Presque Isle Downs Casino Age Limit
When the online gambling expansion law first passed in Pennsylvania, no one thought Presque Isle Downs would be much of a contender. The racino in Erie, PA is only 10 years old. It is also one of the smaller casinos in Pennsylvania. The property features over 1,500slot machines and around 40table games.
- Presque Isle Downs Casino Age Limit Chart
- Presque Isle Downs Casino Age Limit Table
- Presque Isle Downs Casino Age Limit 2019
- Presque Isle Downs Casino Age Limits
That all changed in March of 2018 though. That was when Kentucky company Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) announced the purchase of Presque Isle Downs in a deal for two casinos in exchange for $229.5 million.
When speaking about the acquisition Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen was abundantly clear about why the company was moving into the Keystone State:
Arlington International BetAmerica Calder Casino Churchill Downs Racetrack Derby City Gaming Harlow's Casino Resort and Spa Lady Luck Nemacolin Miami Valley Gaming Newport Racing & Gaming Oak Grove Racing and Gaming Hotel Ocean Downs Casino Oxford Casino Hotel Presque Isle Downs and Casino Riverwalk Casino Hotel Turfway Park Twinspires.com. Minimum Age: 21 Poker Tables. We currently don't know about any cash games at Presque Isle Downs. I recently was playing 1-2 no limit and a gentleman would. Presque Isle Downs, Inc. Owns and operates casino. The Company offers live entertainment, dining, live thoroughbred horse racing, poker rooms, and hotels.
I visited Presque Isle Downs & Casino on 12/29/10. What follows is my review: PI is located off of I-90 just outside of Erie, PA. It is convenient to get to off the interstate, and the traffic flow is good. PI is a racetrack racino but the horses weren't running that day. I think they run in the winter, though; it is an artificial track. Presque Isle Downs & Casino is a horse track establishment located just outside the lovely city of Erie. Your favorite games are featured on high-tech slot machines that always ensure you hot gaming actions. 800 of the 1,500 slot machines available in the muted gaming floor are penny games.
“We are excited about welcoming both of these properties to the Churchill family. Presque Isle will give us a foothold in Pennsylvania which has recently passed legislation authorizing real money online gaming.”
CDI is a huge gambling company with a successful wagering program in TwinSpires.
Eldorado Resorts was the counter-party to the deal. Eldorado also owns the Lady Luck Casino in Nemacolin.
The deal was re-jigged to include CDI taking managerial control of Lady Luck, and finally closed on December 11.
CDI now has stakes in two casinos in Pennsylvania, and big ambitions to expand elsewhere in the US. It will soon launch online sports betting and casino in New Jersey in partnership with the Golden Nugget.
Sports betting is the spur to that expansion. CDI has moved quickly to apply for a Pennsylvania license for Presque Isle.
At a cost of $10 million, CDI applied to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for a sports betting license on December 7. The license will allow both online and live casino sports betting.
Presque Isle has also applied for interactive licenses that will allow online casino games and slots. It will not be offering online poker.
CDI’s technology partner for sports betting and online operations is SBTech. The two signed a deal in the same week that the SupremeCourt overturned PASPA, so no surprise that Presque Isle is entering the sports betting market.
Presque Isle Downs online casino platform
At the beginning of November, CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen told investors that the company would launch online in New Jersey :
“We are in the process of obtaining our company and key employee gaming licenses. In addition, our gaming technology partner, SBTech, is in the process of getting their platform licensed. We believe we will be operational in the fourth quarter with the suite of online casino and sports betting products.”
The New Jersey launch will come before the Pennsylvania launch which is not expected until Q1, or possibly Q2 of 2019. The Jersey version of the online platform will give an early look at what Presque Isle will offer in Pennsylvania.
The decision not to offer online poker is a major change in strategy for CDI.
In 2011, CDI purchased BLUFF Media, a poker-centered magazine and website. The plan at the time was to leverage the BLUFF name should the online poker market open up. Since then, the company shuttered all but a bare-bones version of the site though.
The company also invested in the social games space by acquiring Big Fish Games. The company sold off Big Fish for $1 billion last December.
CDI has been around the houses in its plans, but finally it is clear that Pennsylvania customers will get live and online sports betting, online casino and slots games.
Browser and mobile-based play
In the regulated New Jersey online casino market, most every online casino offers both a browser-based version of its online casino and a mobile app.
On both versions, there are certain identification measure to ensure the player is over the age of 21. Additionally, there is geolocation technology which verifies players are within the state. These players do not have to be residents though, all they need to be is physically located within the state.
The same standards will apply in PA and for the Presque Isle Downs online casino.
Games at Presque Isle Downs online casino
SBTech offers 1,500+ Casino, Live Casino & Virtual Sports games. Partners include NetEnt, Microgaming, Kiron & other leading providers.
