Day trip to Mohegan Sun, Pocono Downs (PA)

My daughter was heading to the area to visit friends, so I asked her if she wanted some company in the car. She agreed to drop me off at the casino (right on the way), so I had a little more than 6 hours to kill.

First thing I noticed was that they have added more CSMs (very sad). As always all the $5 games are CSM, but now most (but not all) the $10 games are CSMs as well. $15 and $25 games are still hand shuffled shoe games. I waited a bit for the non-smoking side of the casino to open up and this served me well as I was able to find a seat at a $10 shoe game as it opened. I was surprised how well the majority of folks were playing. Almost all knew basic strategy well, though all day long only 2 other players used surrender. The general quality of play was far superior to what I often see at these lower limit tables (refreshing actually).

I had a $10 match play which I used as 1/2 of my first $20 bet (and won!). My morning session ended up 40 units and I then enjoyed the free buffet. Mohegan Sun has been running a promo for quite some time now, play $10 or more for an hour and get a free buffet! Not a bad deal. The Buffet is really not that good, and I would never pay the $18.99 they want, but for free, its quite good! (funny how that works)

The afternoon session wasn't nearly as good, I gave back those 40 units plus 40 more before I started the turnaround. One of those awful runs where you can't win a double to save your life and seem to push every 19 and 20. I slowly worked my way back to even and then finally up 5 units for the day.

For those not familiar with Mohegan Sun, Pocono Downs, they have PA rules, 3/2, SA, DSA, noRSA, S17, Late Surrender, Penetration runs 70-75%. They use 6 decks in their shoe games and have 2 main pits, one smoking the other non-smoking. A variety of other table games are available.

One good thing, is that the $10 CSMs, were mostly empty while the shoe games were much more full. I sure hope they continue to offer low limit shoe games as I enjoy this casino.

In the end it was a fun day, and I got to spend some good time with my daughter (albeit in the car).

Thanks for sharing. To each his own.

I read 3 of your trip reports on MS at the Downs. You said you have enjoyed MS, and you returned there 3 times.

Out of curiosity, I went there too for some actions. What a waste of my time. I prefer Sands at Bethlehem, Mt. Airy, and Borgata over MS 1,000 percents.

I am thinking aloud...as I walk thru MS...I shall NEVER return unless MS abandons CSMs and brings in good games like Sands, Mt Airy or Borgata.

Yes to each there own :-) I despise Mt. Airy and have vowed never to return. I greatly prefer MS, its small but I like that. I've never been there on a Friday or Saturday night, so I'm not sure what kind of party they put on (if any). Also MS is easy for me to get to, and we have friends that live nearby so we are often in the area. I've never been to the Sands at Bethlehem so no comment there. AC is too far for us to make it day trip so it doesn't really apply unless we are going to spend a few days. I'm very concerned about the increased CSMs, but I've still been able to get shoe games (so far). If they take all the shoe games away, that will certainly change my interest.

Nice report :). I was excited to see that 1 hour of $10 play got you a buffet, and wondered why they would do that! Then you explained it's not that great, and it made sense =P. I was also pretty excited to see you up 40 units before lunch! Rough that you ended up 5 units up for the day, but up is up, along with the match play and buffet... +EV! I don't know if it's just me or not, but I love winning match/free plays. I don't know why I just associate it with literal free money they're giving me to win more from them and that amuses me.

I've never been out to any of those casino's. When I was in the area I know a couple that were more west in PA offered $5 tables with the same standard PA rules. Are there ever any $5 tables out on the east side of the state as well?

Quote:

I greatly prefer MS, its small but I like that.

"Small?"

This comment surprises me.

MS is a big casino, especially when compared to most other tribal casinos: yes, Foxwoods is big, too.

Are the newer casinos in PA. bigger than MS?

Quote: Romes

I've never been out to any of those casino's. When I was in the area I know a couple that were more west in PA offered $5 tables with the same standard PA rules. Are there ever any $5 tables out on the east side of the state as well?

MS offers $5 tables 24/7. Each pit has one so there are sometimes 2 open. They are, of course, CSMs.

Quote: Mr V

MS is a big casino, especially when compared to most other tribal casinos: yes, Foxwood is big, too.

Are the newer casinos in PA. bigger than MS?

This is MS at Pocono Downs (Wilkes Barre, PA) not MS in CT (which is huge). Mt. Airy is about the same size I would say. I haven't been to the other eastern PA casinos.

