Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, is an open poker and simulcast-wagering venue near Palm Beach International Airport, not a full-service casino resort. Its main draw is a dedicated poker room advertising 64 tables, cash games, and daily tournaments. The trade-off is a narrower experience: no slots, attached hotel, or live greyhound racing. I would shortlist it for a poker-focused visit rather than a group vacation built around resort amenities.
Palm Beach Kennel Club: quick facts
| Address | 1111 North Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Poker room and pari-mutuel wagering venue |
| Ownership | Rooney family |
| Minimum gambling age | 18 |
| Poker room | Yes; 64 advertised tables, not necessarily all running |
| Poker hours | Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. |
| Table games | Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em |
| Slots and video poker | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| Other wagering | Simulcast off-track race wagering |
| On-site hotel | No |
| Dining and drinks | The Paddock and Terrace Bar, with separate service schedules |
| Parking | Free parking; preferred parking advertised at $5 and valet at $10 |
| Rewards | Players Club |
| Information date | October 17, 2026 |
What kind of casino is Palm Beach Kennel Club?
The name reflects the property’s racing roots, but cards and televised races are the reasons to come today. PBKC opened in 1932, and its official history identifies the Rooney family as its owners and operators. Live greyhound racing ended in 2020; the poker and simulcast business remained open.
This is a gambling stop with a particular purpose, not a smaller version of a casino resort. A poker player may appreciate that focus. A companion expecting slots, a pool, and an afternoon of resort wandering will want another plan. For broader options, see our Florida casino guide.
Poker room and casino games
Poker: cash games and daily tournaments
Poker is the main attraction. PBKC advertises 64 poker tables, cash games, daily tournaments, high-hand promotions, and bad-beat jackpots. That is advertised inventory, not a promise that 64 games will be underway when you arrive.
The official poker page features hold’em, stud, and Omaha. It lists opening at 9 a.m. daily, with closing at 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Dining and table games follow separate schedules.
I would rather know there is a seat in the game I want than be impressed by a large table count. Before traveling, check:
- Cash games: Active games, blinds, buy-in limits, waiting lists, and the rake or collection structure.
- Tournaments: Entry fees, starting times, blind structures, late registration, and reentry rules.
- Beginner options: Ask the floor staff which available game fits your experience and bankroll.
Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em
PBKC advertises Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em with a published $5 minimum. These poker-themed table games are separate from player-versus-player poker. Knowing Texas hold’em does not mean you already know Ultimate Texas Hold’em’s betting decisions or costs.
A $5 minimum does not necessarily mean a $5 total wager for a completed hand. Ask about required wagers, later betting decisions, optional side bets, and any collection charge before buying in. My preference is to understand the base game before adding extra bets.
Table games open at 10 a.m. Published schedules differ on Sunday closing time, so confirm directly before a late Sunday visit. Do not assume the poker room’s closing time applies.
Slots and video poker
Palm Beach Kennel Club has no slots or video poker. If your preferred casino session involves settling in at a machine, choose another property.
Simulcast wagering and sportsbook
PBKC offers off-track wagering on races shown from other venues. It has no on-property retail sportsbook, and there is no live greyhound racing. Simulcast race wagering is different from betting on football or basketball.
The published matinee simulcast schedule starts at 11:30 a.m. every day except Tuesday. Check the current track calendar for a specific race rather than relying on poker-room hours.
Hotel and overnight stays
There is no attached hotel. An overnight visit requires separate lodging and transportation.
I would compare the whole stay, not just the room rate: hotel parking, breakfast, transportation, and checkout time matter when you expect to play late. Do not assume an airport hotel’s shuttle also serves the cardroom.
For poker before a flight, a cash game is generally easier to fit around a departure than a tournament. You can decide when to leave a cash session; a deep tournament run is less cooperative with an airline schedule.
Restaurants, bars, and entertainment
The Paddock is PBKC’s established sit-down dining option, while the Terrace Bar offers another place for drinks. Published regular hours are:
- The Paddock: Friday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Terrace Bar: Wednesday through Sunday, from 11:30 a.m.; no closing time is stated.
