My shortest casino visit ever: Valley Forge, PA

I should have read the TripAdvisor and Yelp reviews first, they average 2.5/5.0 for a reason. How will I ever recover those 45 seconds of my life?

This afternoon I checked into my hotel in King of Prussia and asked at the front desk about the nearest grocery store. Having left my GPS at home but having the directions in my head off I went. Well, wouldn't you know, the VF casino was on the way! So I turned into the parking lot, parked and walked in.

A security dude was checking people in and I saw they were all swiping what I thought were players cards. Trying to walk in he stopped me and asked for my "resort card". What? He repeated himself. I said I didn't have a players card. He said I couldn't come in but all I needed to do was go to the membership desk and get one, WTF? (To keep from being banished by the censors, I will not relate the remainder of my commentary to the individual). To politely summarize, I told him to not take it personally but if I had to show ID, goodbye. Or something similar.

My trip to the Wegmans for groceries was successful and in reading the reviews while eating a salad it seems the "resort membership" is $10! You get free play ($10) and a food coupon ($10) to offset your fee. Apparently they have a Class 3 casino license and need to collect a fee.

Even though my interaction inside lasted maybe 45 seconds I came out smelling like smoke. Many of the reviews of this casino and in particular the associated hotel appear to be awful.

I'm not aware of any other casino requiring a fee in the U.S. Does anybody know of any others? Anybody have anything good to say about The Valley Forge Casino?

My $$$$ will remain in my pocket. My gambling jones isn't that bad that I have to drive farther to play. I'll just save it for my next Vegas trip (setting one up for August).

 

There are a few others that charge that "membership" fee (which is just basically a way to get around the licensing issue; because it's essentially a FREE membership)

On the East Coast..why not drive over to AC?
I mean, I may not know shit, but we were in Jacksonville, NC and we made it to AC in the same time it takes me to drive to Vegas from Central CA (8 hours, maybe a little less)

EDIT: Upon Googling it...1½ hours to AC from KoP...seriously? LOL, that's not even a thought.

 

You're not that far from Harrahs Philly.

 

Itself not exactly a glorious wonderland, but certainly an improvement on the scenario experienced by the OP.

 

So how was Wegmans? Lol

 

I know exactly where it is. Because it's Harrah's and a CET property I won't set foot in the place.

TIM - yeah, AC seems like 90 minutes from here. Add another 45 for traffic getting out of Philadelphia. Too much hassle for me, even with a half day Thursday! Getting too old I guess!

The Sugarhouse Casino is on the Philadelphia waterfront. I went there in March after a meeting with Region 3 EPA. I recommended EPA declare it a toxic waste zone. Reminded me of some of the holes on Boulder Highway.

 

I love Wegman's! Wish I had one in Central Mass! Great bakery, huge selection of everything. Not the cheapest but I'm on expenses and sick of restaurants!

 

Ya my wife's a big fan of Wegmans, they get about $150-200 a week from us. I think it was a Jay Leno interview where they asked him if he moved his mom to California, he said no not till cali gets a Wegmans.

 

There is another Class 3 license in PA, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. There is discussion about eliminating this $10 fee, but the other casinos are opposed. For one thing, the initial licensing fee for a class 3 license is a fraction of the licensing fee paid by Sugerhouse, Sands, and the others. The VF Casino has a decent Pub, we used our $10 resort certificate there.

I would recommend driving to Parx in Bensalem, maybe a half hour away. Re: Sugarhouse....agreed. Very tight as in space between rows. But, a block away is Yards Brewery, can't go wrong with a Yards Pale Ale or a Love Stout.

If you return to Wegmans, there is a Pub inside where you can get a pint or a glass of wine and eat at the bar or sit at a table. They even fill growlers and sell six packs there. Inside the K of P mall is Rock Bottom Brewery, they serve pretty decent brews and Tavern food. There's also a Mortons Steakhouse if your on the company expense account. There's also a Ruth's Chris, Cheesecake Factory, Maggianos, and a Tilted Kilt nearby. There's a Trader Joe's nearby as well.

While you are in the area, it would be worthwhile to see Valley Forge Park, it's practically across the street from the Casino. The short film that describes the winter encampment of 1777 is worthwhile. The sacrifices that were made by the troops really puts things in perspective.

 

fyi, the fee is waived if you are staying in their hotel, or otherwise spend $10 on property (food, drink,) not worth it-

I only went to get chips for my collection and to reach my goal of visiting/playing at every casino in the US at least once

 

Hit up Parx. It's the closest one to you. Right down the PA turnpike and there is an EZ Pass only exit just about a mile from Parx or else that the Rt.1/Philly exit and you're 2 miles away.

We went to Valley Forge once. We ate dinner at their fancy restaurant which gave us free entry to the casino. The restaurant was very good. The casino feels like you're in someone's basement. We played slots for about 30 minutes. Won some money and left. We don't even think about going back there. We've been to Sugarhouse twice. We don't go back there, either. Parx is 15 minutes from me.

 

VF is 5-10min from my house in PA and I have been there often when I go home. I used to drive down to Harrah's or up to Parx but the convenience is why I will go to VF.

The admission fee is an annoyance but that is one of the conditions for whatever reason...I cannot recall why they required that.

They have good dice crews there.

Going to AC from there would not be an easy drive because of the Schuykill Expressway.

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VF is 5-10min from my house in PA and I have been there often when I go home. I used to drive down to Harrah's or up to Parx but the convenience is why I will go to VF.

The admission fee is an annoyance but that is one of the conditions for whatever reason...I cannot recall why they required that.

They have good dice crews there.

Going to AC from there would not be an easy drive because of the Schuykill Expressway.

 

The Schuylkill is no expressway.

 

Yeah good point.

Schuykill parking lot

 

I like Valley Forge because the $10 fee keeps most of the lowlifes out. It's a lot safer than the other Philly/AC ones, except maybe on a Saturday boxing/UFC night. Craps dealers are great. I read Barkley was there this past Saturday.

 

Not to hijack this thread about Valley Forge but I'm wondering about Sugarhouse casino. Can anyone talk about their blackjack rules/conditions?

I stopped in briefly when I was there last weekend. The place seems pretty nice by non-Vegas standards and they offer free booze to players which the Indian casinos in CA don't do. Some of the clientele seem a little scuzzy and I was asked for money by one.

 

I played at the Sugarhouse once on a visit to Philly. Never again. My gambling itch never gets that bad.

I recall 3:2, S17, DAS allowed, and surrender, though my memory is a little hazy on DAS. The casino was real sketchy though. Had no energy to it, even on a Saturday night. A friend and I stopped by while we were visiting town -- we tucked our tails and ran in our Uber after about 30 minutes.

 

In PA, you don't really have to worry about rules for BJ, government mandates good rules nearly everywhere in PA. 3 to 2 BJ and S17 is never mandatory in a free market...I'm pretty sure my home state has no S17 games...

I've also read on other forums that Sugarhouse brings in not so great clientele.

 

Exactly my observation about Sugarhouse. I don't think I have reciprocity with my LTC in PA. I'll have to check before I'd even consider going back there.

 

I can also personally attest to this.