I have played in AC and Vegas and have to say that hollywood has a lot to learn about satisfying a true players needs. I spend a lot of money and the least I expect is free buffets and drinks. I play at Hollywood 100 or more times a year and never even got a food voucher sent to me. I go to AC or Vegas once a year and they flood my mailbox with offers. Wake up Hollywood, you are about to lose another serious player.

Slots are really tight here. Other reviewers are correct when they say go to Altantic City. PA's 55 percent tax is killing slots play. If you play the slots here you'll probably lose too quickly to make a night of it. The buffet is really average at best. The prime rib is overdone and most of the other food is so-so. The steak house is good, but a bit pricey. The Sports Bar has a very limited menu and food quality is sub par, although the bartenders are cool. The Mountain View Restaurant is a nice place to watch the ponies and have dinner. You can bet at your table and the food is better than most of the casino, with the exception of the steak house. The nicest thing about Hollywood in my opinion is the Mountain View Restaurant, decent food, with a nice view of the mountain in the background.

Pros: Close. Friendly staff. Good security. Free drinks. I win on the slots at times. clean everywhere. Cons: Food could be better, fast food and greasy chicken and cheap meat for burgers. Although the cheesesteaks are good. Pizza not so great, very greasy. At first buffet was good, now if you do not get there at mealtime, the food is dried out from steam tables. Bands on Sat. night too loud and not good bands. alot of wheelchairs parked in walkways. I go there often, i win but as they say, your chances of winning big on slots are slim.I enjoy the stay there. Would give it an A if the food was better and bands were not so loud.

Okay I want to point out first that I do not gamble, but I very often accompany my elderly father when he chooses to visit the Pennsylvania Casinos . My dad visits the area casinos about 2-3 times each month and usually makes a sizable donation to the varied casino machines and rarely departs with more $ than when he began . So I always say "The House Always Wins" ! He takes every loss in stride but still even though he rarely wins, he still thoroughly enjoys his casino visits.

So the idea of this recent promo the Hollywood Casino ran this past Friday 2/24/2012 is that the first 5,000 registered casino gamers will receive a complimentary deck of cards made exclusively for Hollywood Casino and 1 in 4 decks will be a winner of up to $1,000 in free slotplay !!! Sounds like a great promo that did indeed draw a lot of gamblers as was its intentions. I Usually just grab a few drinks and casually walk around while my dad gets off for a few hours on the one arm bandits until, he wants to depart when either his wallet is lightened enough or when he feels the usual paltry winnings he's made are enough to satisfy his favorite hobby.

But this day was weird, assuming that winners were going to be random given decks with winning cards . I stood by the area where the decks of cards were being handed out while dad made his way around the enormous line that snaked around the entire casino floor in order to get his Free Commemorative deck of cards and hope for even a minor winning deck. It was at this time while watching the Hollywood Casino employees handing out the decks of cards that after a very short time I was able to accurately predict each and every casino gamer who walked away with a winning deck of cards. AMAZING !!! It was as if I was unknowingly transformed into Houdini , able to predict the future or that I suddenly had the ability to count cards knowing that I may get banned from casinos for life ...scary !! haha

Allow me to explain how I came to have this incredible talent . As I watched the gamers make their way to the tables where Hollywood Casino Employees were handing out the decks of cards, there was always a large stack of decks in front of each employee. And then at first what I thought to be their Deck supply boxes behind each of the employees there to replenish the decks in front of them. I found out very quickly how this Ripoff Promo played out. The employees would swipe each of the Registered Gamers Hollywood Casino I.D.'s and then hand them what everyone probably assumed would be a random deck of Commemorative Cards.
However it became obvious to anyone standing nearby including myself there was 2 other people near me who enjoyed seeing winners happiness and they also had the uncanny ability to choose all the winners. We actually at first made a few side bets together on which gamers walked away from the table winners.

Then it became crystal clear how this Scam promo went down.

