April 28, 2008

Toddlers! On The Casino Floor! Oh Noes!

The Gaming Control Board has filed a complaint about Philadelphia Park Casino, claiming toddlers were on the casino floor on several occasions.

Oh, no, won't someone think of the children! Clearly, children should be left in a room with strangers (or something) rather than hang with their parents as they throw their money way. KYW's Tony Romeo reports some toddlers were actually gambling themselves, even though they don't even know what gambling is.

Gaming board spokesman Richard McGarvey says the complaint also alleges security personnel were slow to react:

(McGarvey): “Correct. There was a number of minutes that went by where they were actually out on the gaming floor with their parents or grandparents.”

(Romeo): “I guess in one case, one of the children was actually playing the machine?”

(McGarvey): “Certainly, sitting there with the parent or grandparent. Obviously, playing the machine is hard to describe for a child that young, but again, interacting with the machine.”

When will the terror of toddlers pulling the casino lever for their grandparents end?

Phila. Park Accused Of Having Toddlers On Casino Floor [KYW 1060]

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March 04, 2008

The New Hottest Bar In The Area

Who knew the Philadelphia Park Casino was so much fun! I'm on my way to the Circle Bar, no doubt. Did you see how fast things can heat up there?

[via Philly EDGE]

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April 10, 2007

Casino Owners Not Only Robbers At Slots Parlors

Kevin Houck was charged the other day for allegedly seeing a woman hit a $1,000 jackpot at the Philadelphia Park Casino, then slammed her to the ground and stole her purse, which contained the winnings.

He might not have been caught if he didn't return Sunday to the casino wearing the same exact jacket he wore when he robbed the Middletown woman. Yes, he returned to the scene of the crime, perhaps not knowing casinos have a ton of cameras, lest anyone steal from anyone important, i.e. the casino.

The security team noticed Houck and had him arrested. Fortunately, Bensalem detective Christopher McMullin says this isn't going to become a trend:

“I don't think it's going to be open season on gamblers. The security is really tight over there. The video is so good that we wouldn't let them get away with it.... The parking lot is safe. They have their own security over there. This guy had a little too much booze and drugs in his system. It was a crime of opportunity.”

Well, it is open season on gamblers, but it's the casino who's doing that thievery and the gamblers who are throwing their money away. But there aren't any slot machines in the parking lot, so it's pretty safe there.

Man charged with casino mugging [Bucks County Courier Times]

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January 29, 2007

Some Casino Employee Is Totally Getting Fired

Last Monday, Stephen Wilkinson got a message on his slot machine: You've won $102,000.

Of course, this was a mix-up. He actually didn't win anything; it was an employee testing the jackpot function (or whatever) and Wilkinson was greeted by casino employees, who told him, here, here are two buffet comps and let's just move on.

But although the casino was legally in the right -- by law, Philadelphia Park or any casino doesn't have to pay when there's a malfunction -- they weren't right in something even more important that civil court: The Court of Public Opinion. All across the area, people made stupid jokes about the situation and thought he should get his $102,000.

And, over the weekend, Stephen Wilkinson got his $102,000. Good for him. And good for us, too. I'm heading to Philadelphia Park this afternoon, hoping for more employees who can screw up in ways that can make me money. I'll be rich in no time.

Casino Changes Tune; Retiree Gets Jackpot After All [NBC 10]

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January 24, 2007

Casinos: Even When You Win, You Lose

Stephen Wilkinson thought he had hit the jackpot.

He thought he had hit the jackpot because the screen flashed this in front of him: "Stephen Wilkinson: Congratulations. You are the power player jackpot winner. You've won $102,000."

But, of course, he didn't win anything. Well, Philadelphia Park Casino gave him comps for two free meals, so he got that, but no 100 large. The system malfunctioned, the casino explained; so, sorry. (Actual quote: "What is in dispute is whether that was valid or not. It was not.")

Wilkinson says he's been to Philadelphia Park about 15 times. After the lights went off and Wilkinson briefly "won" his 102k, the machine locked up. After the machine locked up, Wilkinson said casino officials told him it was just a mistake -- game over, man. But he wasn't taking it: "I told him I would have chained myself to that machine; I wouldn't leave."