Presque Isle will choose from this selection what games it thinks will work best in the Pennsylvania market.
Whether or not live dealer casino games are offered is still up in the air. There may be regulatory issues that prevent or at least delay the launch of live dealer options.
Presque Isle Downs online video poker
Most online casinos offer at least a couple of versions of video poker. How many varieties a site like Presque Isle Downs’ offers depends on what it chooses from the SBTech options.
Blackjack at Presque Isle Downs online casino
Given its status as the most-popular table game, Presque Isle Downs will almost certainly offer Blackjack. Moreover, online table games are taxed at a substantially lower rate than slots, so CDI will certainly try to generate as much table game revenue as it can.
Presque Isle Downs may not offer quite the bells and whistles a player may find in New Jersey though. Side bets and other elements of Blackjack, like insurance, vary based on state regulations.
In brick-and-mortar casinos in Pennsylvania, the Blackjack rules favor the casino much more than they favor the player, so expect a tighter game online.
Presque Isle Downs online casino slots
The taxes are high on online slot games in Pennsylvania, 54 percent to be exact. With such a high tax rate, slots may not play as big a role in gaming revenue as in New Jersey.
Slots players in land-based Pennsylvania casinos can also tell you that PA slots are some the tightest in terms of return to player (RTP) in the country.
Presque Isle Downs online casino rewards program
Presque Isle Downs Casino has a customer loyalty program for customers called One Club. With an online casino, it is likely the casino will incorporate One Club into the interface, linking the live and online casino rewards systems.
Given its relationship with CDI now, there could also be integration with other racetrack properties, though CDI does not have any sort of player rewards system as of now.
Banking options at Presque Isle Downs online casino
Deposit options
A Presque Isle Downs online gambling site should be ready to accept:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Prepaid Cards
- Neteller
- Electronic checks
- Bank wire
- Check
- PayPal
- Cash at the Presque Isle Downs cage
Withdrawal options
Players should be able to receive payouts from Presque Isle Downs online casino the same way they make deposits. The most likely withdrawal options are electronic checks, wire transfers, traditional checks, Neteller, PayPal, and cash payouts at the casino cage.
Presque Isle Downs online casino customer service
When it comes to customer support, the ideal for Presque Isle Downs would be to offer all three channels for players to reach out 24/7. At the very minimum, expect prompt email support.
- Toll-free phone number
- Livechat
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PI is located off of I-90 just outside of Erie, PA. It is convenient to get to off the interstate, and the traffic flow is good. PI is a racetrack racino but the horses weren't running that day. I think they run in the winter, though; it is an artificial track. There is very little space given over to horse bettors and they have expanded the casino to take over most of the grandstand. Parking is plentiful. I parked in an overflow lot across a small bridge from the casino, and walked over, but they also have a shuttle that circulates the lot picking people up.
PI has added table games in the last year. There are two pit areas: one in the main casino 'barn' and another in the back area where the grandstand used to be. They were testing out the back area pit while I was there. They had people with badges and fake chips placing fake bets on the roulette wheel to train the dealers. The operating pit had the following games: Blackjack ($10-$100 minimums), Roulette ($10 minimums), Let it Ride ($10 minimum), Three Card Poker ($10 minimum, 6/3 paytable on the PP), Texas Hold 'Em Bonus (closed), Mini-baccarat ($25 minimum, on a big table but no handling of the cards, dealer deals the 'wrong' way of exposing one card for the player and one card for the banker alternately, instead of tucking the banker hand under the shoe) and Craps ($5-$10 minimums). The rest of the casino is given over to slots. The best video poker games are 9/5 Jacks and 15/9/4/4 Deuces Wild, both at the dollar level, for 98.4% and 98.9% returns, respectively. All the lower denomination paytables are significantly worse. Blackjack rules are six decks, LS, S17, no RSA for a house edge of around .34%
My own play: I first stopped at the players club to get a card. I then played blackjack at $25 a hand for a few hours, losing $50. The dealers seems friendly, upbeat, and competent. I fear they may still be in their 'honeymoon' phase, but these dealers beat the pants off anything I've seen in Vegas or AC. I found I was the only one invoking the surrender rule, and a lot of people asked me about it while I was doing it. They didn't even know it existed. The only snag was the first time I surrendered I made the wrong signal, and the dealer gave me a hit card. The pit boss was very understanding, however, and let me surrender anyway. Yuengling Light was available for a reasonable price of $2 for a 12-oz. draft, and I will say I indulged, because I love Yuengling beer. Drink service was friendly and fast, and you could use your comp dollars for drinks. There was no mid-shoe entry for some (but not all) of the blackjack games, which is a confounding rule, and just seemed to irritate most of the players.
