You’re driving down 17-92 in Volusia County and there it is. A massive building that looks a bit like a warehouse-meets-office-park, but once you step inside, the vibe shifts completely. If you’re looking for a flashy Las Vegas-style casino with rows of clanging slot machines and neon lights reflecting off every surface, you’re in the wrong place. Orange City Racing and Card Club doesn’t do that. It’s a different beast entirely. It’s gritty in a good way, focused on the math of the game and the speed of the track.
Basically, it's a poker room and a "racino" without the actual horses or greyhounds running on-site.
The Reality of Poker at Orange City Racing and Card Club
The poker room is the heartbeat of this place. It’s huge. We're talking about dozens of tables—usually around 33 or so—where the air feels thick with concentration. This isn't just a hobbyist's basement game. You’ll find the seasoned locals who have been playing the same seat for a decade sitting right next to a tourist who took a wrong turn heading toward Daytona.
Texas Hold’em is the king here, obviously. You’ve got your $1/$2 and $2/$5 No Limit games running pretty much constantly. But what’s interesting is the Omaha scene. Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) has a dedicated following in Orange City that you don’t always see in smaller card rooms.
The dealers? They're fast.
They have to be. In a room this size, the rake matters and the pace of play keeps the energy up. If you're a beginner, it can be intimidating. Honestly, just tell the dealer you’re new to the room. They’re generally pretty cool about helping you navigate the betting line or the house rules, which can be specific. For instance, the "no string bet" rule is enforced strictly here. Don't be that person who drops chips one by one.
High Stakes and Low Stakes: Finding Your Level
One thing people get wrong about Orange City Racing and Card Club is thinking it’s only for "sharks." That's not true. While there are definitely professional-grade players grinding out a living, the room is big enough to accommodate the $100 buy-in crowd.
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They run tournaments almost every day. Sometimes it's a deep stack with a $150 entry; other times it’s a smaller bounty tournament. If you want to see the real local flavor, show up for the morning tournaments. It’s a specific demographic—lots of retirees who play a very tight, very disciplined game. They will sit there and wait for Aces for three hours. Don't bluff them. You’ll lose.
Simulcast: The "Racing" Part of the Name
Wait, where are the dogs? Where are the horses?
If you're looking for a dirt track out back, you won't find it. Florida changed its laws regarding "decoupling" a few years ago. Most of these facilities stopped live greyhound racing entirely. Now, the "racing" part of Orange City Racing and Card Club refers to simulcast wagering.
It’s actually a pretty sweet setup if you’re into the ponies.
They have a massive wall of screens. You can bet on Thoroughbreds running at Gulfstream, Churchill Downs, or Saratoga while sitting in a comfortable carrel with your own personal monitor. It’s a strange, quiet intensity. You’ll see guys with thick programs and scratched-up pencils doing "handicapping" math that would make a NASA engineer sweat.
The variety is wild. You can jump from a harness race in New York to a greyhound race in West Virginia in the span of five minutes. It’s all about the data.
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The Food Situation: More Than Just "Casino Snacks"
Let’s talk about Jake’s 29th Street Sports Grille.
Usually, card room food is a soggy sandwich you eat with one hand while holding your cards with the other. This place is better than that. It’s a legitimate sports bar tucked inside the facility. The wings are the standout. They’re crispy, not those rubbery things you get at most bars.
It’s a weirdly great place to watch a Sunday NFL game. Even if you aren't playing poker, people come here just to sit in the bar, grab a burger, and bet on the horses. It’s a community hub for a certain type of sports fan in the Deltona and Orange City area.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Legalities
There’s often confusion about what games are actually allowed here. Since this isn't tribal land (like the Seminole Hard Rock), the rules are different.
- No "True" Slots: You won't find traditional Class III slot machines here.
- Card-Based Games: They have "designated player" games. This includes things like Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Fortune Pai Gow.
- The Dealer Rule: In these games, the "house" doesn't act as the bank in the same way a Vegas casino does. Someone at the table technically acts as the "designated player."
It sounds like a legal loophole because it basically is. But for the player, the experience is almost identical to playing table games anywhere else. You’re still trying to beat the dealer’s hand.
The Vibe and Culture
Orange City isn't "fancy."
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If you show up in a tuxedo, you're going to look like a lost waiter. It’s a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of place. It’s loud. The shuffle of chips creates a constant white noise that either lulls you into a trance or drives you crazy.
Is it safe? Yeah. They have plenty of security. But like any place where a lot of money changes hands, you should be aware of your surroundings in the parking lot at 2:00 AM.
The staff-to-player relationship is unique here. Because it’s a local spot, the floor managers know the regulars by name. They know who likes their water with no ice and who is likely to tilt if they lose a big pot. That familiarity gives it a "Cheers" vibe, but with more gambling.
Logistics: Getting There and Staying There
Parking is free and there’s plenty of it. That sounds like a small detail until you’ve tried to park at a casino in South Florida.
If you're coming from Orlando, it's about a 40-minute drive up I-4. If you're coming from Daytona, it's even shorter. Most people don't "stay" at the club because there isn't a hotel attached. You’re looking at local hotels in Orange City or Deland if you’re making a weekend of it.
Insider Tips for Your First Visit
- Get the Card: Sign up for the player’s club card immediately. Even if you don't think you'll play much, you earn "comp" points that you can use for food at Jake’s. It’s free money.
- Check the Calendar: Don't just show up on a Saturday night and expect a seat at a $1/$2 table immediately. There might be a two-hour wait. Use the Bravo Poker Live app. It shows you exactly how many games are running and how many people are on the waitlist.
- Watch the "Jackpots": They often have "High Hand" promos. This is where they give away $500 or $1,000 every thirty minutes to whoever has the best hand in the room. This changes the way people play. You'll see people staying in pots with junk just because they're hunting for a Straight Flush.
- Simulcast Hours: The racing side often opens earlier than the big poker games. If you want a quiet place to study the racing forms, go in the morning.
Why This Place Still Matters in 2026
With online gambling expanding and sports betting apps on every phone, you’d think a physical card room would be a ghost town. It’s not.
There is something about the physical presence of the cards. The tactile feel of the chips. The ability to look a guy in the eye and try to figure out if he’s bluffing with a pair of fours. You can't get that on an app. Orange City Racing and Card Club survives because it provides a social outlet for a very specific subculture. It’s a place where the 21-year-old math whiz and the 70-year-old retired plumber can sit at the same table and be equals for a few hours.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Download the Bravo Poker Live app before you leave your house to check the waitlists.
- Bring a light jacket. No matter how hot it is in Florida, they keep that poker room at "meat locker" temperatures to keep people awake.
- Set a strict "stop-loss" limit. The "designated player" games can move fast, and it’s easy to lose track of your bankroll in the heat of the moment.
- Try the wings at Jake’s. Seriously. Get them extra crispy.
If you want a polished, corporate experience, go to a theme park. If you want to play cards and watch the races in a place that feels real, Orange City is where you end up. It’s not perfect, it’s not pretty, but it’s honest. And in the world of gambling, honesty—and a good poker hand—is about all you can ask for.