|
In July 2004 the Pennsylvania legislature authorized the legalization of slot machines at 14 locations throughout the state. Seven casinos have opened and the other seven are in various stages of licensing or construction.
As of September 2010, ten casinos had opened and licenses had been awarded to two companies that were yet to begin construction.
Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia has had financial difficulties and continually delayed the building of their casino. For more current information on the status of that project, visit their web site at foxwoodspa.com
The other license was awarded to the Valley Forge Convention Center. However, that decision was later challenged by another company and the courts will have to decide the issue.
Of the remaining two licenses, one must be awarded to a racetrack and no company has yet qualified for that license. The final license is expected to be awarded by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board by early 2011.
In January 2010 the Pennsylvania legislature approved the addition of table games, including live poker, for all casinos. The first casinos began offering tables games in July 2010 and all of the state’s casinos had them in operation by August 2010.
Pennsylvania gaming regulations require that gaming machines return a minimum of 85%. All casinos are open 24 hours and admission is free. The minimum gambling age is 18 for pari-mutuel betting and 21 for gaming machines.
Unless otherwise noted, all casinos offer: slots, video poker, craps, blackjack, roulette, three card poker, mini-baccarat and Pai-gow Poker. Optional games include: baccarat (B), poker (P), let it ride (LIR), Pai Gow (PG), Big 6 Wheel (B6), Spanish 21 (S21), four card poker (FCP)and Casino War (CW).
Following is information from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regarding average slot payout percentages for the one-year period from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010:
|
CASINO
|
PAYBACK
|
|
The Meadows
|
92.80
|
|
Mount Airy
|
91.63
|
|
Parx Casino
|
91.39
|
|
The Rivers
|
91.16
|
|
Hollywood Casino at Penn National
|
91.13
|
|
Presque Isle
|
91.07
|
|
Sands Bethlehem
|
90.92
|
|
Mohegian Sun at Pocono Downs
|
90.82
|
|
Harrah's Chester
|
90.71
|
Please note that the Sugar House casino is not included in the above numbers because they did not open until September 2010.
For more information on visiting Pennsylvania call their Office of Tourism at (800) 237-4363 or visit their website at www.visitpa.com.
|