Each employee would swipe a gamers I.D. then apparently look at the info the swipe would tell them on the computer and either hand them a deck in front of themselves as 95% of the gamers received OR they would occasionally turn around pick up a deck from the boxes placed behind each employee. If any of the gamers had stood by and watched this procession for even 5 minutes they would quickly notice that any gamer who received a deck from the boxes behind each employee was indeed a WINNER every time .

So much for the Random Promo Giveaway !!!

Next time we will be wary to the Hollywood Casino Promo's and be mindful that every promo may NOT be Random !!
Now the possible reason Hollywood Casino did this promo the way they did but why advertise some spectacular promotion making every gambler think they have a chance at winning and then deliver them this complete ripoff and predictable promotion.

Shame on You Hollywood Casino !!!! We will think twice where we intend to lose our money a few time each month, and to be honest we realized we actually like Mohegan Sun Casino , in N.E. Pennsylvania and Sands Casino in Bethlehem .

Just moved to this area. Lived close to tunica before. I have visited 4 times. I have never seen a casino take so much in so little time. You had your chance will go to AC instead.

The comps are non-existent. The blackjack tables have $15 minimums, even on a slow weeknight. The buffet is sub-par, but then all 3 of the Hollywood Casinos that I've visited have horrible buffets (Penn National, Charles Town, and Perryville). They have self-service soda machines which is good because beverage waitresses are few and far between. This has simply become a break up the ride stop for us as we would never plan a special trip to go here with much better options in PA and NJ.

All the hogwash these people are saying about this casino is so untrue...I'm a truck driver and had a delivery in this area I completed. I was deciding if I should go to philly and check out parts or harass....glad I didn't..... I'm always at casinos and this one isn't much different than the top rated ones... The smoking complaints are nonsense. I don't smoke but the air is ventilated well so forget the previous clowns remarks. The food is pricey but duhhhh it's a Casino. The security and waitresses were friendly. Now a lot of casinos outside Las Vegas and AX don't offer free alcohol but do offer free soda and coffee.... The waitresses do make rounds but not as much because again this isn't VEGAS!. In all, the games are great.. Over 3 days I made $1,000 on the roulette computer game betting on black,red, and zero. Each time I lost I doubled my bet...of course it was luck but that's why you use strategy to win.... As far as the slots go...no different than any other casino... A lot of you fail to realize that SLOTS are for losers. It's the bread and butter for the Casino's revenue. Yeah, someone wins a jackpot here and there, but most will lose their money just like any game..even tables....I will admit it sucks on the tables of mini baccaratt and blackjack with $500 maximum bets. I'm used to $5k-$100k max bets...so this leaves little chance for me to win since I like to double my bets on each loss..great way to keep you from getting your money back. In all, I like this casino...is it the best...no..I love HardRock Casino in Hollywood, Fl where Anna Nicole Smith died which is between Miami and Ft Lauderdale..... I was surprised it had card games at the tables because most casinos outside Vegas have to be on a riverboat or native Indian land so I don't know what laws allowed them to do this but i will find out. Food is good , does get crowded.......just like most Good casino's.......so to end this...don't pay attention the the negative hype the lakes are broadcasting......its a good experience and beautiful inside and out...... Just remember...THE HOUSE ALWAYS. WINS!!!!!!!

hollywood casino is the pits They don't pay out. You put your money in to push buttons to see the reels spin and never line up.
If you're lucky enough to hit a bonus don't think you're going to get alot. If you put a twenty in, play fifteen of that and hit the bonus, you'll be lucky to get over ten dollars total. Their advertisement says: HOLLYWOOD ALL THE WINNING YOU CAN HANDLE. And
HOLLYWOOD THE NAME SAYS IT ALL. When I hear HOLLYWOOD the first thing that comes to mind is TIGHT SLOTS WITH NO PAYOUT.