Everyone has the games pretty well covered, here is what I know about the rest of the properties.

Mt Airy is a little smaller than Mohegan. Mohegan has more slots (2300 to 1700), they both have about the same amount of tables (80 or so). Sands is much larger than either of them.

Mohegan is pretty laid back, attitudewise. I describe it as a bingo hall atmosphere; the people are generally very nice. Mt Airy is a bit snobby, for no real reason other than they are in the Poconos and cater to a tourist crowd. Sands has a NYC edge, because they get busses from NYC daily. They have to have an edge to keep from getting rolled over.

Sands and Mt Airy are the nicer properties, with Sands having the better events and shops; Sands is part of a cultural hub in the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton area, and it has fit into that role very well. Sands gets lots of top tier concerts. I've not seen any of the hotel rooms, but the word is that Mt Airy has the nicest rooms, and that they are very nice. Mohegan has a new hotel and event hall, and they are starting to get decent acts. The Smithereens were there this summer, Los Lobos are there later this month.

Valet parking is free at Mohegan Pocono, free at Mt Airy with a player's club card, and about $10 at Sands. But self parking is free at Sands, the garage is right up against the casino, and the elevators open up onto the casino floor. Self parking at Sands is actually quicker and more convenient than valet!

The best restaurant value at any of the three is Rustic Kitchen in Mohegan, an excellent mid-range restaurant with entrees in the $15-30 range. However, you can go on Refer Local and get vouchers, $25 in free slot play and $25 coupon for Rustic Kitchen, for $25. Two vouchers per person, and one per couple per meal. So, two of you can get a total of $200: $50 each in coupons, $50 each in free play, for $100 total outlay. The promotion runs every three months: you can score the deal in Jan, Apr, Jul, and Oct. It does have a limit, it usually sells out about halfway through. The Oct vouchers are still available.

Mt Airy had a place called Betty's Diner that was decent, but it closed. Sands has a Carnegie Deli outlet that is pretty decent, but not as good as the NYC location; it's kind of greasy. St James Gate in Sands should be good, but we've been disappointed every time we've eaten there. The buffet at Sands is smaller than Mohegan's, but its also better. FWIW, Refer Local has a Mohegan buffet offer, too, but it isn't as good as the Rustic offer, and the food isn't as good as at Rustic either. Mohegan's buffet is kind of blah.

Bar Louie's at Mohegan is fun, like Bar Louie's everywhere; also, they share a kitchen with Rustic. The food court at Sands has some really good choices, it is actually a really good food court:The food court at Mohegan is okay. I don't think Mt Airy has a food court.

TL; DR:

Mohegan-- Free valet, decent food, nice people, kind of small.
Mt Airy-- Free valet, fewer food choices, snooty, kind of small, nice rooms.
Sands-- Free self parking that is more convenient than valet, decent food but it's hit and miss, indifferent people, pretty big, good shops and decent events.

Also, if you're used to Vegas, these aren't really "destination" casinos. They're local entertainment spots, and they act and market themselves like that. They're day trippers. Smart move, but not Vegas, not even AC in that regard. Play and leave is the idea.

Quote: Mosca

The best restaurant value at any of the three is Rustic Kitchen in Mohegan, an excellent mid-range restaurant with entrees in the $15-30 range. However, you can go on Refer Local and get vouchers, $25 in free slot play and $25 coupon for Rustic Kitchen, for $25. Two vouchers per person, and one per couple per meal. So, two of you can get a total of $200: $50 each in coupons, $50 each in free play, for $100 total outlay. The promotion runs every three months: you can score the deal in Jan, Apr, Jul, and Oct. It does have a limit, it usually sells out about halfway through. The Oct vouchers are still available.

Very much agree, we really enjoy Rustic Kitchen.

I guess it was the snootiness you describe at Mt. Airy that turned me off from that place. All the dealers are very friendly at MS. I'll have to try Sands sometime. Its a little farther than MS, for us, but not significantly.

Quote: bj

This is MS at Pocono Downs (Wilkes Barre, PA) not MS in CT (which is huge).

Got it, that makes sense now.

I haven't been to any casinos back east except AC and the two big ones in Conn.

MS is bankrolling a tribal casino near Portland but due to unknown circumstances, an obscure tribe from California is being brought in as a partner: the Paskenta Band of the Nomlaki Indians.