Mohegan Pennsylvania (formerly Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, then Mohegan Sun Pocono) is a racino located in Plains Township on the outskirts of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The casino features over 2,300 slots, live tables for blackjack, roulette and poker, and a sportsbook offering sports betting. The facility opened in 1965 as Pocono Downs, a harness racing track, which continues as an attraction at the complex.
| Mohegan Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Logo prior to October 2022 name change | |
 Mohegan Pennsylvania Entrance | |
  Mohegan Pennsylvania  Mohegan Pennsylvania (the United States) | |
| Location | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| Address | 1280 Hwy 315 |
| No. of rooms | 238 |
| Total gaming space | 82,000 square feet (7,600 m2) |
| Signature attractions | Pocono Downs At Mohegan Pennsylvania |
| Notable restaurants | Ruth's Chris Steak House |
| Casino type | Land-based Native American gaming Racino |
| Owner | Downs Racing, LP Division of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, of The Mohegan Tribe |
| Previous names | Pocono Downs (1965–2005) Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (2005–2015) Mohegan Sun Pocono (2015–2022) |
| Coordinates | 41°16′08″N 75°49′09″W / 41.2689°N 75.8193°W |
| Website | Mohegan Pennsylvania |
History
editThe Pocono Downs harness racing facility opened in July 1965.[1][2] The 5⁄8-mile (1.0 km) harness track still operates as a component part of the racino that emerged when casino gambling was added 41 years later.[1]
Mohegan Sun acquired the Pocono Downs racetrack on January 25, 2005 in a $280 million purchase from Penn National Gaming.[3] Mohegan Sun renamed the property "Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs", and began a major expansion. It began operation in November 2006 as the first slots casino in the state of Pennsylvania.
In January 2010, then Governor Ed Rendell signed a bill to legalize table games in Pennsylvania. The casino was among the first to receive approval for table games, and planned to hire 600 new employees for the expansion. Table games began operation on July 13, 2010.
In November 2013, Mohegan Sun opened a hotel that is connected to the casino floor.
In March 2015, just months before the 50th anniversary of the original Pocono Downs racetrack, the racino changed its name to "Mohegan Sun Pocono".[1]
On January 28, 2019, Mohegan Sun Pocono signed a partnership with Kindred Group to begin sports betting at a sportsbook at the casino along with offering online gambling and sports betting.[4] Mohegan Sun Pocono became the first casino in Northeastern Pennsylvania to offer sports betting.[5] On March 29, 2019, Mohegan Sun Pocono applied for a sports betting license;[6] the license was approved on May 15, 2019. The casino constructed a 1,130 sq ft (105 m2) sportsbook that contains a video wall, 7 sports betting terminals, and 3 teller windows.[7] The Unibet Sportsbook at Mohegan Sun Pocono opened on October 5, 2019, with former National Football League and Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.[8] Unibet launched online gambling and online sports betting on November 12, 2019.[9]
On March 18, 2020, 55-year-old Carmine Fusco, a horse trainer and co-owner of Windgate Farms in Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, who won over 2,000 races, including many at Pocono Downs, became the first person to die from the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania;[10] Fusco, who grew up with his 10 siblings in New Jersey, all of who still lived in that state, was one of four in his family to die from COVID-19 at that time, with his sister becoming the second person to die from the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey five days earlier, his mother dying a few hours after him, and his brother dying the next day.[11]
On October 4, 2022, the racino changed its name again, to "Mohegan Pennsylvania".[12]
Features
editDining and shopping
editThe facility has fourteen restaurants or food service areas, including a food court, Johnny Rockets, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and Rustic Kitchen.
There are also four shops, including a wine and cheese shop.
Off-track wagering
editMohegan Sun also owns off-track betting facility/sportsbook in Allentown.
Gallery
edit-
-
Torch near the entrance
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Sokoloski, Paul (2015-03-20). "A season for the ages as The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono turns 50". Erie Times-News. Archived from the original on 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ Ramsey, Eric (2018-03-30). "The history of Mohegan Sun Pocono". onlinepokerreport.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ Mohegan Sun Reports Mixed Results "Mohegan Sun Reports Mixed Results", Casino City Times, Retrieved on 22 November 2007
- ^ Allabaugh, Denise (January 29, 2019). "Mohegan Sun Pocono to offer sports betting, online gaming". The Citizens' Voice. Wilkes-Barre, PA. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ Blackburne, Carolyn (January 28, 2019). "Sports Betting Coming to Mohegan Sun Pocono". Scranton, PA: WNEP-TV. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ "Mount Airy, Mohegan Sun casinos seek sports-betting licenses in Pennsylvania". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Associated Press. March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
- ^ Harris, Jon (May 15, 2019). "Mohegan Sun Pocono approved for sports wagering, hopes to take first bets before NFL season starts". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ Senior, Chase (October 5, 2019). "Sports Betting Available at Mohegan Sun Pocono". Scranton, PA: WNEP-TV. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- ^ Gelman, Bill (November 7, 2019). "Unibet Sportsbook And Casino Debuting Nov. 12 With A Massive Library Of Games". Play Pennsylvania. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ Novak, Steve (2020-03-18). "1st coronavirus death in Pennsylvania is from Lehigh Valley". lehighvalleylive.com. Advance Local Media. Archived from the original on 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ Tully, Tracey (2020-03-19) [2020-03-18]. "Coronavirus Ravages 7 Members of a Single Family, Killing 4". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ O'Boyle, Bill (2022-10-04). "Mohegan reveals new name for Pa. destination: Mohegan Pennsylvania". Times Leader. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2024-01-14.