After months of Losing all expendable income at C-Town Casino in West Virginia. I asked my Mom to go to Grantville. Both roughly the same distance from Chambersburg..... She was hesitant, but said what the hay....We went..................We WON! I played all day and won! What a difference between these two "Hollywood" Casinos. No I didn't leave the Casino with any cash, but that is my fault, and my choice. The Casino is for Entertainment, Right? I was entertained, the staff (even security) was very friendly, the cocktail girls are HOT, friendly, and are always around! The atmosphere is much more pleasant. C-Town will be a very rare occasion for me. If I ever go back, I refuse to take more than $50, and the ATM / Debit will stay at home. Take my advice folks. If your travel distance is roughly the same between C-Town and Grantville. Choose GRANTVILLE. In closing I have to add this; my Mom went back to C-Town 3/7/11 in her 'quest' for that one last (non-existent) Jackpot! from C-Town. Once Again She Lost Her Ass. Thank-you to the friendly staff, and to those in charge who've decided to keep the slots a little looser at this Casino. You have it correct if you are thinking Looser slots will bring them in. Actually looking forward to my next visit.

I have been going to Hollywood for about a year during which time I hit a nickel slot for slightly over 10K. I also have had as many as 25 slot machine jackpots worth on average between $1500 to $2500. I have certainly noticed more wins by not using the players club card, after all those losses do contribute to the "free" comps. Since no cards mean the potential to get a patron to sign up for a card the more win without one.

Whenever I go now I use the card at times, if a machine is stone cold with the card. I cash out, pull the card and continue on the same machine and usually win back what I lost plus more.

At present for slot games: I feel that the takes (house rakes) changes every day-Odds can change-within state limits_85%--%100% daily-you only know their "averaged" published rate"(now 91%). BE THERE WHEN THEY ARE BETTER ,,,,,,,???????your guess is as good as mine.Again no amenities while playing.NOT STATE LAW. Sands (PA) does -give free beverages(alcohol) to all players.Hollywood does have Free non- alcohol beverages in certain areas.That is a plus seen nowhere.

Table games: BJ offers the best advantage for skilled payers in the US(They are trying to change that in 2012) :For your play ,however,they give you nothing!!!!! no free drinks, no free food, no free lodging (they have none), no comps(My friend got $40.00(after begging) after playing an average $200 a Hand for 4 hours):TERRIBLE:they say "we pay 14% to state for table games while AC pays 9%. Therefore they can not afford to.

Service is pleasant. Drink girls are non-existent(even when paying $4-$5 a drink.)

Players Club: Once again- even those advertisements of a Harrah's like "Diamond" club for those who advanced to "Red Card" status for the last 2 years-no club (hors d'oeuvres, cocktails,private room) has ever been established as advertised. Law Suit minded should have fun with this!

Interestingly, I think a lot of you nay-sayers out there don't get the premise of going to a casino. That 91% payout means your expected value is to lose 9% on EVERY bet you make in the slots. Make a hundred bets...and well you do the math. In other words, if you expect to win there AND play for 18 hours straight, you might as well call 1-800-gambler. The paying for alcohol, isn't out of line, and you can get your own free drinks if you don't mind pulling yourself from your machine and walking a few feet to the free fountain. The 53% take from the Commonwealth makes it a little more difficult to operate than in other places, and it translates to a little less staff for your free drinks, and a little increase in poker room vig at 10% up to $6 (the same as the Vegas Strip), but Hollywood offers a pretty decent atmosphere for a casino. It's generally clean and organized pretty well. The food is adequate for what you pay for it, and the race track adds a little extra that you just can't get in any Vegas or AC casino; a breath of fresh air while you're throwing your money away on a horse. The comp programs are a little less than average, but since they don't have a hotel, what can they give you? If I'm doing an overnight, I'll probably drive the extra 2 1/2 hours to AC, but for a decent day trip gambling fix, Hollywood at Penn National does just fine, as well as all of the other PA casinos.

