Day Trip out of Washington, DC?

Visiting a friend in DC on Saturday, and while I'd rather just drive up to spend the night in Atlantic City, we have to keep it to one day. I know Maryland Live is close, but are there any other options within reasonable driving distance? Live table games, including craps, are a must.

Never been to Maryland Live, but have not seen great reviews.

There are a couple of W.VA casinos due west of DC, right about 2 hours away. 1/2 the distance to AC. However, it's been 10 years, and while I have the strong impression they have tables, I don't know that. They were slots only for a long time. It is a BEAUTIFUL drive up into the Appalacian Mountains, though, through the Virginia Horse Country and old battlefields.

Ms. BBB, sounds like you might possibly be referring to Mountaineer, and Charles Town (more formally calling itself Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races). I only know of them through their attached racetracks, and have never been to either myself. But, here is what they say about themselves in that department online:

Quote:

Mountaineer Casino in West Virginia offers a variety of table games including Blackjack, Craps, Four Card Poker, Let it Ride,
Mississippi Stud, Hit and Run Blackjack Progressive, Three Card Poker, Mini Baccarat, Roulette, Pai Gow Progressive, Spanish 21 and Texas Hold’Em.

http://www.moreatmountaineer.com/gaming/table-games/

Quote:

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is the place for exciting Vegas-style casino gaming. With 98 action packed table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, min-baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, and more. Plus, a 26-table poker room

http://www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/Casino

I don't know anything about how the marketing pitches match reality for any non-racing stuff, but there you have it, if those were even the places you had in mind...

Quote: DrawingDead

Ms. BBB, sounds like you might possibly be referring to Mountaineer, and Charles Town (more formally calling itself Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races). I only know of them through their attached racetracks, and have never been to either myself. But, here is what they say about themselves in that department online: http://www.moreatmountaineer.com/gaming/table-games/

http://www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/Casino

I don't know anything about how the marketing pitches match reality for any non-racing stuff, but there you have it, if those were even the places you had in mind...

Thanks very much, DD! I'd been up to Charles Town Races several times, and liked it very much, but couldn't think of the name. That's exactly the area I was suggesting.

Quote: beachbumbabs

Thanks very much, DD! I'd been up to Charles Town Races several times, and liked it very much, but couldn't think of the name. That's exactly the area I was suggesting.

Babs, I live in VA so Charles Town is close. However, I am a low limit player. What are the limits on the table like last time you were there. I mainly play BJ and Craps. How long ago did you go? I figure things may have changed with the new MD casinos to compete with.

The closest casino to the DC area other than MD live is Charelstown. The link was already posted above by DrawingDead so I won't relink it. I've been to both casinos fairly recently. Here is my summary, hope it helps.

MD live is a nice new clean casino, and MD has good BJ rules. But the place is crazy crowded pretty much every night and the minimums are very high for all table games. Usually 25-50 for BJ, and at least that for Roulette or Craps. This is especially true on the weekends. It can be pretty hard to even find an open seat at a BJ table on a sat night. Most (but not all) of the BJ pits use CSM's. So counting is worthless if that is your thing. But it's right off the highway and pretty easy to get in and out. Depending on what part of DC you are in. It's probably only 30min or so with no traffic.


Hollywood Charlestown has much lower limits ($15 tables should be plentiful and some $10 are usually avail too) and it is less crowded by a lot. But they have worse BJ rules...a little. H17 on all but high limit $100 tables. You can surrender there and they usually have decent penetration. But the place is in WV, and lots of people smoke. It's also farther away probably about an hour from the western DC burbs and maybe 75min to 90min from the city itself. By comparison AC is at least 3.5 hours from DC.

So to sum up MD live closer, but crowded and more expensive. Charlestown..farther away but cheaper and less crowded. Have a good time.

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Great info about the high limits at MD Live.

There is also a Hollywood in Perryville, MD. You must cross an expensive ($8 I think?) toll bridge to get there. It is VERY small (only 12 tables) so you may get bored quickly.

You also have the option of going to Harrington, DE with Dover Downs only about 30 minutes away.

All of these casinos are typically $10 limits (you may get lucky and find $5 in DE) and usually not too crowded.

Charlestown has never been below $10 even on a weekday (I've went there a half dozen times). A bit longer of a drive gets you to Harrington out in Delaware where I usually find $5 tables.

Charlestown has 3,4,5x. Harrington has 10x.

Maryland Live is the absolute closest, but I don't have a lot of experience there. 10x odds, but minimums may be well over $10.

Quote: ahiromu

Harrington has 10x.

Clarification - Harrington is 10x at a $10 minimum. Below that it is only 3x4x5x.

I apologize, I may be getting my casinos mixed up then. I coulda sworn it was regardless of minimum.

I'm not that worried about 10x odds...just $10 minimums. I didn't think a $5 game would even be in the question on a Saturday, but there is a good chance of that at Harrington? Was leaning towards Hollywood in WV but that might change my mind.

I've only been to Harrington once, and the minimums there are definitely lower. But the place is really small. I can't imagine you'd find a $5 table on a sat night.

Quote: vendman1

I've only been to Harrington once, and the minimums there are definitely lower. But the place is really small. I can't imagine you'd find a $5 table on a sat night.

I went to Harrington 1 time to grab a $1 chip for my collection. Normally I will sit at a $5 or $10 blackjack and play for a little and walk with a chip. I was unable to do that at Harrington because the lowest min on a Saturday night was $15.
I ended up at three card for the first time and on my very first hand ever I got A23 of clubs. I was funny because my wife was standing behind me and I showed her. She was like oh ok then they started paying me in green. Then she finally realized.

Quote: Jimmer

I'm not that worried about 10x odds...just $10 minimums. I didn't think a $5 game would even be in the question on a Saturday, but there is a good chance of that at Harrington? Was leaning towards Hollywood in WV but that might change my mind.

Most likely not if you go at night. If you go in the morning you may find $5. Sometimes if it's busy enough at night they will open the crapless table as well, if that's your thing.

Quote: GWAE

I went to Harrington 1 time to grab a $1 chip for my collection. Normally I will sit at a $5 or $10 blackjack and play for a little and walk with a chip. I was unable to do that at Harrington because the lowest min on a Saturday night was $15.
I ended up at three card for the first time and on my very first hand ever I got A23 of clubs. I was funny because my wife was standing behind me and I showed her. She was like oh ok then they started paying me in green. Then she finally realized.

Can I assume you walked after the first hand? :)

Quote: vendman1

Can I assume you walked after the first hand? :)

lol yeah right. I played out my reds and left with the green. I can't remember what I walked with but it was around $300 or $400 so I was still happy with my $50 buy in.