Coining a phase

Philadelphia Park Casino to open next week with free drinks and sexy staff

The extremely-hyped casino at Philadelphia Park Racetrack in Bensalem will open its doors next Tuesday, December 19.

What can be expected from the former home of Smarty Jones?

More than 30 million dollars has already been invested into the two-level, high-action gaming space. It will feature a 350-seat buffet serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, a “grab n’go” fast food outlet for those who just can’t part with the games long enough and the Circle Bar, which will feature live entertainment each weekend.

And, the casino will offer unlimited free drinks to anyone playing slot machines from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week, all thanks to a newly enacted law by the PA state legislature. Once the legislature reconvenes in January, it may vote to expand the free drinks offer to 24 hours a day.

When those free drinks arrive, they’ll be accompanied by a Parkette, whom the casino’s marketing department promises are “the hottest cocktail servers in the country,” clad in bustiers, heels and little else. The Parkettes were selected through Philly Park’s unique recruiting drives earlier this fall.

Shortly after the casino’s opening, the Park Grill Steakhouse, helmed by former Four Seasons chef David Gottleib, will also open its doors on-site at the racetrack. The Grill will be a first-class restaurant, and will serve only the finest Prime meats.

The biggest gaming draws will be the casino’s 2,200 slot machines, a number that could double by 2009, according to Andrew Becker, Vice President of Alta Communications, the public relations firm employed by Philadelphia Park.

The slots will include classics that even the greenest of gamblers will likely recognize, such as “Wheel of Fortune” and “Blazing 7’s,” as well as more modern options, with enticing names like “Super Jackpot Party” and “Cairo Dreams.” State-of-the-art, computer-based slots will allow players to order drinks with a tap of the screen.

Pennsylvania law forbids residents from gambling against other live bettors in the state, but the casino will feature electronic poker and multi-hand blackjack games, too, for those looking for a bit more of a challenge.

It’s important for guests to remember, that what they’ll see next week is just “Phase One of a multi-phase project,” said Becker. The end result, Philadelphia Park promises, will blow you away.

-Sarah Baicker

Not a slot like Vegas

New northeast PA casino won’t have much in common with Philadelphia Park either

By James McGinnis

Bucks County Courier Times

Special to Philly EDGE

We all have that vision of a casino floor where you enter in a dark suit, order a martini and take a beautiful woman by the arm.

If you ever tried that at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Plains Township, Luzerne County, they’d probably escort you to the “Food Court” cafeteria where you can order a heat-and-serve pizza.

It’s true that the casinos of Atlantic City have lost that luster and charm associated with the Rat Pack or James Bond films. Style has given way to slot machines and senior citizen bus trips.

And if you had any lingering hope that Pennsylvania’s casinos would have some of that old-world class, then you’re sadly out of luck with Pocono Downs.

So try the penny slot machines, because you’ll only lose a penny. (The machines accept only bills to start, though.) The large majority of the slots at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs are penny and two-bit machines.

The casino is set off on two floors, with the lower level for smokers. Each floor has a circular bar that seats about 15 people and is staffed by a cocktail waitress in a simple red clay-colored dress that looks suspiciously like a uniform at a Denny’s.

Yet the casino has made millions from the surrounding towns like Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. More than 500 people filled the casino on an auspiciously warm Friday this month. They found the casino despite an almost complete lack of road signs. Exiting off the turnpike, I’d traveled through several small towns before seeing a sign for the casino just outside the entrance.

Finding someone at the casino under the age of 50 and/or attractive was almost as harrowing as locating the building.

Entering the casino, you notice a casino rewards center, where frequent winners receive complimentary humidifiers, irons and sweaters bearing the casino insignia. Jim Wise, Vice President of Marketing, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs promises additional perks as the casino connects with area businesses like the nearby MotorWorld car dealership off Highway 315.

Neither Kevin Serant, 32, nor his girlfriend, Danielle Melstrom, 26, cared much for those perks.

In a small circular bar on the second floor, they sipped on stiff drinks and stared at the much older crowd around them looking like two fugitives on the lam. 

 “This isn’t what I expected,” Kevin said

 “It’s not very dressy,” Danielle added. “We probably wouldn’t spend a lot of time here.”

 But they’ll be back, they said.  

“There are not a lot of other things to do around here,” Danielle said. “So we’ll probably be back at some point. I’m sure a lot of our friends will come down here.”

After losing 38 cents in a slot machine, I ventured onto the road back toward the turnpike and stopped at the Casino Countryside Inn, a roadside enclave of rented mobile homes.

A kiosk offered six local attractions, including a clown named Blinky who “does hotels.”

I called Blinky.

Blinky offered to come to my hotel room and do balloon tricks.

I considered hiring him.

After all, I thought, whatever happens in Luzerne County stays in Luzerne County.