Parx Casino Thrives as Pennsylvania's Only Smoke-Free Establishment, Outshines Conventional Competition
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Nestled in the heartland of Bensalem, a stone’s throw north of Philadelphia, lies Pa.r.x Casino, a trailblazer in the state’s gambling landscape. This property, together with its satellite counterpart, Parx Casino Shippensburg, boasts the unique distinction of being the only fully smoke-free casinos in Pennsylvania. Unfazed by the mandate requiring smokers to venture outdoors, the establishment thrives, consistently outperforming its traditional competition.
Displaying substantial prowess in the casino sector, Parx, located near Philadelphia, reported a hefty win of $31.5 million from its retail slots in September, coupled with a $16 million windfall from its table games. With a combined in-person pull of roughly $47.5 million, it effortlessly eclipsed the second top earner, Wind Creek Bethlehem, which reported approximately $43.5 million.
Such established dominance by Parx and Wind Creek in the Pennsylvania casino industry persists, even post the decision by Parx to endure as a smoke-free entity following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to May 2019, Wind Creek went by the name Sands before the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama stepped up and purchased the Lehigh Valley property from Las Vegas Sands for $1.3 billion.
Fast forward to June 2021, when then-Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) gave the green light for indoor smoking to return to casinos, Parx stood firm in its smoke-free status. Parx’s decision was in line with Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act of 2008. The casino’s stand against indoor smoking resonated deeply with the majority of visitors and all employees, especially the table game dealers who previously faced the brunt of secondhand smoke.
Parx’s PR Director, Carrie Nork Minelli, expressed that the change had been overwhelmingly supported by both staff and visitors, including the smokers. Furthermore, Pa.r.x Chief Marketing Officer, Marc Oppenheimer, insisted that eliminating indoor smoking was in the best interest of the casino’s customers and the business.
As we delve into the iGaming sphere, Pennsylvania’s 17 land-based casinos generated a gross gaming revenue of $275.1 million in September 2023, reflecting a 1.8% decrease from September 2022. Notwithstanding this decrease, advancements in online platforms have more than offset the conventional casino and sports betting losses, breaking new records for remote player winnings.
Embracing this significant shift towards iGaming, Pennsylvania’s online platforms secured a record-breaking GGR of $157.1 million. This impressive figure signifies a year-on-year increase of 43%. The highest performing online gaming platform belonged to Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, ruling the state’s iGaming market with a September GGR of $64.8 million.
In light of these developments, it’s clear that online gambling is becoming an increasingly relevant and lucrative aspect of the global gaming industry. Here at the West Island Blog, we recognize this trend and are committed to helping our readers navigate this evolving landscape.
Whether it’s providing information, reviews, or tips, we aim to guide Canadians in their quest for the top online gaming experiences. If you’re looking to embark on your own online gambling adventure, we invite you to explore the possibilities at this link, where we’ve sampled some of the best online casinos Canada has to offer. Go ahead and discover a world of opportunity and entertainment that awaits you.
