Between 2004 and 2006, Pennsylvania legalized slots and table games at standalone casinos. The state’s gaming industry before then only allowed betting on horse racing. Racinos came next with slots and table games attached to horse tracks.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs opened in Wilkes-Barre as the state’s first casino in November 2006. Parx Casino opened three years later in Bensalem.
In September 2010, SugarHouse became the first casino in Philadelphia. As part of its opening, there were plans to build a luxury hotel.
Casino resorts are a relatively new industry in The City of Brotherly Love.
Let’s take a closer look at where to stay and play.
Rivers Casino Philadelphia
The Rivers Casino Philadelphia is northeast of Center City, in the Fishtown neighborhood. The casino offers over 1,500 slots, including progressive jackpots. There are also 72 table games, like roulette, craps, blackjack, baccarat, and poker.
The BetRivers Sportsbook features a 5,700-square-foot interior with an HD video wall. There are six betting windows and 33 self-service kiosks.
Dining options at Rivers Casino Philadelphia include Jack’s Bar + Grill, Martorano’s Prime, and Geno’s Steaks.
While the casino offers free parking, the one thing it needs is a hotel.
In July 2023, Rivers Casino Philadelphia announced plans for “Riversuites,” an upscale casino hotel. The four-floor, 62-suite boutique luxury hotel could start accepting reservations by the fall.
As a unique waterfront hotel, each suite will offer 854 to 2,266 square feet of space, including a full kitchen. Guests may choose from one, two, and three-bedroom options. Apartment-style rooms come with patios as bi-level lofts.
The Riversuites hotel will become part of The Battery—a $154 million redevelopment project that includes over 170 apartments and office and event spaces.
The Battery is less than a ten-minute walk from the Rivers Casino Philadelphia. There will be 24/7 complimentary shuttle service, security, and valet parking.
Look for the new hotel to open by the end of the year.
Live! Casino & Hotel and Online Casinos
The Live! Casino & Hotel opened in South Philadelphia in January 2021. In a rare occurrence, the PlayLive! brand launched an online casino in the previous year.
The wave of legal gambling online began in PA in October 2017. Less than six years later, the state offers nearly two dozen options for gambling at online casinos.
Launching an online casino before opening a land-based location is unusual for the legal market.
