I've played at Derby for nearly a decade and have seen it change over the years, trying various ideas to revitalize the property while, ultimately, falling short of growing the user base and maintaining a solid draw for its poker room, specifically its low-to-mid-stakes cash games. Some notable issues range from focusing too much on casino/carnival games while continuing not to promote a well-structured cash game environment to attract new poker players. Earlier this year, at my and other long-time regulars' insistence, the property instituted a larger cap 1/3 structure and a 3-blind game. The games were fantastic, providing more action, increasing the poker-centric player pool, and helping players with poor bankroll management play within their relevant limit. Unfortunately, management made a short-sighted decision to remove the 3-blind game. Instead of investing in ongoing dealer training and being patient with players adopting the new structure, management terminated the new structure altogether. Several other reviewers have pointed out that the games have become overly tight, directly reflecting the structure and high rake, which was why the room struggled before the 3-blind structure. These games are on a slow bleed to nil, and I find myself looking elsewhere to play, whether private games or other properties. Derby has a big, open room, solid promo offerings, food and drinks, and new high-quality cards and chips, but it continues to make poor decisions by leaning on the status quo, whether by design or risk aversion. It would be great to see the management take a more active role in promoting poker, specifically cash game poker, in the Tampa Bay area, as they have an established brand. Derby can become a de facto poker destination in FL with a few tweaks and a better business strategy.
Derby Lane Poker Room
- Poker Tables:
- 51 Tables
- Hours:
- Open Now (All Day)
- Minimum Age:
- 18
Announcements from Derby Lane Poker Room
Sunday 11/24/24:
$75k Guarantee NLHE Tournament
$450 buy-in**30k stack**30 min levels
Starts @Noon
Saturday 11/30/24:
65" 4K TV Giveaway
12p-10p
Highest Hand each hour wins TV
PLUS $100 to all other players dealt in at that table
No Minimum Qualifier. Pocket Pair Not Required. Must use both hole cards
November Daily Promotions
-Monday-Thursday:
10A-10P
$500 EVERY 20 MIN
Pocket Pair required
-Friday's 12p-10p:
$500+$250 Every 30 min
Pocket Pair required (See specific details)
Saturday's
$500+$500 every 30 minutes 12p-10p
Pocket Pair required (See specific details)
Insta-Pay High Hands (During NON-Hourly promotions)
1/2 NLHE win up to $300 with Star Power
Play 60 hours Sun - Thurs to unlock Star Power
Double Star Power Points Mondays and Tuesdays
See specific details
PRIME NLHE
$1-$3 $300-$1,500 Buy-in
$2-$5 $500-$2,500 Buy-in
PRIME NLHE includes:
$500 Instant Pay during all NON-hourly promotional hours.
$1-$3 and $2-$5 PRIME Play 50 hrs get $500
Redeemable the first of the next month
All promotions require the use of both hole cards. Pocket Pair Required for All Timed Promotions
PRIME $1-$3, $3/hr food/drink comp redeemable in 5hr blocks. Food comp does not roll over to the next day.
$2-$5, $3/hr food/drink comp. Expires at the end of the following month
Recent Derby Lane Reviews
This place has great tournament structure, as well as solid buy ins for both low and high stakes. Unfortunately I... Read More
$9 rake , 4 of which is for the promo drop which they make impossible to hit (quads w/pckt pr). NO food comps.... Read More
DONT GIVE THIS PLACE YOUR MONEY! 1/3 players who pay more rake are now not eligible for high hand promos after... Read More
I've played at Derby for nearly a decade and have seen it change over the years, trying various ideas to revitalize... Read More
Great room, good action, plenty of games , nice jackpots, well put together card room with good management and... Read More
All the good games here have died. The management allows the private game to actively poach players from Derby and... Read More
Everything is great, dealers and wait staff are friendly and do a great job. But the room is TOO COLD. No reason... Read More
As a semi-pro poker player who plays 25 hrs a week here, I have played in a lot of places. I love the atmosphere,... Read More
I went to this place and as I entered their was 2-3 security guards there. As I found that strange I still went in.... Read More
Lots of suck out players not very professional and dealers could be better not impressed with dealers they Make too... Read More
Pros - late night action is great. Very few OMCs, lot of splashy action players Dealers are fantastic Table games... Read More
Staying down in Madeira Beach and had a free day to go play some poker. Experience was good all around. Played 1/2 NL... Read More
Since going back to 1/3 blinds for the prime game the room has only caused the games to be tighter and less action.... Read More
The dealers let the players do whatever they want in the prime games: act out of turn, straddle late, don't remind... Read More
After enjoying 2 months of the Prime game being a 3 blind game with more action, the management caved to all the Nit... Read More
The rake will kill you it has friendly staff, but I'm not from here on vacation from Indiana if they don't rake you... Read More
Like it at DL, I really do though rake is obscene..but the lack of promotions is terrible considering the obscene... Read More
Don't waste your time at this card room ,1 3 5 blinds cost you 55.00 per hour to play all because they want a higher... Read More
Always a good time with good people, good play, good dealers and staff! Tournaments are challenging, affordable and... Read More
1-3 prime used to be the best game in the area. But, they shot themselves in the foot. Three blinds and poor... Read More
