Complete with dining, entertainment, hotel accommodations, shopping and gambling, casinos are practically indoor amusement parks for adults, ready to provide everything your group could need and all under one roof. Here is a peek at recent developments and upcoming projects in New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Massachusetts
With five casinos in full swing and three coming soon, Massachusetts gives group travelers plenty of options for gaming fun. Scheduled to open September 2018, MGM Springfield will feature gaming, dining, entertainment, a 495-room hotel, residential living and retail facilities. Also under construction, Wynn Everett Casino is targeted to open summer of 2019 on the Boston Harbor. Groups will be able to enjoy close proximity to Logan International Airport, a five-star waterfront hotel, high-end shopping, a harbor walk and an array of dining options. First Light Resort & Casino is projected to make its debut in 2018 in Taunton. It will offer a family water park, entertainment venues, a hotel and a shopping center.
The three brand new casinos will join Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville and racinos (a combination racetrack and casino) Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville, Suffolk Downs in East Boston and Raynham Park in Raynham.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island, the smallest U.S state, of-fers a prime coastal location for group travel in New England. Opening summer 2018 and projected to have 1,000 slot machines, 32 table games and a hotel, Tiverton Casino will be a great destination for your group. Twin River Casino in Lincoln Park provides 162,000 square feet of gaming space with over 5,000 gaming positions. It will open a hotel adjacent to the casino next summer. The casino, located 10 minutes from Providence and less than an hour from Boston, has plenty of activities to satisfy a travel group.
Connecticut
While there are only two resort casinos in Connecticut, they offer more than enough entertainment for any group and are steadily expanding their offerings. Foxwoods Resort Casino is the largest resort casino in North America, offering 4,800 slot machines, 22 table games, a spa, golf course and a five-star hotel. Located close to the Rhode Island border, Foxwoods has everything a guest could want, including the thrill of the outdoors. The resort will cater to adventure-seekers by introducing ecotourism, beginning with the addition of the 33-story, 3,750-foot-long HighFlyer zipline set to open this August. Also in Connecticut is Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, just north of the coast. The casino offers over 5,000 slot machines, more than 300 table games and a realistic race gambling experience. Mohegan Sun’s 10,000-seat entertainment arena brings in shows like Taylor Swift and sports events like NCAA basketball. Booking a stay will expose your group to Connecticut’s finest hotel accommodations, Add golf, a spa, dining and shopping, and Mohegan Sun makes a perfect one-stop group vacation.
New York
New York offers a few new and upcoming casinos ready to supply a great vacation for your group. In Bridgeport, 22 minutes outside of Syracuse, New York Oneida Nation is building its third casino, Point Place, which is scheduled to open in spring of 2018. The$40-million project is expected to have around 500 slot machines and 20 table games. About an hour away from Point Place, right outside of Albany, is Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady. The casino opened in February and recently completed its 165-room boutique hotel, The Landing.
New Jersey
New Jersey is home to Atlantic City, the East’s most famous casino destination. Attracting thousands of visitors a week, Atlantic City has many new options for groups to check out. The Trump Taj Mahal, closed in 2016, is set to be renovated and reopened as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Featuring a rock and roll theme, the Hard Rock is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend of 2018. TEN Casino is set to open in place of the Revel Casino in early 2018. Each new casino is transforming the former casinos with state-of-the-art facilities. Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, another great choice for groups.
Pennsylvania
As demand for gambling has increased, numerous renovations and additions have expanded Pennsylvania casinos. Arguably the state’s most successful casino, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem plans a $90-million expansion that will include more restaurants, a new poker room and a larger casino floor. Parx Casino in Bensalem recently announced a 45,000-square-foot expansion complete with two new restaurants and a 1,500-seat showroom featuring entertainment advertised as similar to that of Atlantic City. Harrah’s Casino in Chester has enhanced its appeal by adding a Food Network star restaurant, Guy Fieri’s Kitchen & Bar. SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia recently opened Fishtown Hops, a beer garden located on the river walk. The waterfront experience is complete with food, craft beer, cocktails and live entertainment.