Spoken like a true gambler.

A one-armed bandit proves to be a liar, too [Inquirer]

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December 20, 2006

Bensalem Casino Already Adept At Taking People's Money

It wasn't all high holy rollers at yesterday's Philadelphia Park opening. No, there was also regular gambling and cute cocktail waitresses, as shock at right in an Art Gentile photo from the Bucks County Courier Times' Philly Park opening day slideshow.

The Courier was all over the slots opening in the southern tip of its coverage region. The paper's Brian Schneid was there for the very opening, and got a great quote that sort of sums up everything.

“I think this is history in the making, like George Washington crossing the Delaware,” said BeBe Gordon of Bensalem, one of the first in line. “It's just an exciting moment in time. It really is.”

But if you don't think slot machines are quite at the level of Washington's river crossing, then perhaps you'll think slot machines and a hotel are!
Schneid also writes about what's coming soon to Philly Park, and here's what Bensalem could be getting: "Plans are in the works for a big hotel, a spa, a night club and mammoth retail and entertainment centers alongside the thousands of slot machines and the racetrack." A night club! The Great American Bar and Pub, the Hooters and the TGI Friday's around that area must certainly be worried.

Those things could be years away and won't close, say, Neshaminy Mall just yet. For now, you're stuck with horse racing, slot machines and old people who, as the Inquirer's Jeff Gammage quotes, are "not going to Atlantic City no more." Indeed.

It's finally here [BCCT]
Amenities will keep Bensalem in the game [BCCT]
It's off to the slots at PhiladelphiaPark casino [Inquirer]
Archives: Philadelphia Park

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This Explains Church Bingo, At Least

In today's Jill Porter column about the new casino at Philadelphia Park, she writes about how fun it is to play slots, people who think slot machines are worse than Hitler are elitist (I would have used a stronger word) and a cocktail waitress from South Jersey might get some good tips.

I'd argue that Bensalem is a bit different than Philadelphia, but fair enough, whatevs, etc. Porter also talks to Betty Stanley, a West Philadelphia woman who won a cool $2,700 at Philly Park on the first day. She said her win was nothing short of divine intervention:

The beautiful Tina Turner look-alike retired recently after working for the city for 40 years. Yes, she's a lucky gambler who's won many jackpots in her day. And yes, she knows why.

"You won't believe me," she said.

I promised I would, expecting some dubious metaphysical explanation.

"I just completed the Angel Tree Project for my church, St. Thomas Episcopal," Stanley said. That means she personally bought, paid for and wrapped Christmas gifts for 64 children of incarcerated parents.

"If you give to the less fortunate, you will be rewarded," she said, grinning.

"This is my reward."

I don't profess to know much about anything, especially God or slot machines, but I'm not quite sure that's how it works. But, hey, whatever keeps you doing good deeds, I guess.

It's here: Racino Royale [Daily News]
Earlier today: Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

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December 19, 2006

The Best Part Of The New Phila. Park Casino

Hells yeah. This is so better than Blinky the Clown at Pocono Downs.

A shot of multiple scantily-clad waitresses, after the jump.

Continue reading "The Best Part Of The New Phila. Park Casino"

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Smarty Jones Pushed To Wayside For Slots

We are just about an hour away from the triumphant opening of the Philadelphia Park Casino, the slots parlor just outside of Philly. While they won't be embedding slot machines directly on to a horse's body, no doubt people are already lining up outside the casino, ready to toss their money down little holes.

The majority of the slots will be penny and two-bit games, the Bucks County Courier Times' James McGinnis and Crissa Shoemaker Debree report.

And with the casino at Pocono Downs -- the state's first -- netting $1.8 million in revenue in its first week, this is sure to be a black hole in which all our money will fall through. But, hey, they have video poker, too! Sweet!

Casino opens today amid big expectations [Bucks County Courier Times]

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December 14, 2006

Hopefully Philly's Casinos Will Have Such Amenities

Philly EDGE, whose streak of consecutive cute-girl covers is now at ∞, has a cover package on Philadelphia Park's coming slots parlor and the already-open casino at Pocono Downs.

