Pennsylvania Slot Machines In Bars

Introduction to Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling consists of twelve casinos of which six are pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, four are standalone casinos, and two are casino resorts.

Pennsylvania bars slot machines Pennsylvania to Add Slot Machines in Bars? Pennsylvania to Add Slot Machines in Bars? Slot machine revenue was up in 9 of the 12 months during the most recent fiscal year totaling $2,378,859,341 or $26.5 million higher than the $2,352,320,937 generated during the 2017/2018 fiscal year. Video gaming is now legal in Pennsylvania bars.

Pennsylvania has both minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits. Return statistics are publicly available online.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

Casino staff will regularly wipe down all slot machines, handles and buttons. We’ve updated the Grand Pequot and Great Cedar Casino experiences to implement new health and safety measures. Your safety is our priority, and we want to make sure you feel safe and comfortable both when you arrive and during your stay. Smoking will not be allowed on the casino floor, only in designated areas.Slot machines will be strategically made available for play to the extent feasible, with appropriate physical distancing.Hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes will be available to guests and signage will be posted asking guests to sanitize prior to playing machines. /best-slot-machines-to-play-in-new-england-2019.html.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Pennsylvania*

The minimum legal gambling age in Pennsylvania depends upon the gambling activity:

  • Land-Based Casinos: 21
  • Poker Rooms: 21
  • Bingo: 18
  • Lottery: 18
  • Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

In 2004, the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act passed. This Act legalized slot machines at fourteen locations. Of these locations, gaming licenses have yet to be issued for a standalone casino and a pari-mutuel racetrack with slot machines.

Since July 2010, table games are in Pennsylvania casinos.

In October 2017, the state legislature legalized casino gambling at truck stops, airports, and online. This bill also authorized ten new satellite casinos with location restrictions.

  • Satellite casinos of existing casino operators must be within 25 miles of their existing Pennsylvania casino. Further, local municipalities may prohibit such a casino. These satellite casino licenses allow up to 750 slot machines and 50 table games.
  • Racetracks and standalone casinos can have up to 5,000 slot machines and 250 table games, while casino resorts can have up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games. Truck stops approved by their county may have up to 5 slot machines.

Casino operators may operate a gambling parlor at any of Pennsylvania’s international and regional airports, assuming successful agreements with the airport authority. None have yet opened, but expected in 2020.

To gamble within a casino resort, players must be a guest there. Put another way, the gaming floors within the casino resorts are not open to the public.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Pennsylvania

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Pennsylvania if it is 25 years old or older.

Gaming Control Board in Pennsylvania

The state gaming commission is the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). The PGCB is responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state.

Two different state gaming commissions are each responsible for the state lottery and charitable gaming.

Casinos in Pennsylvania

There are two casino resorts, four standalone casinos, and six racetracks with slot machines in Pennsylvania.

The largest casino in Pennsylvania is Parx Casino with 3,238 gaming machines during the last week of January 2020.

The second-largest casino is Wind Creek Bethlehem with 3,046 gaming machines during the last week of January 2020.

Commercial Casinos in Pennsylvania

The two casino resorts in Pennsylvania are:

  1. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, 69 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
  2. Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, 21 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

The four standalone casinos in Pennsylvania are:

  1. Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa in Mount Pocono, 31 miles southeast of Scranton.
  2. Rivers Casino Philadelphia, 3 miles northeast of the downtown area.
  3. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh in the downtown cultural center.
  4. Wind Creek Bethlehem, 58 miles north of Philadelphia.

The six pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines in Pennsylvania are:

  1. Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester, 18 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
  2. Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, 17 miles northeast of the capital of Harrisburg.
  3. Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, 15 miles southwest of Scranton.
  4. Parx Casino in Bensalem, 19 miles northeast of Philadelphia.
  5. Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie, 126 miles north of Pittsburgh.
  6. The Meadows Casino Racetrack Hotel in Washington, 26 miles south-southwest of Pittsburgh.

Tribal Casinos in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has no federally-recognized American Indian tribes. Therefore, Pennsylvania has no tribal casinos as allowed by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1989.

