Silks Poker Room Review: A Premier Poker Destination in Tampa Bay

You can start your day off watching world-class thoroughbreds compete on the track, go and play some high-stakes poker and then finish your evening off with a great meal under the lights of the Skye Terrace.

Racing, Poker, Golf, and fine dining all in one complex, there’s little wrong you could do in taking an adventure to Silks Poker Room in Tampa Bay Downs.

There’s something for all at this multi-entertainment destination, but what about poker?

Silks Poker Room Review

Silks Poker Room is one of the most visited and popular poker rooms in Tampa Bay. It is easily accessible due to its closeness to the city center, which means tourists and locals can easily access it. You won’t struggle to find a game here.

Silks Poker Room runs both cash games, and tournaments spread over the 23 poker tables it homes.

The poker room is open every day but is not open 24/7. The opening hours are:

• 10 am to 4 am on Friday and Saturday
• 10 am to 3 am from Sunday through to Thursday

When you are playing at the Silks poker room, you can take advantage of multiple services. There’s a cocktail service, and you can get food at the table. The room is also smoke-free, so you don’t have to worry about the smell of stale cigarettes either!

The poker room has free Wi-Fi, and if you are feeling particularly tense, you can get a massage while you’re playing too.

The room is not on the Bravo Poker app, but you can find information on what games are running on TableCaptain by downloading the PokerAtlas app.

You can also call ahead and get your name on the waiting list, which is a huge benefit for serious players.

Overall, reviews from poker players are mostly positive.

• The service is great.
• Waitresses polite and quick.
• Dealers have been known to start conversations at the table to keep a friendly atmosphere.

Locals and regulars have very positive things to say, but it is noted that the room does look a little beaten up and could do with a facelift.

Silks Poker Room Cash Games

With stakes starting at $1/$1, Silks Poker Room is a great place for poker newbies to learn the ropes of the game and start their live cash grind.

Texas Hold’em is this poker rooms bread and butter, with Pot Limit Omaha running when the demand is there. Sorry to disappoint mixed game players!

Cash games that always run at Silk Poker Room are:

• $1/$1 No Limit Hold’em – Min buy-in $40, Max buy-in $80
• $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em – Min buy-in $60, Max buy-in $200
• $1/$3 No Limit Hold’em – Min buy-in $100, Max buy-in $500
• $2/$5 No Limit Hold’em – Min buy-in $400, Max buy-in $1,000

And if you are playing at peak times, you may be able to find cash games at:

• $5/$10 No Limit Hold’em – Min buy-in $500, Max buy-in $2,500
• $10/$25 No Limit Hold’em – Min buy-in $1,000
• $25/$50 No Limit Hold’em – Min buy-in $5,000
• $1/$2 Pot Limit Omaha Hi – Min buy-in $200, Max buy-in $1000

Silks Poker Room Promotions

Silks Poker Room does not disappoint when it comes to promotion, with featured promotions running from Monday through Saturday.

Monday

• $250 high hands from 10am-12pm, there’s an extra $149 to be won if you play before 10:15am
• $7500 Dual Room Promo from 12pm-10pm. $750 every hour for a high hand with no qualifying hand necessary

Tuesday and Thursday

• $250 high hands from 10am-12pm, there’s an extra $149 to be won if you play before 10:15am
• Silky Sets – Choose your desired pocket pair, flop a set, and you could win up to $300
• 12pm till Close – Flop a high hand for $500, all other high hands pay out $200

Wednesday

• $250 high hands from 10am-12pm, there’s an extra $149 to be won if you play before 10:15am
• 12pm till Close – Flop a high hand for $500. All other high hands pay out $1,000
• Makes flushes in all 4 suits, you win $599

Friday

• Flop Quads – win $1,000 (for first three players)
• $300 High Hand promotion which you can earn an extra $299 by playing 15 hours from Sunday to Thursday

Saturday

• Silky Sets – Choose your desired pocket pair, flop a set, and you could win up to $300
• $300 High Hand promotion which you can earn an extra $299 by playing 15 hours from Sunday to Thursday

As you can see, all of these promotions are based on poker hand rankings and your starting holdings, so you can get lucky even when you miss the flop.

On top of this, players can also earn $0.25 to $1 per hour in comps.

Rake

Rake at Silks Poker Room doesn’t deviate from the norm. For the lower stake games, the rake is 10% and capped at $5. This is a bit high for $1/2 and $1/$3 and can definitely eat into your profit if you are playing $1/$1.

Silks Poker Room Tournaments

With one daily tournament on a Monday and two daily tournaments for the rest of the week, Silks Poker Room allows new poker players to build a bankroll.