Bensalem's Philadelphia Park -- the former home of a horse who was way better than Barbaro, Smarty Jones -- opens its casino on Tuesday, the 19th. (Or possibly the 21st.) The casino will offer "unlimited" free drinks from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week and will have a steakhouse that will only serve the "finest Prime meats," according to the article by Sarah Baicker.

The accompanying article, by Bucks County Courier Times writer James McGinnis, details a trip to the Luzerne County casino, which has virtually nobody under 50, waitresses in Denny's lookalike uniforms and features an exchange by a couple in their 20s/30s who said the casino isn't what they expected, i.e. not dressy, no young people, etc. But, of course, one of them said they'd be back, since, well: "There are not a lot of other things to do around here.”

Well put. Although the old-people vibe of the Pocono Downs casino is a drawback for the younger folk, there still is reason to go. McGinnis describes the "entertainment kiosk," which, well... read for yourself:

A kiosk offered six local attractions, including a clown named Blinky who “does hotels.” I called Blinky. Blinky offered to come to my hotel room and do balloon tricks. I considered hiring him.

Blinky the clown! My God, these casinos have it all.

Coining a phase [Philly EDGE]

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December 13, 2006

Leftovers: Boulevard Brouhaha

• City Council debated on how to fix Roosevelt Boulevard yesterday, and Brian O'Neill wants to shut the middle six lanes entirely. I guess the theory is, if traffic's bumper-to-bumper all day, nobody can drive fast enough to hurt any pedestrians too bad. (The Daily News has a little more.) [Inquirer]

• The Daily News' David Gambacorta has more on Larry McGuigan, who shot a dancer in a strip club and then himself. The stripper, Harmony, is expected to make a full recovery. [Daily News]

• Camden's principal was suspended (with pay, natch) over allegations he influenced grades for players on Camden's 7-3, playoff-qualifyin' football team. A student's grandfather on a meeting he had with principal Al Davis: "He just kept chewing tobacco and wouldn't listen to me." [Camden Courier-Post]

• The Philly Park casino has no idea when it's opening. [Bucks County Courier Times]

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November 01, 2006

Leftovers: It's A Shitty Thing

• Put away those gloves, it's time for basketball season! The NBA tipped off last night and the 76ers open tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. Be sure and tune in, as it may be the only game they win. The 76ers marketing slogan this year is "It's a Philly thing," which is true, because Philly sports teams aren't usually that good. [Inquirer]

• A Rolling Stones fan has filed a class-action lawsuit because of the Stones' Atlantic City show postponement. But of course. [AP/6 ABC]

• Congratulations to Doree Shafrir, the ex-PW A&E editor who began her job as associate editor at Gawker today! Doree was one of those people who sat in meetings with me before this blog started when I was just doing non-public test blogging. She gave useful advice -- i.e. "What the hell does 'RISP in close and late' situations mean?" -- that I immediately forgot about and became the puppy photo poster that I am today. Best of luck! [Gawker]

• The bear patrol may not be working in Jersey. A report says that New Jersey's plans to sterilize the state's black bears will be ineffective and expensive. But at least we'd get to fuck with some animals. [AP/6 ABC]

• Bensalem pretty much had a fucking parade for the first slot machine delivered to Philadelphia Park. [Bucks County Courier Times]

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September 27, 2006

Dancing With The Slots

Applicants for the a casino job at Bensalem's Philadelphia Park need to bring more than just a resume. They need to bring a pair of dancing shoes.

The new casino at the racetrack on Street Road is looking for applicants for various jobs and here's the auditioning process:

Job applicants said they're being asked to dance to “YMCA” or a Bon Jovi song — with blow-up guitar — during interviews at the Bucks County Visitors and Conference Bureau in Bensalem.

A casino official said Tuesday the park is pleased with the response to its unorthodox hiring method, but some prospective hires say the process is unfair... applicants learned they'd have to dance to “YMCA” or air guitar to Bon Jovi's “Living on a Prayer.”

[An applicant] said there were many senior citizens in the crowd, along with one man who had a prosthetic leg. She said she doubted they had ever heard of the songs they were supposed to perform.

Yeah, I mean, who ever heard of that obscure ditty "YMCA"?

Not the same old song and dance [Bucks County Courier Times]

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