Those service windows matter. A poker room operating into the early morning does not mean a full dining room is available throughout your session. The Paddock lists reservations at 561-683-2222, extension 199, giving you a direct contact for fitting a meal around your plans.
PBKC also advertises Sunday buffet programming, tribute dinner shows, comedy, and special events. These can give nonplayers a reason to join an outing, but entertainment is not guaranteed every evening. Check event-specific meal times, tickets, and reservations separately from regular restaurant service.
Parking, directions, and visit costs
PBKC is on North Congress Avenue, across from Palm Beach International Airport. Its published I-95 directions use Exit 51, then Belvedere Road west to Congress Avenue. It is an airport-area location, not the downtown waterfront or Palm Beach island.
The official visitor information page advertises free daily admission and free parking, preferred parking at $5, and Terrace or Paddock valet at $10. These prices have no stated effective date, so confirm current availability and charges. Ticketed shows and gambling expenses are separate from general admission.
Is paid parking worth it?
Preferred parking is $5 less than valet per vehicle, before any valet gratuity. As an illustrative budget, four visits using the published $10 valet option would cost $40 before tips. Four visits is an assumption, not an observed spending pattern.
I would pay for convenience or mobility needs, not because a gambling visit requires it. Free parking avoids that charge if its location works for you. Keep parking costs separate from the chips you intend to put in play.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Club: Admission policy | The property advertises free daily admission to all track areas, separate from paid parking choices and gambling expenses. |
| Club parking: Free, preferred, and valet options | The published parking choices are free parking, preferred parking at $5.00, and Terrace or Paddock valet at $10.00. |
| Club: Children versus restricted gambling areas | Accompanied children are allowed at the track, but not in the poker room or near betting windows. This is not a statement of the minimum gambling age. |
| Club table games: Named games and advertised minimum | The poker page advertises Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker seven days a week with a $5.00 minimum; the passage does not establish the total required wager or side-bet costs. |
| Club poker room: Weekday versus weekend closing times | The detailed poker-room schedule lists a 9 a.m. opening daily, a 3 a.m. closing Sunday through Thursday, and a 5 a.m. closing Friday and Saturday. |
| Club simulcasting: Published matinee schedule | The About page lists simulcast matinees at 11:30 a.m. every day except Tuesday; visitors should distinguish this schedule from poker-room hours. |
| Club dining: Paddock versus Terrace service schedule | The About page lists Paddock hours Friday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Terrace bar is listed Wednesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. These are narrower service windows than the poker-room schedule. |
| Club Players Club: Membership cost and qualifying activity | The property advertises free membership and points earned by swiping a card when wagering at a mutuel window; this passage does not establish poker-point earning. |
| Club Players Club: Published redemption categories | Points can be redeemed for special-offer coupons covering betting vouchers, food and beverages, merchandise, and other items; no cash conversion rate is provided. |
| Club: Racing cessation versus continued gambling uses | The county’s fiscal-year 2024 report states that greyhound racing ceased in 2020 and describes plans to continue gaming rooms, simulcast and pari-mutuel betting, entertainment, and restaurant uses at a relocated facility. The relocation is a plan, not evidence of a completed move. |
| Club redevelopment: Planned operating continuity during construction | The June 2025 CRA agenda describes maintaining operations at the existing location while the replacement facility is built; it does not establish current construction progress or a relocation date. |
| Bar Poker Open at Palm Beach Kennel Club: Historical public events versus restricted championship | The March 2026 series distinguished public tournaments from a championship invitational requiring qualification; a series listing did not make every event open to walk-ins. |
| Bar Poker Open 2026 Florida Championship: Historical seat-winner staffing fee | For this past championship, seat winners still owed a $65.00 staffing fee; qualification should not be described as eliminating every participation cost. |
| Bar Poker Open 2026 Florida Championship: Historical reentry limit | The championship structure allowed a single reentry per flight, a separate budgeting consideration from the initial entry. This is not a current property-wide tournament rule. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Published valet premium over preferred parking per visit | $5.00 per vehicle per visit | Preferred parking costs less than valet, and the property also advertises free parking. Confirm availability before choosing a paid option. |
| Illustrative recurring valet expense across four visits | $40.00 per vehicle across the illustrative visits, excluding tips | Repeated valet use adds a predictable expense outside the gambling bankroll; advertised free parking avoids that parking charge. |
| Historical March 2026 open-tournament entry-cost comparison | $120.00 per advertised tournament entry | This historical series illustrates why players should compare individual event buy-ins rather than budget for a tournament series as a single product. These entries are not current offers or a comparison of expected returns. |
Research references: pbkennelclub.com 1, pbkennelclub.com 2, pbcgov.com, westgatecra.org, florida.barpokeropen.com.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-17. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
Budget for the specific tournament
At the historical March 2026 Bar Poker Open series at PBKC, a MONSTER opening flight carried a $300 buy-in, compared with $180 for the Friday Night Deep Stack: a $120 difference per advertised entry.
