Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa — Attraction in Temple Terrace

I would like the world to know the truth about this casino, I have evidence of this casino robing and stealing from customers other then white, I have videos, and comments from other people visiting and playing at this casino who feel the same way and have also witness to my testimony in reference to this casino targeting minorities and Hispanics, we are producing a documentary on this casino in the hopes that they will stop doing the unlawful acts of DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM, we are submitting these reports to the world and social media and news agencies around the country this is a violation of our constitutional rights and this casinos needs to be sued for discrimination based evidence, this casino unfortunately is a racist casino, reason, and evidence why I say this, for over 6 years of experience, we have been going to this casino or have been going for this time to see if anything changes and it didn't, not even in the slightest bit, every time we go we put $5000 to $6000 in the slot machines and always come back home with no money, the reason for that is because they target people other then white, we have under cover videos as proof from experience I have watch time after time while sitting and playing a machine it doesn't pay at all and this could be for hours, maybe it might pay one time then after that they start taken all of your money until you have no more they watch you, and mind you THEY DONT CARE..They will continue to take all of your money because they watch you and luck up the machine, WE HAVE PROOF, we will get up from a machine after putting in thousands because it didn't pay nothing and a white person would sit down and they would hit the jackpot or the machine will start paying them automatically after we have been playing the same machine for a hours, this is an abuse and discrimination what does tell you,,,and yes it happens ALL THE TIME, they are thieves, they steal from the minorities and give it to the white people trust me we have videos, so as I mentioned from experience do not waist your time or money going to this casino if you r other then white, what I mean other then white, is Hispanic, Black or Asian any race other white, we have testimony of all these things im talking about, so don't do it,! because the more you go back to try and recuperate some of your money the more they will continue to take all because they know you the first minute you walk in the door, DONT DO IT, go to another casino like Hollywood, stop going to this casino Tampa Hardrock, I warned you, unless you want to give them all of your money they are RACIST, and don't care what they do because they are not regulated, they will leave you HOMELESS, meanwhile they are making MILLIONS A DAY, STOP going to this casino and save your self the DRIVE, THE HASTLE, THE DISCORAGMENT, THE STRESS of having NO MONEY LEFT BECAUSE THEY STOLE IT from you and most of all SAVE YOUR MONEY, we need to put them out off business, THEY WILL SEND YOU BOUNOUSES and never pay anything and get you to stay in their hotel to continue to STEAL from YOU, it will never pay out its a trick and tactic they used to get you to come back in, so they can continue to STEAL MORE OF YOUR MONEY, and yes its called stealing because they are not regulated by the Federal Government they can do what ever they want, as several people put it, its us against them,,I remember these words coming from several different people who are not white one day I was there, don't do it, if we all stop going it would force then to change or closed down, there used several different ways and tricks that they used against people like you and me another then white,,,,SO DONT GO TO THIS CASINO THEY HAVE FACIAL RECOGNITION AS YOU WALK IN THROUGH THE DOOR, THEY WILL FOLLOW YOU THROUGH THERE CAMERAS TO THE MACHINE AND START STEALING YOUR MONEY TRUST ME,,,,,,,DONT DO IT,,,,,,,,,,,,,STAY OUT OF THIS...

I recently had what can only be described as an incredibly disappointing experience at the VIP Lounge, one that has unfortunately left a lasting negative impression of its new management.

I came with my family, including my wife and our 3 children, hoping for a relaxed and enjoyable experience. However, what was supposed to be a pleasant meal was marred by a series of interruptions and reprimands that left us feeling uncomfortable and demeaned.

Upon arrival, we made it clear to the hostess, manager, and our waitress that my wife would not be eating with us. She’s currently on a diet and has been fasting during dinner time. They assured us this wouldn’t be an issue, but their behavior soon suggested otherwise. Despite receiving confirmation that the five of us dining together was acceptable, we were disturbed no less than three separate times by different staff members, who seemed fixated on enforcing a rule that only four diners were permitted per party. Each time, we re-explained our situation, yet rather than offering understanding, they reprimanded us like children who’d broken some unspeakable rule.

The treatment only got worse. After my wife, feeling frustrated and upset, decided to leave the lounge to cool off, management insisted she return and sit at the table, even though they had earlier specified only four of us could eat. They refused to serve our food until she returned, effectively holding our main courses "hostage" in the kitchen. Two managers stood nearby, watching our table like vultures, scrutinizing every movement until my wife came back. When she did, they gave us a lecture on the "rules" we had allegedly violated, though none of these had been explained to us and we had already gotten the okay for our dining arrangement prior to these 2 managers approaching us.