I enjoy going to Hollywood casino because it is a beautiful atmosphere and the sky box is quite fun during happy hour. However, the one time I decided to take my mother and her friend with. We had a really good time and spent a lot of money. First we went to the Sky Box for dinner and drinks....downfall was that you can't order a drink while you still have a sip left in your glass and then when your drink is empty it takes forever to get a refill. It doesn't make sense, but apparently it is the law so I can't hold it against the casino. However, once the night was over I was cashing in my vouchers and my mom and her friend were hanging out nearby. They heard a song that the nearby band was playing and started to dance a little and laugh. It wasn't anything to really draw attention. All of a sudden a swarm of security guards surround them saying that they're intoxicated and that they need to escort them out to their car. BUT, they aren't allowed to drive. I was also drinking but apparently since I wasn't dancing, I was "ok" to drive. Ehhhhh. Now, our hotel was a mile down the road. Hollywood casino nor anywhere in Grantville, PA offer cab services or shuttles, unfortunately. We weren't allowed in the casino and I was the driver and probably shouldn't be. But, we would have froze outside because it was during the winter months. We offered to walk the mile, but the casino wouldn't let us. So I had to try to drive my mom's friend's standard car which was a complete disaster. I don't know why they found her and her friend to be so suspicious. My mom is a professional and doesn't even give off a suspicious vibe. Her friend works for the state. I don't understand what hollywood's problem was, but they will never return again because it was so embarrassing. I'm thinking that they were bored and nothing was going on because it was roughly 6-7 security officials that worked for the casino. Maybe they were running a drill and decided to pick someone out and cause an issue. Either way, it was absurd! They are lucky I even go back!

Overall a decent place the steak place and the buffet are excellent. Out of all the casinos I have been to in Pa the food here was better than anywhere else. They don't give you any promotions at all anymore but back a year ago they used to give you about 20$ per visit. Hollywood casino is very well kept you more so than most other casinos. I almost always lose money in slots but that is to be expected. The worst part about this casino is the rudeness of the staff, everytime I have been here the staff always does something to piss me off. The security gaurds are the main problem I have gotten carded at the door and told to leave because my lisence was expired by 1 week( I am 35).

I have had overall a good experience at Hollywood. The key I believe is to go on Friday nights. I have won a couple times on Fridays two weeks in a row. Once for 900 on two different machines, and once for 689 on two different machines. The happy hour at the Sky Box is great if you are a beer drinker, they have 2 dollar beers from 9-11. I wish I could get some bigger hits once and a while, but I not having anything else to base that off of, it is a fun place to play. Sundays are fairly tight for some reason. I have not tried playing during the week as my schedule is not conducive to that, but perhaps one time I will go in the afternoon one Friday.

I have also good things to say about the food. A little pricey, but the Epic Buffet was well... epic. The other time I ate the food was last Friday when I had a hot dog for 2.50, a little more than say a gas station, but better quality. I take that back, it was only .50 cents more than my last gas station hot dog. I hope the new casino gets approved in Mechanicsburg as I would only be about 5 minutes from that one...

very disappointed, service was lackluster at best, does the management know that the floors need to be vacuumed? I did like the table games

just got back from a Sunday Night visit to Hollywood. When I go to casinos, I base my opinion on the casino on how long I get to play on my money. I understand fully that some days you lose.. and some you win. HOWEVER.. Within a very short period of time, the machines were eating my money with few bonues and fewer payouts. I commented that it seemed as tho no one was "hootin and hollerin" about winning..????I am always encouraged to see others win because it means that someone is walking away feeling good. We did not have a good experience and noted that for the last 3 visits in the last 3 months it was the same thing. When we left sunday night I remarked that perhaps we should head on over to Dover .... Look forward to reading the slots are hot at Hollywood again.

also, had money jam in a machine and there were only 4 technicians working the entire casino and we had to grab him and make him remove the jam.. He was going to leave us sitting. Not good service.

So live table games have been in place for about a month now. The big downside is the huge minimum wagers. In a recent trip on a Sunday morning, all the blackjack tables had either a $15 or $25 minimum. Roulette was $10. It seems very steep to me. What about having some tables that were $5 or even $10? They even removed the electronic blackjack game that had a $10 minimum. It seems like they are trying to dictate the type of person that they want playing their table games. They need to realize this is Grantville, Pa, not Las Vegas. I am not sure if the minimums will change once the newness of table games wears off or what will happen.

It is nice that they added some new slots and removed a majority of the 25 cent 3 reel slots that nobody ever played. It would be nice if they would have had some let-it-ride poker tables open, seemed a little odd to have 3 tables of pai gow poker open with just a few people actually playing.

