PA Casino inquiry

Hello all! I'm on a business trip to Eastern PA this week staying in the Valley Forge area about 45 min outside of Philly. Have never spent extensive time in this state but know it is notorious for it's mandated blackjack rules across the state. Wouldn't mind checking out a casino after work one night while I'm in the area... maybe play a little blackjack and/or craps.

Just a few questions for those familiar with the area...

What casinos are in my area? Where should I go? I saw there is one at the Valley Forge Convention Center but I think they charge admission which is annoying if i'm just looking to stop in for a couple of hours.

Is it safe? I'll be going in the evening when I get out of work. Not familiar with the area, no idea what to expect. For reference I'm a 23 year old 180 pound male.

Finally, what kind of table minimums could I expect on a weekday evening?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Quote: winmonkeyspit3

Hello all! I'm on a business trip to Eastern PA this week staying in the Valley Forge area about 45 min outside of Philly. Have never spent extensive time in this state but know it is notorious for it's mandated blackjack rules across the state. Wouldn't mind checking out a casino after work one night while I'm in the area... maybe play a little blackjack and/or craps.

Just a few questions for those familiar with the area...

What casinos are in my area? Where should I go? I saw there is one at the Valley Forge Convention Center but I think they charge admission which is annoying if i'm just looking to stop in for a couple of hours.

Is it safe? I'll be going in the evening when I get out of work. Not familiar with the area, no idea what to expect. For reference I'm a 23 year old 180 pound male.

Finally, what kind of table minimums could I expect on a weekday evening?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Valley Forge/King of Prussia is a very good part of town. No worries about safety there at all. You'll find $15 BJ, $10 UTH, 3CP, and LIR, and $25 bacc, PGP, and PG tiles at the Valley Forge Resort. There's a $10 daily fee, but you can get a pass if you spend $10 on the property. The restaurants are pretty decent, even the ones in the food court. And, not surprisingly, any meal will cost more than $10. So, if your company buys you dinner, you can get free entry to the casino. (edit: it's easiest to ask for the pass at the time of purchase at the restaurant. You can also bring your receipt to the players club)

Other area casinos include:
Harrah's (25 miles southeast of Valley Forge, in Chester). Limits are lower, and it's also less safe. You can find the same games (edit: THB and not UTH) at $5. BJ is $10. There's also a racebook & poker room.

Parx (25 miles east of Valley Forge, in Bensalem). Same limits as Harrah's, same safety as Valley Forge. The trip will involve the turnpike, and will cost a couple dollars each way. Fair warning, the interchange to get on the turnpike on the return journey is not pleasant.

Sugarhouse (15 miles east of Valley Forge, in downtown Philly). Same limits as Valley Forge, less safe than Harrah's. Sugarhouse is a premium property in a horrible neighborhood.

If you spend $10 at Valley Forge on food, Im pretty sure you get in free for the day. I think there are 2 casinos in Philly. Sugarhouse and Parx. I was at Sugarhouse. Its small and reminds me a lot like the Atlantic City casinos. It's ok, but mail from them is on the very cheap side. It's also in a poor area Ive heard, but they do have valet if you're scared of being jacked or raped. Unfortunately, they look for 23 year olds weighing 180. Be careful. Just kidding of course.

I went to the Philly (Chester?) Harrahs and it was downright scary getting there, walking to and from the parking lot, and getting out of the area.

Quote: tournamentking

I went to the Philly (Chester?) Harrahs and it was downright scary getting there, walking to and from the parking lot, and getting out of the area.

The only official parking is in the attached garage. Where did you park?? You're totally right about the area around the casino. It's not good. Literally, there is a prison across the street from the casino.

Quote: rdw4potus

The only official parking is in the attached garage. Where did you park?? You're totally right about the area around the casino. It's not good. Literally, there is a prison across the street from the casino.

If you guys would quit trying to buy drugs outside casinos, there would be no issue with safety
Unless your @ bally's and try to tackle gun toting mad men.

I was wondering What was this guy thinking? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djIThHyGMfU I think he is a hero and all, but i just get this feeling, he thought he defiantly had the jump on this guy and he would be 100% successful in stopping him.

Quote: winmonkeyspit3

I'm a 23 year old 180 pound male.!

I hope your a male, at 180 pounds. how tall? and no, I don't want a date.

Quote: rdw4potus

The only official parking is in the attached garage. Where did you park?? You're totally right about the area around the casino. It's not good. Literally, there is a prison across the street from the casino.

I parked in that garage. I left after dark and after seeing the area it's in during daylight, my imagination took over.

Harrah's garage is seven stories, with elevators stopping right at the casino, with security stationed very close to the elevators.

If I hit it big there, I could easily lose a tail by 1) not getting on the elevator until I got one by myself, or with obviously safe people and then 2) playing some fancy footwork with the elevators. Got seven floors to work with and do some razzle-dazzle. Consider parking at the top... that's where the employees park, and it's got to be safer.

Plus, Harrahs is rarely in the news for robberies of patrons there. It's happened, but not nearly as much as, say, SugarHouse. I have never felt unsafe at Harrah's. The surrounding area is blighted, but with very few pedestrians, because other than the casino and prison, there's really nothing to walk to or from there... very few businesses. And the casino is so far from where people actually live, that few people actually walk to it... if they can't drive, they'll take a bus.

SugarHouse, on the other hand, is truly dangerous. Unlike Harrah's there are TONS of locals walking around the immediate area at all hours. It has just a blacktop parking lot. Lately, people have been followed from the casino, in their car, TO THEIR HOME in many instances. Guns have been shot at people driving away from the casino. This is an on-going, current issue. Plus, the clientele at SugarHouse is inner-city Philadelphia. Harrahs is not exactly the Riviera, but it's not as bad as SugarHouse, and for some reason the Chester locals are more pleasant than the Philadelphia locals.

Parx is similar in that they just have a big blacktop parking lot. Although it is in a nicer area, I don't feel safe in their lot. Safer than SugarHouse, though.