Parx Trip Report 2
JMP sent in a trip report to Parx casino outside of Philadelphia, PA. I’ve heard that this place is beautiful, but still a racino. With no table games and no hotel I don’t see Parx in my future, but here’s a first hand review from someone that’s been there.
If any of you want to know the real reason behind “Snowmageddon”, it’s this: umpteen months after emailing TC and saying “Can I be your PA casino guy?”, I finally set foot in one: Parx Casino (formerly known as Philadelphia Park Casino) in Bensalem PA. I know, I know, I would’ve put money on it being Harrah’s Chester, as well, but the opportunity presented itself: my lovely wife gave me a day pass to head up to Edison NJ on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the game with some friends from back home and Parx is a few short minutes off of the PA Turnpike.
Parx is easily accessible by the PA Turnpike, Route 1 (aka ‘the Boulevard’) and 95 (aka “12 lanes of death”). When it was just Philadelphia Racetrack, it was home to the PA state fair for some years and also to Smarty Jones, who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness back in 2004. The neighborhood on Street Road (yes, that’s what it’s really called) surrounding the complex boasts your typical strip malls, mid-level hotels and chain eateries (along with The Great American Pub, which wins the award for best diner year after year). Contrary to what casino critics believe, there has NOT been an increase in crime since Philly Park opened, nor have pawn shops, liquor stores and check cashing places moved in to take advantage of the ‘poor stupid gamblers’ whom the casino industry allegedly preys upon. Bensalem borders on the area of Philadelphia called “the northeast” and the complex is close to a large outlet mall called Franklin Mills (similar to AC’s The Walk, only it’s enclosed).
I originally checked out the original casino shortly after it opened in late 2006. Those of you who followed me on the tripadvisor.com AC forum may remember the following review: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29750-i78-k923726-Philly_Racino_TR_12_29-Atlantic_City_New_Jersey.html. What’s especially pertinent, though, was the 2nd to last paragraph, in which I called the place as generic as generic could be and ended thusly: “Now, this is supposedly only Phase 1. I certainly hope so because they’re gonna need many more phases to get me to walk through their doors again.”
Of course, if you were following me, you’ll know I did walk through their doors again. Philly Park became ‘that annoying kid in high school who you hung out with b/c he could get into the liquor cabinet’. What I mean is, despite the flaws (genericism and poor ventilation) they were comping alcohol, while Harrah’s Chester wasn’t. What made it even more attractive was that their VP bar had 8/5 JoB, so you could play a decent paytable and get your drink in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, the paytables got lowered to 7/5 when they embiggened the bar. With that change, I stayed away…
Until now!