I really enjoy playing here. The slots have been nice to me. I just don't know when to get up and leave a winner. The water at the buffet is wonderful I want to bottle it and take it home not to mention the food mumm.
I have never played the tables or stayed at any of the Hotels , there is no rating for N/A so I rated it a 1.
With the free play that they give me I will make the four-hour drive at least 12 times a year.
When you win take the money and run. The Hollywood Casino rocks.

What the heck is wrong with you people? You have a gambling addiction, or a sad misconception of what gambling is, you go to a casino and lose all your money and some how that surprises you? How do you think they build these enormous, beautiful places? By giving away all of their money? Why do you think most casinos pay out over 90%? Because that's how you keep people coming back, and the 10% they take from the people complaining of some kind of "odds altering conspiracy" is more than enough to stay in business and make huge profits.

Most people go through life and never win a lottery jackpot, is there some odds altering conspiracy because you spent your entire life playing every week and never won more than $20? Why do you think you deserve to walk out of a casino a winner every time you put down $500? You can spend $500,000 and if you don't sit at the right table or machine and the right time and just "get lucky", you may never win.

If you don't like losing money, don't go to a casino. They aren't built to make you rich, they're built to make the owners rich. (and by the way, thank you, I'm very rich)

Sunday, July 11, 2010, Hollywood Casino hosted a preview event for its table games from noon until 8 p.m. This was held to get final game commission approval to begin full operation on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. For the event Sunday, only $5 maximum bets were allowed. I played craps and was told that 5 times odds will be allowed. No mention was made of what the minimum bets will be. There is a poker room near the race track entrance. There are two areas for table games.

This is a great stop on your way south off I-81. Real money slots and video poker, not up to the Las Vegas standards, but a wide variety. The atmosphere is nice, with live lounge acts and cocktails and an old Hollywood movie feel.

The food is alright and it's worth the stop. There are no real table games, but there is an abundance of the virtual video type tables. The parking garage has poor signage and I always feel like I must be going the wrong way until I see the bright Hollywood sign. Check it out, it's not bad.

As with any casino that I go to it seems to me that most MOST of the lady waitresses cater to the men, especially the younger ones. Here's a news flash: I'm 38, I make good money, I like to drink when i gamble and i WILL tip you good if you do your job well. I have had to REPEATEDLY flag waitresses down over and over. and I am giving $1 a pop.

This wasn't the case at the Hollywood. In fact one of the girls told me she was leaving and would tell the other girl to take care of me, which she did. What I didn't like was there is no button for a drink server (yet). However, if you were at the MOEHEGAN it wouldn't matter because they never answer you.

Slots are good, what I have won I should have kept. This place seems to work for me. Food was fine. I would like to see more off my players club. Give me more than $25 to come to your place but you know how that goes.

Several members of the staff went out of their way to help me and that means a lot. If I am going to risk dumping $200-$1,000 in a night, at least give me a smile!!!

Good luck!!

Cocktail waitresses make $3 an hour. In case you are not aware, tipping is highly appreciated.

Have frequented this casino since opening, and am very disappointed with payouts recently. When first opened, you could play all day for a minimal amount of money. Only winners anymore are those who play max bet and those are rare.

Was there this week and overall attitude among players was, fast loss of cash with no play time and NO WINS. I am not expecting to go here to get rich. I enjoy the atmosphere, but due to tightness of slots lately, will need to find new entertainment. Can not afford to lose $50 in 15 minutes playing minimums. Beware if coming here, it's a fun time, but bring lots and lots of cash if you plan to play for any amount of time.

OVERALL - The casino is comfortable: good seating at the slots, temperature consistent in all areas, noise level is a bit higher than most would want. ATM's are abundant... rest rooms are a bit hidden. Video table games, including roulette-like slot machines. Soon PA will legalize table games...

FOOD - The Sports Bar is terrible! Lettuce on a sandwich was brown and slimy. When the server was asked: "Would you eat this?" She replied "It is not my job to check orders." My response was "Then it's not my job to tip you." Have eaten at the sports bar 4 times... 3 of the 4 the food well less than expected.

