Casinos have arrived in the Keystone State. The Pennsylvania Tourism Office has gaming listed at www.visitpa.com under “things to do.” Newspapers have already been reporting that Pennsylvania is siphoning off New Jersey gambling revenues.
It all began in 2004 when Pennsylvania legalized gaming, allowing up to 61,000 slot machines at 14 casinos in the state.
The three casino categories include stand-alone casinos and racetrack casinos—each of which will be allowed up to 5,000 slots, with up to 3,000 in the first phase—and 500-slot casinos at existing resorts. Most are planning the maximum number of slots, with some developing entertainment complexes and a hotel in the second phase.
Last December, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved 11 casino licenses for stand-alone and racetrack facilities.
Four casinos—all at racetracks—are operating: Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre; Philadelphia Park in Bensalem, north of Philadelphia; Harrah’s Chester Downs in Chester, south of Philly; and Presque Isle Downs in Erie.
Pocono Downs’ $72 million casino, which was the first out of the gate, features 1,100 slots. A $150 million phase two expansion, including a casino, dining and an entertainment venue expansion, is scheduled to open in mid-2008. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority bought the harness race track in January 2005.
The 2,000-slot casino at Philadelphia Park Casino and Racetrack opened in December. There are plans for a hotel, spa and conference center.
The casino at the new Harrah’s Chester Downs opened in January. It has 2,700 slots, seven dining outlets and a 14,000-square-foot event center. Its second harness racing season begins in July.
MTR Gaming’s new Presque Isle Downs opened in late February with 2,000 slots and three restaurants. Its first racing season begins in September.
The Meadows Race Track near Pittsburgh will open a 1,700-slot temporary casino in May and plans to open a $450 million permanent facility within two years.
A sixth facility, at Penn National Race Track near Harrisburg, is expected to open next January with 3,000 slots.
In Philadelphia, two stand-alone casinos with slots are slated to be unveiled next year: HSP’s SugarHouse Casino, which debuts in April as part of a $550 million project that will include an entertainment plaza, and Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia in South Philadelphia, which opens in November as part of a $560 million project that will include a 2,000-seat entertainment venue and a 500-room hotel. Both have Delaware River sites.
In Pittsburgh, Majestic Star Casino is expected to open along the city’s North Shore riverfront in summer 2008 as part of a $410 million project that will include a 1,000-seat amphitheater.
On the site of the former Bethlehem Steel Co. plant in Bethlehem, Las Vegas Sands’ Bethworks Casino is expected to open in July 2008 as part of a $600 million project that will include event and retail space, an industrial museum and a 300-room hotel.
Additionally, Mount Airy Resort and Casino in Paradise Township is scheduled to open this fall in the Poconos along with a 200-room hotel.
Two licenses were available for 500-slot casinos at existing resorts. Two applied but later withdrew: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Seven Springs Mountain Resort, both in the Laurel Highlands.