Buy-ins vary from $30 to $150, giving everyone the chance to participate. A typical tournaments schedule for Silks looks like this:

Monday

• 6pm, $150 buy-in, 30,000 starting stack, 20-minute blind levels, $5000 guaranteed

Tuesday

• 1pm: $50 buy-in, 30,000 starting stack, 15-minute blind levels, $800 guaranteed
• 6:30pm: $80 buy-in, 12,000 starting stack, 20-minute blind levels, no guarantee

Wednesday

• 1pm: $50 buy-in, 30,000 starting stack, 15-minute blind levels, $800 guaranteed
• 7pm: $80 buy-in, 40,000 starting stack, 15-minute blind levels, no guarantee

Thursday

• 1pm: $50 buy-in, 30,000 starting stack, 15-minute blind levels, $800 guaranteed
• 7pm: $30 buy-in, 3,000 starting stack, 15-minute blind levels, $2,200 guaranteed

Friday & Sunday

• 1pm: $50 buy-in, 30,000 starting stack, 15-minute blind levels, $800 guaranteed
• 7pm: $65 buy-in, 20,000 starting stack, 20-minute blind levels, $1,000 guaranteed

Saturday

• 1pm: $110 buy-in, 30,000 starting stack, 20-minute levels, no guarantee
• 7pm: $80 buy-in, 40,000 starting stack, 15-minute blind levels, no guarantee

As you can see, the tournament structures do not deviate too much from the norm of low stakes tournaments.

There are some nice guarantees throughout the week for you to get a piece of, which is always a bonus!

If you are looking to move to the Tampa Bay area, you should know about The Bay Area Poker Club.

From August through to May, there are weekly tournaments where there are points and cash prizes up for grabs.

Those who are the most successful are sent to play in the WSOP, paid for by the club with expenses. The events you can play in vary from the WSOP Main Event to $1,000 buy-in events.

Silks Poker Room Parking at Tampa Bay Downs

Self-parking and valet parking are available to you if you decide to take the trip to Tampa Bay Downs.

Self-parking is complimentary to visitors, and the valet parking is only $5.

So if that’s something you’ve always wanted to give a go, then I doubt you’ll find it anywhere more affordable than here.

Tampa Bay Down – What can you do?

Once you’ve put in the hours at the Silks Poker Room, there is no immediate reason to leave! Racing, golf, and dining out are other activities you can do if you are in town.

Racing

For novices, betting on the ponies can be a bit of a daunting task, but fear not, as Tampa Bay Downs colleagues are more than happy to help you get to grips with the terms and lingo and guide you through the beginning steps.

Betting at the racetrack is one of the most customer-friendly as their takeout rates are some of the lowest in the country.

Races tend to have around 8 entries, so the odds are always slightly higher, which can create some great wins for you to take into Silks Poker Room.

Going to see some horses can be a great afternoon out, and if you’re nearby, it is highly recommended!

Golf

Tampa Bay Downs has a golf practice facility for you to take out any suck outs you experience while playing poker.

You can let out any frustration smashing that dimpled ball hundreds of yards and return to the felt cool as a cucumber to show the table who is boss!

Dining

From quick bites to sit-down meals, you can choose to eat at one of the four dining options that are available at Tampa Bay Downs.

Your premium dining experience can be found at the Skye Terrace, with some pretty great views of the racing track.

Poker players can enjoy food from the Silks Bar and Grille, which has an extensive menu of burgers, pasta, sandwiches, and basket meals.

The other two eating options offer quick bites found in the sports gallery and the Tampa Bay Downs Box Seat.

If you are up for a few beers, Riders Up gives you a choice of premium drinks while soaking up the atmosphere generated by the racetrack.

Tampa Bay Downs – Keeping You Safe Against Covid-19

Tampa Bay Downs COVID-19 requirements are similar to most other poker rooms.

• Masks are mandatory
• Temperature checks upon arrival
• Physical distancing in place
• Increased routine cleaning
• Increased hand sanitizing stations
• Sanitizing wipes can be found at self-wagered machines

Silks Poker Room – The Final Thoughts

Silks Poker Room and Tampa Bay Downs do little wrong in fairness, it is not the most glamourous or luxurious place to play poker or golf, but that’s okay.

The poker room offers something for everyone, whether you are just starting and learning poker rules or a veteran of the felt.

Whether you are a cash game crusher or tournament binker, there’s plenty of options for you to find a game you’ll like.

The Racetrack and Golf course offers a nice change of pace post-session, and if you are stuck for something to do, the city center and beaches aren’t too far away.

If you are looking for a more Vegas type poker room, then you probably want to play at the Seminole Hard Rock casino, but if you are in the nearby proximity and just fancy some good old fashioned poker without the glitz and glamour, then Silks Poker Room is an ideal destination for you.