PA casinos, what is in the future

Quote: teddys

I'm surprised Rivers overtook and surpassed Meadows fairly quickly.

Now, we all know Meadows sucks in general, but people like to go to suburban slot barns instead of downtown casinos. Rivers must have been doing something right.

Rivers said from the get-go that they wanted to go for the higher roller. Rivers has good parking and is nice and close for Steeler and Pirate games. Free shuttle from downtown to get the after-work crowd. I like Rivers better and it is closer to my place to boot. Rivers is just a step above.

Quote: AZDuffman

Rivers said from the get-go that they wanted to go for the higher roller. Rivers has good parking and is nice and close for Steeler and Pirate games. Free shuttle from downtown to get the after-work crowd. I like Rivers better and it is closer to my place to boot. Rivers is just a step above.

In slot selection and entertainment the Meadows is better than the Rivers, but the Rivers has the downtown area to provide other entertainment choices. It would be great if either casino offered their own hotel for comps and were part of a better national casino network.

Quote: zoobrew

In slot selection and entertainment the Meadows is better than the Rivers, but the Rivers has the downtown area to provide other entertainment choices. It would be great if either casino offered their own hotel for comps and were part of a better national casino network.

Actually I like them not having hotels. Makes them more user-friendly.

Quote: AZDuffman

Actually I like them not having hotels. Makes them more user-friendly.

Sands Bethlehem has occupancy of 84.5% at an average daily room rate (ADR) of $149.

The occupancy rate us jumped 34% over the first quarter of the last four years, so they may add another tower.
84.5% $149
68.8% $146
65.3% $138
50.3% $139

There are two other hotels within three miles but the are pretty busy also.

302 rooms Sands Bethlehem
124 rooms Comfort Suites Lehigh University
80 rooms Holiday Inn Express Interstate

Perhaps a Hampton Inn might help.

Quote: pacomartin

Perhaps a Hampton Inn might help.

On the way for Meadows, to go with the now-connected Hyatt.

Meadows has a hotel as of two weeks ago

Quote: AZDuffman

On the way for Meadows, to go with the now-connected Hyatt.

I'm pretty excited to see it. I don't remember ever being in a Hyatt Place built from scatch. They were all Summerfield Suites or whatever before (converted).

The walk from the hotel to meadows is poorly marked and really much longer then just driving

Budget shortfall opens door for more gambling

Quote: pacomartin

Slot revenue peaked in Sep 2012. Table games keep going up year after year as they steal patrons from NYC and northern NJ, but that may change if New York gets real table games or NJ finally gives up on Atlantic City.

With only 1 month left in this fiscal year (June) slot revenue is slightly up 0.51% YoY compared to last year. Without the mini casinos it would still be down.

Slot revenue year over year for 11 months of this fiscal year
-6.05% Presque Isle
-3.40% The Meadows
-3.22% Mohegan Sun
-0.79% Mount Airy
-0.79% Penn National
-0.19% The Rivers
-0.16% Harrah's Philadelphia
0.06% SugarHouse
2.77% Sands Bethlehem
4.28% Parx
12.72% Valley Forge MINI CASINO
25.23% Nemacolin MINI CASINO

The legislature is considering options to increase gambling. Sands casino manager objects to all proposals. Most other casino owners are in favor of internet options. Everyone hates the ideas of limited gaming licenses for bars.

One option is to allow alcohol for 24 hours for $5 million per casino.

The voters should decide these things. Not the casino owners, most of which probably never stepped foot in the state.