Introduction to Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018
Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling consists of a maximum of fourteen casinos, as approved by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2004. These locations include seven racinos, five standalone casinos, and two casino resorts. One racino and one standalone casino have yet to open.
Pennsylvania law requires gaming machines return a minimum payout return of 85%. Actual annual payout returns have most recently ranged from 89.22% to 90.95% at all currently-open Pennsylvania casinos.
Of interest not only to online slots gamblers, the Pennsylvania House passed a law in 2017 to legalize casino gambling at truck stops, airports, and online. It was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on October 30, 2017. The bill also authorized ten new satellite casinos, with some location restrictions.
This post continues the weekly blog series “Slot Machine Casino Gambling, State-By-State“, a year-long online resource project dedicated to guiding slot machine gambling enthusiasts to success.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Pennsylvania*
The minimum legal age for gambling in Pennsylvania casinos is 21. For the state lottery, pari-mutuel wagering, and bingo it is 18.
The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act was passed in 2004, legalizing slot machines at 14 locations beginning in 2006. Since July 2010, casinos in Pennsylvania have been allowed to operate table games.
The racinos and standalone casinos are allowed 5,000 slot machines and 250 table games, while the casino resorts are limited to 600 slot machines and 50 table games.
The ten additional casinos will be so-called satellite casinos, operated by an existing owner of a Pennsylvania casino but limited to being within 25 miles. Municipalities have the option to prohibit such a casino. These satellite casino licenses would allow up to 750 slot machines and 30 table games.
Truck stops may have up to 5 slot machines, again assuming approval from the county they are located within. Casino operators may operate a gambling parlor at any of Pennsylvania’s international and regional airports, assuming agreements can eventually be reached with an airport authority.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Pennsylvania
It is legal to privately own a slot machine in the state of Pennsylvania if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state. The PGCB does not oversee the state lottery or charitable gaming.
Their Mission statement reads:
“The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, guided by the Gaming Act and supported by a dedicated professional staff, will protect the interest of the public by ensuring the integrity of legalized gaming through the strict enforcement of the law and regulations, the licensing of qualified individuals and entities, and fulfilling the objectives of legalized gaming in the Commonwealth to deliver a significant source of revenue, assist the horse racing industry, provide broad economic opportunities and enhance tourism.”
Casinos in Pennsylvania
Of the fourteen locations legally allowed casinos in Pennsylvania, two are not yet open. Also, none of the ten recently approved satellite casinos have yet to open.
The last of the standalone casinos, South Philadelphia Live! Hotel and Casino, is expected to open in late 2018. It will be located at 900 Packer Avenue, close to Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and Wells Fargo Center.
The largest casino in Pennsylvania is the Parx Casino and Racing. It has 3,500 gaming machines and 130 table games. The second largest is Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem having 3,000 gaming machines and 200 table games.
The 12 currently open Pennsylvania casinos to follow include annual payout return percentages from mid-2016 through mid-2017. The casino with the highest payout return was Parx Casino and Racing with 90.95%, while the casino with the lowest return was Hollywood Casino at Penn National with 89.22%.
To gamble within a casino resort, players must be a guest of the casino resort. Put another way, the gaming floors within the casino resorts are not open to the general public.
The 12 currently available Pennsylvania casinos are:
- Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack
- in Chester, 8 miles south of Philadelphia airport;
- casino type: Pari-Mutuel Racino; and
- a payout return of 90.07%
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National
- in Grantville, 16 miles northeast of Harrisburg;
- casino type: Pari-Mutuel Racino; and
- a payout return of 89.22%
- Lady Luck Nemacolin
- in Farmington, 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh;
- casino type: Resort; and
- a payout return of 89.35%
- The Meadows Racetrack & Casino
- in Washington, 25 miles southeast of Pittsburgh;
- casino type: Pari-Mutuel Racino; and
- a payout return of 90.06%
- Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
- in Wilkes-Barre, 20 miles southwest of Scranton;
- casino type: Pari-Mutuel Racino; and
- a payout return of 90.17%
- Mount Airy Resort & Casino
- in Mount Pocono, 30 miles southeast of Scranton;
- casino type: Standalone; and
- a payout return of 90.36%
- Parx Casino and Racing
- in Bensalem, 18 miles northeast of Philadelphia;
- casino type: Pari-Mutuel Racino; and
- a payout return of 90.95%
- Presque Isle Downs & Casino
- in Erie, 125 miles north of Pittsburgh;
- casino type: Pari-Mutuel Racino; and
- a payout return of 89.44%
- Rivers Casino
- in Pittsburgh;
- casino type: Standalone; and
- a payout return of 89.72%
- Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
- in Bethlehem, 60 miles north of Philadelphia;
- casino type: Standalone; and
- a payout return of 89.93%
- Sugar House Casino
- in Philadelphia;
- casino type: Standalone; and
- a payout return of 89.68%
- Valley Forge Convention Center Casino
- in King of Prussia, 15 miles northwest of Philadelphia;
- casino type: Resort; and
- a payout return of 90.59%
Summary of Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018
Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling consists of a maximum of fourteen casinos, as approved by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2004. These locations include seven racinos, five standalone casinos, and two casino resorts. One racino has yet to open. The remaining standalone casino, located in South Philadelphia, is expected to open in late 2018.
Pennsylvania law requires gaming machines return a minimum payout return of 85%. Actual annual payout returns have most recently ranged from 89.22% to 90.95%.
The Pennsylvania House passed a law in October 2017 substantially changing options for slots gambling in Pennsylvania. In general, these changes include legalizing casino gambling at truck stops, airports, satellite casinos, and online. While most of these changes require approval from local municipalities, these are:
- Truck stops are allowed up to 5 slot machines;
- Existing casino operators in Pennsylvania can work with airport authorities to open on-site gambling areas;
- Ten satellite casinos with up to 750 gaming machines and 30 table games can be opened within 25 miles of an existing casino location; and
- Online gambling is now legal, although the sports betting aspect of online gambling is awaiting changes to federal law before it will actually be legal in Pennsylvania.
Professor Slots Video on Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018
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