Racing To The Top
Strictly Slots goes off to the races with a look at some of the best racinos in the country
By Karrie L. Zukowski
For many gambling enthusiasts, racinos are the best of both worlds—the thrill of betting on live horse or dog races, combined with all the slot machine and table-game action you could ask for. Throw in some fine dining, luxurious hotels and amenities, top-notch entertainment options and high-end shopping, and the “new breed” of racinos offer a perfect getaway for slot and casino enthusiasts.
The number of racinos, and the scope of their facilities, soared over the last decade as more racetracks sought to add slot machines and tables, and state legislatures loosened their laws to accommodate them. In some cases, famous (but financially insolvent) racetracks were able to survive and thrive by adding casinos— whether it consisted of a slot parlor or a full-blown gaming hall with machines and tables.
Now let’s run down some of the most popular racinos in the industry, and show you why these hybrid properties are generating excitement among all types of betting enthusiasts.
Casino at Delaware Park Wilmington, DE
Casino at Delaware Park is an all-encompassing gaming facility conveniently located minutes south of Wilmington and the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Along with the excitement of over 2,000 slot machines on two spacious levels and popular table games including blackjack, roulette and Three Card Poker, they offer live thoroughbred racing, which will start on May 26 and conclude on October 16. Now add to that year-round simulcast wagering, keno, delicious dining options, a world-class 18-hole championship public golf course and now full sports betting on all professional and college sports, and you have a unique mix of amenities that truly makes Delaware Park a diverse entertainment experience that will keep you coming back for more.
Delaware Park Player Rewards Club offers something for everyone, with new tiers and more benefits. Don’t miss out on your chance to start receiving such benefits as special invitations to exclusive events and promotions, entries for Player Rewards sweepstakes, quarterly rewards, exclusive shopping at the “Members Only Traditions Boutique” and more frequent gift giveaways!
And Delaware Park has guests’ safety and well-being as their first priority. They have their slots open according to state guidelines every day and 24 hours on weekends. Table games are open daily and 24 hours on weekends as well, with the exception of poker, which is still temporarily unavailable. Sports Betting is open seven days a week, closing at 11 p.m., and Simulcasting is available Thursday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11p.m. and Sunday-Wednesday 11a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information visit www.delawarepark.com.
Miami Valley Gaming Lebanon, OH
Located just 35 minutes from Cincinnati, this racino offers plenty of gamble and lots of fun. First, head to the casino for great slot machine action. Test your luck at machines like Dragon Cash, Double Easy Money, Regal Riches, Timber Wolf Xtreme and Buffalo Gold. The list of top games at Miami Valley goes on and on, and offers games to suit any mood. And be sure to become one of their Most Valuable Gamers with their MVG Club Card! It’s FREE to join, and when you sign up for an MVG Club Card, you will receive $10 of Free Play. Earn points each time you play with your card inserted in any of the gaming machines and you can redeem for Free Play or use them toward food purchases at any of the restaurants.
For a delicious meal, head over to Cin City Sea & Steak. This eatery offers fantastic meals that will leave you yearning for your next visit. For big, juicy burgers, savory pulled pork, scrumptious flatbread pizza and the best double-beef chili cheese hot dog around, visit the Trifecta Eatery. For that pick-me-up, MV Perks serves a variety of beverages including energy drinks, tea, juice and a variety of specialty coffee drinks.
And live racing is back. Miami Valley Gaming Raceway is conveniently located between Cincinnati and Dayton off I-75 at Exit 29. The facility includes a 5/8-mile track, 156-stall paddock and a 14,600- square-foot grandstand. Miami Valley Gaming offers the best of both worlds—casino action and racing. www.MiamiValleyGaming.com
JACK Thistledown Racino North Randall, OH
At JACK Thistledown Racino, you will find over 1,400 of the newest, hottest VLT machines. Whether you enjoy trying your luck at penny VLT games or prefer to explore the gaming machines in the VIP area, JACK has your game. Popular machines include River Dragons, Dancing Drums, Dragon Link, Lightning Link, 5 Dragons Grand and Ultimate Fire Link, just to name a few.
ClubJACK is your exclusive opportunity to earn points faster than ever before. With Free Play you can use 24/7, best-in-class comps and exciting benefits like trips to Las Vegas, the Caribbean and more. No other loyalty card comes close.
For a contactless experience, use JACK Entertainment’s Mobile App as your ClubJACK rewards card. Use Bluetooth to connect to any game on the casino floor, including table games, to track your play without having to insert a physical card. Connect via Bluetooth to log in to promotional kiosks, removing the need to swipe, and skip the lines to redeem earned gift cards through a simple tap of a button and have it mailed directly to your home.
Join JACK Thistledown for another fantastic season of live racing beginning April 26, and simulcast is available all year-round.
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite while you play, a nice meal while enjoying the races, or just somewhere to unwind with your favorite cocktail, JACK Thistledown Racino has what you’re looking for.
Check out the options at www.jackentertainment.com/thistledown/.
Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Columbus, OH
Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs (formerly Scioto Downs) in Columbus, OH, is a premier gambling and entertainment destination where gaming and excitement is 24/7. Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs has a Vegas-style gaming venue featuring the hottest and newest games in Central Ohio.
Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs continually updates the gaming floor with the most new and popular game themes. These games include the Mighty Cash, Money Ball, Ocean Spin, Dollar Storm, Ultimate Fire Link, Wealth of Coins, The Vault, Dragon Tower and much more.
Live harness racing returns to the Scioto Downs track on May 4, 2021. Experience the thrill of live harness racing at Scioto Downs with special events and promotions. Use your Caesars Rewards card to get in on all of the action this season.
Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts have come together to create new experiences for you. Sign up for your Caesars Rewards main account, link your local account and do more. The more you play and enjoy all the great entertainment options offered at over 50 Caesars Rewards destinations, the more Tier Credits you’ll earn and the more benefits you will unlock.
In addition to state-of-the-art gaming and thunderous horse racing, Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs caters to all your dining needs.
From burgers to wood-fired pizzas, The Brew Brothers is dishing up great food every day—perfect to pair with one of the specialty craft brews. This state-of-the-art microbrewery features 10 brewing vessels, an open-view brew room, a 44-foot-long bar, outdoor patio with fire pit, 37-foot-tall grain silo, wood-burning pizza oven, 19 75-inch high-definition televisions and a 16-foot big screen. Ten drafts custom brewed in-house, locally crafted beers, additional commercial offerings as well as enormous televisions—what’s not to love!
The place for the guest who wants a quick bite or drink before heading back to the gaming floor is Dash Café. Located in the gaming area, the Dash Café menu includes a selection of burgers, salads, snacks, desserts and ice-cold beverages.
So whether you are looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs is the place to be.
For more information, visit www.sciotodowns.com.
Oak Grove Racing & Gaming Oak Grove, KY
Get ready for Vegas thrills at Oak Grove Racing & Gaming. Hit it big with over 1,300 state-of-the-art gaming machines with denominations of as little as a penny and bets as low as 10 cents. If higher stakes are what you crave, the High Limit Gaming Room offers max bets upward of $50 a spin. Plus, enjoy exclusive game themes like 88 Fortunes, Lock It Link, Stinkin’ Rich and more! Get ready for a better place to play. Vegas-sized thrills are coming your way with the latest and greatest games.
Playing at Oak Grove is even more rewarding when you join the Players Club. Enjoy exclusive benefits, like $20 Free Play for new members right out of the gate. Plus, signing up is fast, free and easy. Just a few of the benefits you can receive by using your Oak Grove Gaming Players Card are free play, monthly food & hotel offers, exclusive invitations to events and parties, discounted services, tickets to live entertainment and reserved secure parking.
Watch and wager with Oak Grove. The simulcast betting room is equipped with five United Tote self-betting terminals. Place your wagers directly at the terminals and watch the races on the 10- screen display wall for max viewing enjoyment.
The top-notch indoor bars and restaurants are open and operating at 50%, including Garrison Oak Steakhouse, Sgt. Pepper’s Burgers and Po’Boys, O’Dark Thirty Coffee House, The Lucky Lime and the Peek-A-Boo Bar. For more information, visit www.oakgrovegaming.com.
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort Hot Springs, AR
Located in Hot Springs National Park, AR, Oaklawn has been one of the premier Thoroughbred racetracks in the country since 1904, best known as home of the $1 million Arkansas Derby. Today, Oaklawn is Arkansas’ #1 tourist destination. The state-of-the art casino offers live craps, live blackjack, popular slot games, live music and the award-winning Silks Bar & Grill. Oaklawn strives to make the best environment for our guests by keeping our facility clean, safe, friendly and fun.
Take a seat at one of the exciting table games and try your luck at a new level of winning. Whether you’re a new player or an expert, the casino floor has a wide variety of table games. With 32 tables currently, you’re sure to find the lucky table for you! Games include blackjack,Craps, i-Table Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Fusion Auto Roulette,Fusion Blackjack and Interblock Craps.
For the slot enthusiast there are thousands of ways to play. With denominations starting at 1¢, Oaklawn has a wide selection of slots with over 1,530 machines, including video poker. Some hot slots featured are Olympus Strikes, Rakin’ Bacon!, Fu Nan Fu Nu Lucky Dragons, the Buffalo Gold collection, Wheel of Fortune 4D, Dancing Drums, Fu Dao Le, Cairo Riches – Fortune Cash and Ultimate Fire Link, just to name a few.
To make reservations for live racing or for more information, visit www.oaklawn.com or call (501) 363-4660.
Mohegan Sun Pocono Wilkes-Barre
Mohegan Sun Pocono offers an escape of unsurpassed fun, relaxation and excitement. Located on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun Pocono is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. There is always something to do for everyone—from the ultimate gaming experience, renowned restaurants and a variety of retailers plus a convention center with flexible meeting space for groups.
Mohegan Sun Pocono has something for everyone. For the sports fanatic, the state-of-the-art Unibet Sportsbook features a 28-foot wide, highdef video wall that is fully customizable, allowing it to be transformed into two giant TV screens or modified to accommodate up to 16 sporting events at once. The betting lounge also has six betting terminals, beverage service, two teller booths and an impressive range of betting options. When hunger strikes, guests who dine with Molly O’Sheas will enjoy the best in Irish flair, authentic Irish cuisine and one of the best beer and whiskey menus in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Known worldwide for searing the finest cuts of USDA Prime beef at 1800 degrees, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is regarded by many as one of the best steak house in the country. Or, visit the Tuscan villa-themed Rustic Kitchen Bistro & Bar for a unique Italian Mediterranean-influenced menu. When you re ready to get in on the action, hit the gaming floor for the newest slots and hottest table games, including nearly 2,000 machines and over 60 tables, or take in the excitement of a heart pounding evening at the race track.
Beginning on Thursday, April 1, guests can play their favorite games all month long for a chance to win their share of $50,000 in Cash and Free Slot Play prizes! Additionally, the grand prize winner will walk away with $20,000 Cash.
Feeling competitive? During Mohegan Sun Pocono’s $100,000 Maximum Momentum Challenge, guests using their Momentum card while playing their favorite games will compete against other guests within the same tier to see who can earn the most Status Points. The earning period begins on Thursday, April 1 and runs through Monday, May 31. The top 40 Status Point earners from each Status level will receive a share of $100,000 in prizes!