Those are past prices, not current offers or a comparison of expected returns. They illustrate why I would budget for a particular event rather than treat a series as one product. The series also separated public tournaments from a qualification-only championship, so not every listed event was open to walk-ins.
Redevelopment and arrival planning
A county redevelopment report filed in June 2025 describes plans to relocate PBKC within the larger site while continuing gaming, dining, and entertainment. The June 2025 CRA agenda describes keeping the existing facility operating while its replacement is built.
The CRA’s 2025 annual report records county commission approvals for the first residential phase in September 2025. That concerns housing, not confirmation that a replacement poker facility has opened. Check current entrances and parking arrangements, especially before a tournament with a fixed start.
- Bring valid photo identification for age checks and registration.
- Keep return-transportation money separate from your gambling bankroll.
- Confirm smoking and accessibility arrangements if they affect where you can comfortably play.
- Do not assume this is a family attraction. Accompanied children are allowed in track areas, but not in the poker room or near betting windows.
Players Club and promotions
PBKC advertises free Players Club membership and points earned by swiping your card when wagering at a mutuel window. Published redemption categories include coupons for betting vouchers, food and beverages, merchandise, and other items.
That does not establish a poker comp rate. Ask the poker desk about tracking requirements and promotion rules rather than assuming race-wagering points apply to card play. For high hands and jackpots, check eligible games, qualifying hours, and collection conditions. A promotion is a possible extra, not a reason to exceed your budget.
Who Palm Beach Kennel Club suits best
I would recommend Palm Beach Kennel Club to poker players and simulcast race bettors seeking a focused gambling stop near the airport, with free parking and scheduled dining or entertainment as useful extras. Its dedicated cardroom and late poker hours are more compelling than its all-day getaway appeal, particularly because restaurant schedules are much narrower. Choose a resort instead if your group wants slots, on-site rooms, and substantial nongambling amenities without arranging separate outings and transportation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Palm Beach Kennel Club still open?
Yes. Poker, simulcast wagering, dining, and scheduled events continue. Live greyhound racing ended in 2020, but the gambling venue did not close.
How many poker tables does Palm Beach Kennel Club have?
PBKC advertises 64 poker tables. That is an inventory figure, not the number of active games or available seats.
Does Palm Beach Kennel Club have slots or a sportsbook?
No. It has no slots, video poker machines, or on-property retail sportsbook. Simulcast race wagering is available.
What is the minimum gambling age?
The minimum gambling age is 18. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Is parking free?
Free parking is advertised, alongside preferred parking at $5 and valet at $10. Confirm current arrangements, particularly for special events.
Does Palm Beach Kennel Club have a hotel?
No. Arrange accommodation and transportation separately, and do not assume a nearby hotel’s airport shuttle stops at PBKC.
Can you watch live greyhound racing?
No. Live greyhound racing ended in 2020. Simulcast wagering involves races taking place elsewhere.
Sources and information date
Information dated October 17, 2026. Schedules, game availability, promotions, and parking charges can change. The Florida Gaming Control Commission’s 2026–2027 operating-license index lists Investment Corporation of Palm Beach with a cardroom license. Property information, historical tournament details, and redevelopment records are linked in the relevant sections.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no on-site sportsbook.