Presque Isle Downs & Casino

Presque Isle Downs & Casino is a racino situated in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most modest racinos in the state. Although there are no other similar sites available in Erie, Presque Isle Casino faces serious competition from nearby Ohio venues. Generally, the property is just 90 minutes west of Buffalo, 90 minutes east of Cleveland, and two hours north of Pittsburgh.

With no more than 1,600 slots, just 42 table games, and a small poker room, Presque Isle Downs Casino can hardly be compared to some of the big guns of the Pennsylvanian casinos. Nonetheless, the place still provides a decent environment for gambling and entertainment. While no hotel can be found on the site itself, there are several high-end places where people can spend the night within a half-mile. The proximity of the Station Dinner Theater, the Millcreek Mall, the Erie Zoo, the Presque Isle State Park, and two water parks (Waldameer Park and Water World, and Splash Lounge) add to the attractiveness of the whole place.

We have gone through some of the property’s main characteristics to see where it stands when compared to the niche-leaders. We have done research on the racino’s gaming library and the array of other gambling options. The main goal was providing answers to the most frequently asked questions, such as follows:

– What type of racing and casino games does Presque Isle Downs Casino offer?

– Is sports betting available at Presque Isle Casino?

– Does Presque Isle Downs Casino offer online slots, table games, poker, and sportsbook?

We usually know racinos as places where casinos are added to the already-established racetrack at some point. This was just the case with five of six Pennsylvanian racinos. Presque Isle Downs Casino was the exception. At first, it was a casino that welcomed its maiden visitors in late-February 2007. The place was built by the MTR Gaming Group. Thoroughbred racing was available only as of early-September that same year when it took the place of the nearby racetrack named Erie Downs.

Initially, the casino only offered slots. Table games were added in 2010, following the authorization on both country and state levels. The current owners, Churchill Downs, Inc., purchased the property in March 2018. In February next year, the Presque Isle Downs Casino was granted a sports betting license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The racino made a partnership with BetAmerica whose sportsbook welcomed its maiden customers in mid-August 2019. The partners went online in December 2019 when BetAmerica’s site was launched.

The Supreme Court repealed PASPA thus allowing the states to legalize sports betting across the country. Pennsylvania quickly embraced the new law and the local casinos/racinos took advantage of the situation. Presque Isle Casino was not an exception as it opened a small sportsbook right on the casino floor in the third quarter of 2019. BetAmerica has 50 wagering kiosks, 25 situated inside a dedicated Sportsbook area, and the other 25 located all over the casino (near bars and entrances). There are also a dozen of HD TV’s showing several games at a time.

The visitors can choose between high-top tables, bar, and lounge seating. When it comes to the betting offer, the most popular US sports dominate the field. You’ll find the widest range of options for NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. MLS is also constantly growing in popularity, while college sports (football and basketball in particular) are among the favorite betting options at the place. Those who follow international soccer and the most exciting competitions overseas can enjoy a strong range of markets for the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1, Spanish La Liga, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores.

Despite a somewhat scarcer gaming portfolio, at least when compared to the state counterparts, Presque Isle Casino still offers a solid blend of games, especially in the slots department. They house around 1,600 slot machines and no less than 42 table games.

Casino Slots

The experienced slot aficionados will easily recognize most of the slot machines available at Presque Isle Casino. The place has most of the well-known classics. On the other side, those who are looking for refreshment can find newer slots here and there.

Speaking of this particular section, we can’t but mention a vast number of progressive slots. These attract the beginners and recreational players who are constantly seeking for an opportunity to catch massive jackpots with minimal investments. Some of the most popular machines of this specific kind are:

• $1 Double Dollar Progressives
• Two Cent Hot Slots Progressives
• One Cent Quick Hits Progressives

It’s not everything about the low-cost machines, though. Denominations can go to as much as $100. The highrollers can enjoy these slots in a separate high-limit room, away from the crowded area. It is hard to underline only a handful of titles to be found at Presque Isle Downs Casino, but here are the most exciting ones in our eyes:

• King of Africa
• Double Diamond
• Jade Elephant
• Double Dolphin
• Sun and Moon
• Tiki Torch

Table Games

The variety of your favorite live dealer games will by no means leave you speechless, but nobody can deny the fact you will find the most popular titles at any time of the day at Presque Isle Casino. Unique side bets and progressive jackpots help the casino stand out despite the modest volume (only 42 tables). Additionally, the players have an opportunity to test their luck on the FUSION Stadium-Style games, including Blackjack, Roulette, and Casino War.

The full list of live-dealer options at Presque Isle Downs Casino involves:

• Blackjack
• Craps
• High-Card Flush
• Let It Ride
• Mississippi Stud
• Pai Gow
• Poker
• Roulette
• Three-Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

Although the casino’s poker room is relatively small, it offers a lot of activity on Hold’em and Omaha tables. Every 90 minutes $50 is randomly added to a chosen table at cash games.

Presque Isle Downs Players Club is the official name of the casino’s loyalty scheme. You can apply for membership completely free and then use the card to accumulate points you can later redeem for different types of rewards. Any play counts towards the promotion, from slots and table games to sports betting and horse racing.

The players can climb up four levels, each of which brings in more rewarding prizes and benefits. These involve:

Level One: Reward dollars and offers through mails

Level Two: Free valet service, free racing form, bonus entries in chosen drawings

Level Three: Self redemption at the kiosk, casino host

Level Four: Self-redemption at the kiosk, casino host