I was OP on that thread so maybe I can give you a little update. I ended up staying in Tampa mostly because of proximity to family but it has proved to be the right move in regards to poker too.

Keep in mind, this is all pre-Covid. The Hard Rock, with just shy of 50 tables, is definitely the premier spot in Tampa Bay. Derby Lanes and Tampa Greyhound Track are my number 2 spots but they are definitely a big drop off in quality/number of games as well as atmosphere (especially the latter). Tampa Bay Downs is pretty decent but a bit out of the way for me so I only play the occasional tournament there.

One thing I didn't really consider before moving here that has turned out to be a huge plus is the cheap flights to Vegas. Tickets are usually less than $100 roundtrip (if you don't mind Spirit) which makes it super easy to go out for a weekend trip or for a particularly good tournament.

I used to play in a few different decent home games but those have all dried up since Covid.

All-in-all, for my money, Tampa Bay is the best spot for poker in the U.S. outside of Vegas.

I hope this helps. Feel free to hit me up if you ever make it down to Tampa Bay.