The Steakhouse is GREAT! Exceptional quality and excellent service... but you pay through the nose. Buffet is well stocked, but hours of operation are not very accommodating.

SLOTS - Excellent selection of machines. Play a penny or up to $5 or more. Large payouts can be cash or check - your choice.

PLAYERS SERVICE - Very pleased with the attitude of these folks. They all do whatever it takes to help you enjoy the experience.

Players club does not advertise levels. Just want you to get a card, so they may track your playing habits. When you WIN... you get free action credits to come back and play on them. Of course, the amounts they give are quite small.. average $5 to $35... unless you take home a big jackpot then the offers are $50 to $60.

TIP - Chances of winning... 1 in 5 (so plan 5 trips and if you win big before the 5th one - cancel the rest)

We have been there several times-first time there my husband hit for $900 on a penny machine!! Just two weeks ago he hit for $600 also on a penny machine! I hit the same night for $200 on a penny machine-walked off with half of it-hit on another penny machine for $270-went to a two cent machine and hit $150 more-walked out with $350.

Spent about $250 of my own money. Like every casino everywhere (and we have played all over the country) it just depends on what was hit before you started playing that machine and how much that machine has already paid out that day. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out, people.

you know if you really read these comments other patrons have wrtiten

it sounds like poor losers to me. When you walk into any casino you are risking losing some money. How much you lose depends on your own discipline and gambling addiction. I can truly say HOLLYWOOD has always been a fun place to visit. I frequented AC and Charlestown for 10 years, you get nowhere. The personal service out of all those casinos combined is less than you get at hollywood. I have always enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere when visiting, so lighten up you nah sayers you asked for casinos in PA. now put your money where your mouths were. I would love to visit more often but, I work 72 hours a week so I just make the most on my visits. THANKS HOLLYWOOD I will keep sending the positive people your way

" I LOST! " echoes throughout this place. I have been to this casino too many times to agree this is a place without any chance of winning. The high dollar room is always empty, that's a big clue. The casino floor restaurants close way too early and the pickings are slim. Try the Sands!

After being to vegas and atlantic city this place is a joke. 99% of the slot machines, regardless of denomination are 30 line 10 credit per line machines. There aren't very many straight machines with a max credit of three. So even at a nickel machine, you think nickels ill be able to sit here for a bit and pull the reel. Well 30 nickels a line on 10 lines is 15 bucks a spin. All the machines are like that. Vegas and Atlantic city spinner machines spin the wheel on a spin coming up on any reel. But at hollywood, you need all three. Secondly, the payouts are terrible. I don't expect to win on slot machines. Mathematically speaking your supposed to lose your money. But I do expect to be able to sit there for more than 5 minutes when I drop 50 bucks into a quarter machine.............



Secondly there are no table games. The stupid computerized black jack and three card poker is no different than video poker. There is no real randomness. And i guarantee you the odds on live table blackjack are better than the stupid video blackjack. I stood and watched it for half hour. Couldnt tell you how many times i saw the "dealer" bang out a twenty on a single hit to beat a pair of player 19's. The customer service was terrible. The security guards and cleaning guys were the only ones doing thier jobs.



I sat at the same machine pumping money into it for over two hours. Not one time did I see a coctail waitress, not once. So I went upstairs to the sports bar to buy a drink. Rum and coke 5 bucks. Thats reasonable price compared to any bar I go to. But all i tasted was coke. It was as watered down as if a cocktail watress gave it to me for free sitting at a machine in vegas. So i got another one after tipping the tender 2 bucks. Same thing, tipped him another 2 bucks, ordered a third. I bought and drank three rum and cokes, tipped him enough for a fourth, and didnt even taste rum.



Only pleasant thing about this place is the horse racing. Its geniuenly enjoyable to watch them run, and fun to bet a little bit on them.



If you like horse racing then go and watch the horses. But if you want to gamble go anywhere but hollywood. If it takes you more than an hour to get there, you might as well drive the extra time to atlantic city.