After blackjack, I wandered over to the craps table, which was $5, and played for a while, breaking even. They put up a sign saying the table minimums would increase to $10 at such-and-such a time, so I cashed out then, and went to play video poker. I played $1 9/5 Jacks, and 15/9 Deuces for about 20 minutes. I hate playing inferior paytables, so I cashed out after hitting a 4-o-a-k on the JOB and a wild royal on the Deuces. I finished up $380. Sorry, I didn't keep track of how many points I earned or the cashback rate. I don't think I earned very much, however.
I then dicked around with some of the slot machines that I found interesting, like Slotsky and Miss Kitty. Slotsky took a ton of my money (damn Russian duck), but Miss Kitty was generous and granted me a $60 payout. I think I lost about $30 on slots.
I still wanted to gamble, so I played blackjack for a few more hours (got down to my last quarter but made it back to even plus a little more on BJ total), and then wandered over the craps table which I was shocked to see had reverted back down to $5 minimums. I almost never see pit bosses lower minimums midstream. I rolled the bones for another few hours, and people got on some really hot rolls. The dealers were also very attentive and by and large good. Looks like the training process that AZDuffman described really worked. I finished playing craps up about $220.
I then went to the promotions booth to see if I had earned any comps. The boothling said 'You have $1.76 in comps' I just had to let out an audible laugh. Talk about chintzy. I didn't even bother spending my meager amount. I left and stopped at McDonald's on the way home :)
I don't think I'll be returning to Presque Isle, even though I had a winning trip. The atmosphere is decent and the service is good enough, however, if you just want to scratch the gambling itch. The comps are horrible, but the drinks are cheap, and good. I think I've seen the future of locals' casinos. Verdict?: Not bad, but not great either.
Wish I could get Maine out of my mind every time I hear Presque isle.
>Mini-baccarat (dealer deals the 'wrong' way of exposing one card for the player and one card for the banker alternately)
Does this make a difference? Did you tell them they were wrong?
> but these dealers beat the pants off anything I've seen in Vegas or AC.
Wow. That is a real good beginning for the casino.
>Drink service was friendly and fast, and you could use your comp dollars for drinks.
That too is good. Two dollars but fast and friendly. Probably beats a tiny plastic cup every now and never.
>There was no mid-shoe entry for some (but not all) of the blackjack games, which is a confounding rule,
Signage problem perhaps? I don't see why they simply can't just adopt one rule and follow it. Do they like answering the same question over and over all night long?
>hey put up a sign saying the table minimums would increase to $10 at such-and-such a time,
Nice that they gave warning.
> so I cashed out then, and went to play video poker.
They may have noticed that and changed their minds.
>The dealers were also very attentive and by and large good.
>Looks like the training process that AZDuffman described really worked.
Somehow, I assumed that all took place in Arizona.
>I finished playing craps up about $220.
Congratulations.
>The boothling said 'You have $1.76 in comps'
I sure hope she didn't mean '$176.00'. Particularly in a newly opened casino that is still working some of the kinks out, I would have waited around quite a bit for your rated play to get into their computer system properly. Do they have an online way for you to check your account balance?
>I don't think I'll be returning to Presque Isle, even though I had a winning trip.
>I think I've seen the future of locals' casinos. Verdict?: Not bad, but not great either.
Well, at least you didn't have to fly for hours to get there and go through security screenings and pat downs.
The VP rates were not to your liking but you did win money.
It is possible that as air travel gets more frustrating that locals casinos will seek to improve their quality rather than just focus on being sheep shearers with an attitude.
I then went to the promotions booth to see if I had earned any comps. The boothling said 'You have $1.76 in comps' I just had to let out an audible laugh. Talk about chintzy.
Check again tomorrow.Comps from table games may be slow getting entered.
Presque Isle Downs Casino Age Limit Chart
More things:
1. They were marketing heavily to the Asian market. They had big banners in the buffet saying 'Our team is here for you' in Chinese, and another one that said, 'Where there are horses there is success.' I guess that is a Chinese proverb, since it was spelled out in very few Chinese characters. There were a few Asians in the casino, but not a lot.
2. There were three walk-up bars and it was easy to order your own drinks. They did not have any self-serve soda or coffee machines.
Presque Isle Downs Casino Age Limit Table
3. There was no poker room.Like I said, won't be going back. What the heck, I made money off of them; they can have their comp dollars.
More things:
1. They were marketing heavily to the Asian market. They had big banners in the buffet saying 'Our team is here for you' in Chinese, and another one that said, 'Where there are horses there is success.' I guess that is a Chinese proverb, since it was spelled out in very few Chinese characters. There were a few Asians in the casino, but not a lot.
2. There were three walk-up bars and it was easy to order your own drinks. They did not have any self-serve soda or coffee machines.
3. There was no poker room.
Presque Isle Downs Casino Age Limit 2019
Thanks for the review teddys. Is there a large pool of Chinese players in Erie? Where are they expecting these players to come from? Buffalo? Cleveland?