What a ripoff! Those slot parlors are simply pulling in the cash from slot players and never payout more than $100 at a time. I visited the Racino a few times and will never return again. It's worth the 1.5 hour drive to AC. I've won thousands at the Borgata! Wonderful comps too. I just got a Kenneth Cole watch from them that retails for $85.

I've been to Harrah's Chester about 5 times and have yet to win there. I've also been to Philadelphia Park about 6 times--have won there once.

These places are very tough to win at. My guess is that as a result of the high amount of taxes they have to pay to the state of Pennsylvania (55% of their revenues), they have made their machines tighter. Atlantic City pays much less in taxes to NJ (less than 10%, I believe).

When the large casinos open near Philadelphia (Sugarhouse and Foxwoods), we might find the Racinos making their machines looser. Unfortunately the large casinos are not scheduled to open until 2008.

Ricky

Thanks for the update, ricky. That's really helpful info! Think I'll stay away from those Philly slots, at least for the time being.

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"I am in so far in blood, that sin will pluck on sin" - Richard III

I'm curious to know who owns the Racino?

Oops. I was so busy thanking ricky that I completely forget who started the thread. Sorry bout that techie1, and thanks for the input.

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"I am in so far in blood, that sin will pluck on sin" - Richard III

Harrah's owns the racino in Chester. I believe a partnership of Greenwood Racing and Penn National Gaming owns the Philadelphia Park racino.

Also, Mohegan Sun (Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority) owns the Racino at Pocono Downs (northeastern pennsylvania).


Ricky

I'd like to hear if anyone has ever won any significant money at the Philadelphia Park Racino. I mean more than a couple hundred dollars. The most I've ever gotten out of the machines is $160 which is not considered a win since I put in about $200-300.

Have been there four times...Only once did I do well and walked out with about 20K which I have listed in other posts

I went back there twice since and have been killed, giving back about 6K each visit

No plans to go back any time soon

Keep in mind there is a trend afoot here. The slot manufacturers are making the newer machines increasingly volitile. I don't know where that trend is going to end. However ... having played slots regularly for 10 years now, in the past few years, I have been winning many fewer times ... however, the large payouts I receive add up to about the same as the small amounts I was winning more frequently.

The casino owners and slot manufacturers like this --- because people enjoy the increased excitement of a larger potential payback. The machines are not busy as long (because, on average, you lose your money faster) and therefore more people end up playing the same machine. Also, the number of lines gets up to 50 which generates more money. Add to this, the fact the denomination is dropping to favour amounts with a poor payback percentage (eg. pennies, or 2 cent) --- and this is a common theme everywhere. You will only really know if the Philly casino is worse than the others if you can survey the payback percentage. Is it published anywhere?

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\