However, Pennsylvania is one of the few U.S. states with commercial casinos owned and operated by an American Indian tribe:

  1. Mohegan Sun Pocono is owned and operated by the Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut through their Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment corporation.
  2. Wind Creek Bethlehem is owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians through their Wind Creek Hospitality corporation.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Pennsylvania is:

  • North: New York Slots and Lake Erie
  • East: New Jersey Slots
  • South: Delaware Slots, Maryland Slots, and West Virginia Slots
  • West: Ohio Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Pennsylvania.

Our Pennsylvania Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Pennsylvania? If so, join our new Pennsylvania slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Pennsylvania. Join us!

Payout Returns in Pennsylvania

The theoretical payout minimum for slot machines in Pennsylvania is 85%. Further, the maximum theoretical payout limit may not equal or exceed 100%. Both limits apply to each single play.

The PGCB makes monthly return statistics publicly available for Fiscal Year 2019/2020 for each gaming facility. To calculate player win%, divide payouts by wagers provided in each report.

For February 2020, the player win% at slots for each casino and statewide were:

  • Harrah’s: 89.47%
  • Hollywood: 89.38%
  • Mohegan Sun: 89.63%
  • Mount Airy: 90.35%
  • Nemacolin: 89.18%
  • Parx: 90.43%
  • Presque Isle: 89.43%
  • Rivers Philadelphia: 90.49%
  • Rivers Pittsburgh: 89.68%
  • The Meadows: 90.11%
  • Valley Forge: 90.25%
  • Wind Creek: 89.98%
  • Statewide: 89.97%

For February 2020, the highest player win% went to Rivers Philadelphia at 90.49%, followed closely by Parx and Mount Airy. The lowest player win% went to Nemacolin at 89.18% followed closely by Hollywood Penn National and Presque Isle.

Summary of Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling consists of two casino resorts, four standalone casinos, and six racetracks with slot machines. Other locations should still open in 2020.

The theoretical payout limits are a minimum of 85% and a maximum of up to 100%. Monthly return statistics by casino are available online from the state gaming control board.

Annual Progress in Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In the last year, the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem became Wind Creek Bethlehem, acquired by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians through their Wind Creek Hospitality corporation for $1.3 billion.

Otherwise, there have been numerous casino name changes including:

  • Lady Luck Nemacolin became Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
  • Valley Forge Convention Center Casino became Valley Forge Casino Resort.
  • Mount Airy Resort & Casino became Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa.
  • Sugar House Casino became Rivers Casino Philadelphia.

Related Articles from Professor Slots

  • ABC27 Harrisburg Evening News: A closer look at casino slot payouts

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

  • Previous: Oregon Slot Machine Casino Gambling
  • Next: Puerto Rico Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Atlas hq slot machine borderlands 3. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC

Legislation introduced Tuesday in Pennsylvania would allow a slew of video gambling machines (VGTs) outside the state’s 12 Las Vegas-style casinos.

House Bill No. 110 would give businesses such as bars and taverns the opportunity to have the devices. The expansion of slot machine-style gambling in the Keystone State is being considered along with internet gambling.

The state wants to bolster its $3 billion casino gambling market amid competition for gambling dollars from nearby states.

Pennsylvania Slot Machines In Bars

While only two of the state’s casinos oppose internet betting, the VGT plan is more controversial. Both online gaming and the expansion of slot machines were considered last year.

Police “estimate over 40,000 illegal VGTs are now operating in Pennsylvania and these illegal machines exist in an unlicensed, unregulated, untaxed platform,” Sen. Guy Reschenthaler said at a news conference. “We need to legalize this industry to bring it out of the shadows.”

State officials held a hearing on Tuesday to discuss VGTs. A hearing earlier this month was on the online poker issue. State lawmakers also must fix a local share tax issue related to gaming.

Pennsylvania Slot Machines In Bars Without

Research released Tuesday from PlayPennsylvania said that the Keystone State online gambling market would be worth $230 million in year one, growing to $364 million by 2022.

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