The experience left us feeling unwelcome and infantilized. Here we were, adults at a family meal, yet we were made to feel juvenile, as if our presence was a burden to their staff. This treatment not only spoiled our evening but also revealed a troubling lack of understanding or empathy from the new management. In a space branded as "VIP," one would expect professionalism, clear communication, and a respectful atmosphere. Instead, we encountered overzealous management, a rigid and unaccommodating rule system, and an overall atmosphere of distrust and scrutiny. We would have understood and been happy to oblige with the rules had they been stated clearly from the start. Instead, we were accosted mutiple times during our dinner for a situation we thought had been approved.

We ultimately left before receiving our main courses, as we couldn’t bear to stay in an environment that made us feel so unwelcome. This experience is a far cry from the customer service and hospitality one would expect from an establishment like Hard Rock. I’d strongly urge this new management to revisit their approach to their so-called "VIP" guests, as our experience was anything but. Until they improve their approach to hospitality and rectify their holier-than-thou attitudes, I would caution others from visiting the VIP lounge if they value a respectful and enjoyable dining experience.

My wife and I are frequent visitors to the casino, and over the years, we’ve contributed substantially to this establishment. We enjoy the environment and have always supported the business, yet this experience left us feeling completely slighted. After everything we’ve given to Hard Rock, we expected a higher level of respect and understanding. We were compliant with the lounge’s stated rules as they were presented to us, yet we were made to feel unwelcome and treated with unnecessary scrutiny. It’s disappointing to see loyalty treated this way, especially in a space meant to reward and value regular patrons like us. Take your hard-earned...

Update at the end... I've been going to Hard Rock Tampa for 6 months every Sunday-Tuesday and before that every Tuesday-Thursday and my drink of choice while playing baccarat in the high limit room is grapefruit juice, that's right, no alcohol just grapefruit juice. Unfortunately they location don't stock enough of this delicious beverage to keep me hydrated (this trip they did not even have enough to fill my tumbler up once!) so I have to buy my own and import it on to the casino floor to consume. This is extremely disappointing considering they have every alcohol under the sun in endless supply (even Louis XIII Cognac that they serve for $620/ shot). I have mentioned to the bar staff to restock the grapefruit juice because I'm there every Sunday-Tuesday, spoken to management of the hotel, mentioned this to my host and filled out the email survey they sent me to no avail because they obviously cater to the drinker and don't care about non-drinker. For such a 'top notch' place they don't even have pure grapefruit juice on site, they have the nasty grapefruit cocktail. Once when in the East Tower in November 2024 there was a black rubber greasy substance that came out of the showerhead. It was nasty and lots of it, I mean a steady stream! I mentioned it to the front desk (I had to physically go to the front desk because the 2 telephones in the room were not working) and they moved me to another room thankfully this room had what appeared to be clear water but i would not drink it. Be careful where you walk in the casino because once in a while a dog may relieve itself, liquid and/ or solid, on the casino floor. Furthermore sometimes my ankles get bit up when gambling, not sure if it's fleas, No-see-ums or something else. I prefer my hotel room on the warm side and many rooms have issues getting warm enough (sometimes staff have to come and do an override on the thermostats so it will get warmer than cool). Twice in one stay i called and asked for someone to be sent up to override my thermostat so my room can get warmer. The staff claim someone came to the room and rectified the issue which is bs because i never left my room! I was under the covers of the bed trying to stay warm. Also the parking garages and parking garage stairwells quite often smell of weed - not pleasant. Clean up your act Hard Rock Tampa! Enough of my bitching and time for me to go and win some grapefruit juice money at the baccarat table. -The Baccologist

Update: The next day while playing baccarat in the high limit room, the food and beverage manager approached me and spoke to me about this Google review. He said they always have 6 or 7 bottles of grapefruit juice on hand so when the bartenders say there is no more grapefruit juice, that's not true and for me to ask for the food and beverage manager. Based upon this timely interaction, I'm changing my rating from 1 to 3 over all and from 1 to 3 for service.

Update: great news they now serve the real grapefruit juice. 2-10-25 Bad news the bartender Ryan had a 1/4 bottle of grapefruit juice at 10 pm and I finished it. He said he'd get more. 2-11-25 3am Ryan went to the back and said there was no more grapefruit juice. I said the food and beverage manager says there's always 6 or 7 bottles on hand in the casino, you just have to contact the right person. He said he didn't appreciate nor deserve to be spoken to that way and I can go to the center bar or another bar and see if they have some grapefruit juice. Very poor service in the baccarat high limit room. I called and left a message for the food and beverage manager to contact me. My rating for service is back down to...