so watch out!