As an avid gaming enthusiast, I’ve enjoyed many visits to casinos in and around Philadelphia. However, even the most dynamic gaming facility can lose its lustre after a while. That’s why I was delighted when Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia opened its doors in February 2021. 

Nestled in the heart of South Philly’s Stadium District and just a stone’s throw from my apartment, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia boasts an exciting atmosphere, an almost endless variety of slots and live table games, and plenty of dining options for every palate.

Want to meet the new casino kid on the block? Here’s an honest review of my time spent at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is a $700-million, top-tier dining, gaming, and entertainment destination that’s home to locally and nationally acclaimed restaurants. Doubling as an upscale hotel, the facility has plenty of parking (2,700 spaces, to be exact!) and is within walking distance to all of Philly’s sports stadiums, including Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, It’s also close to Xfinity Live!, an entertainment and sports retail centre.

A group of friends and I made the short trek from my apartment to Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia on a Saturday evening. Despite the parking garage offering plenty of spots, we decided to Uber. The facility had been open for a couple of years at this point, so we didn’t expect it to be as wild as when the doors first opened.

Though the casino floor was crowded, we didn’t feel overwhelmed or suffocated by the number of guests. The crowd was a good mix of older and younger visitors.

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is a dynamic gaming destination featuring over 2,100 slots, 134 live and electronic table games, a 29-table poker room, and a large FanDuel Sportsbook and Lounge. 

I loved the huge selection of slot machines, which included everything from classic favourites like Lightning Link and Wheel of Fortune to new games such as Whisker Wheels, Shamrock Fortunes, and Huff ‘N Even More Puff. All of the slots I played were clean and functioned without any issues. Players enjoyed a free and frequent flow of beverages too via waitresses, including cocktails, energy drinks, and water. All slots are open 24/7/365.

The casino’s table games are open around the clock, seven days per week as well. My friends and I were excited about the wide variety of games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, poker, Spanish 21, Big Six Wheel, and Pai Gow Tiles. We all tried our hand at blackjack. The dealer was super informative and approachable and made us feel welcome. While I lost a few bucks, it was still an enjoyable experience.

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia’s upscale poker room boasts plush seating, almost 30 tables, and a wide array of games for players of all skill levels, including Omaha and Texas Hold ‘Em.

The large FanDuel Sportsbook is open Monday through Friday from 11am to midnight and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to midnight. Guests can place bets at one of the 30 kiosks or with a sportsbook rep. Kickback, relax, and watch the game from one of the 40 displays or the wall of 24 54-inch LED televisions. Winners can collect their earnings in as little as 24 hours, which is about the same as fast payout online casinos.

Winnings from slots and table games are paid out immediately via the ticket redemption machines or cashier's cage.

If you need accommodation, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia also has you covered. The on-site five-star hotel features more than 200 lux rooms and over 30 suites. The hotel also has free on-site parking and 24/7 concierge services. 

Overnight guests staying in the luxurious Penthouse enjoy sweeping city views, free Wi-Fi, a 65-inch high-def TV, in-room safes, valet parking, a private marble-topped bar, and 24/7 access to the fitness centre. The standard Deluxe King room is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a cozy seating area, a marble bathroom, and upscale linens.

Though smoking is allowed in designated areas, the casino didn’t smell like cigarettes when we first entered. The security guards at the front door were warm and friendly as they checked our IDs and bags. They did this because all guests must be 21+ to enter certain areas of the facility.

We noticed additional security throughout the gaming floor. While they kept a close eye on visitors, the security staff wasn’t intimidating or intruded on anyone’s personal space.

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia has plenty of easy-to-spot ATMs, so it was easy to get cash. However, the ATM fees are outrageous. We were each charged almost $8 to withdraw money.

My friends and I decided to get dinner and drinks before exploring the slots and live table games.  Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia has eight on-site restaurants, bars, and lounges. We decided to grab a table at Luk Fu, which dishes out delicious authentic Asian cuisine. Luckily, we only waited about 10 minutes to get seated. All of us enjoyed the mouthwatering aromas wafting from the open kitchen. We also ordered cocktails and sake. I highly recommend getting the Beijing Bellini, a fruity concoction of vodka, cherry blossom, champagne, and Japanese cucumber. Luk Fu serves sushi every day until midnight.

In the mood for something else? Guests can also enjoy a succulent steak at The Prime Rib, a contemporary fine-dining bar/restaurant. The establishment hosts live entertainment on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and has a vast menu that all meat lovers will enjoy. Keep in mind that the dress code for The Prime Rib is business casual, so don’t show up in ripped jeans and sandals. 

Local Philly favourites are on offer too. You can order a world-famous Geno’s Philly cheesesteak or grab a slice from Lorenzo and Sons Pizza. They’re renowned for how big their slices are!

Guests who want to skip the food and get straight to drinking can visit either Center Bar, open 24/7 and located in the middle of the casino, or R-Bar, situated on the outskirts of the casino floor.

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia has wheelchair-accessible parking, elevator paths, and public bathrooms. 

The best online casinos tend to shine better than bricks and mortar ones when it comes to promotions, but Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia has some of the best giveaways I have seen in the Philly area. 

There are plenty of opportunities to win vacation getaways, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and Gucci designer accessories. Guests can also win up to $5,000 during New Slot Saturdays, up to $15,000 in jackpot drawings, and $20,000 in the casino’s Baccarat Tournament.

The casino’s Live! Rewards Players Club is a fantastic way for loyal players to gain access to exclusive rewards and offers. The program has seven tiers: Classic, Gold, Platinum, Black, Jade, and Chairman. 

Every time guests play, dine, or shop at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, they will earn Tier Credits. The more credits you earn, the higher the tier you advance to. Classic cardholders have earned up to 24,999 Tier Credits, while Chairman cardholders have earned over two million Tier Credits. 

New Live! Rewards members can earn Double Flex Points, Double Comps, and Double Tier Credits as part of the Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia’s Double Down promotion. All Live! Rewards members who have been recognized as community heroes, including veterans and first responders, are eligible to receive $15 in freeplay and a 20% off dining voucher every Wednesday.

Visiting Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia was the perfect way to spend a Saturday evening with my girlfriends. We really enjoyed our delicious dinner at Luk Fu and the friendly, knowledgeable dealer at the blackjack table.

While the casino wasn’t overly crowded, I could still feel the excitement in the air. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t as packed as I thought it would be on a Saturday, but I assume the crowd grew larger the later it got.

The casino was easy to navigate, clean, and had top-notch security. All of the slots I played were well-maintained and simple to use. I enjoyed the complimentary drinks and attentive waitstaff as I played. I must admit, though, that I should have paced myself better!

While we didn’t place bets in the FanDuel Sportsbook, we did check it out. Despite it being a pretty spacious area, we had trouble finding seats, so we didn’t stay that long. We also swung by the poker room and found that was full to the brim, too. Luckily, none of us were too keen on playing poker, so we weren’t too disappointed.

While we had no trouble finding an ATM, none of us appreciated the high withdrawal fee.

⭐ Standout Moment

My entire evening at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia was pretty great. However, the cherry on top was our amazing dinner at Luk Fu. I ordered the Sushi Deluxe, which I highly recommend. The dish includes seven pieces of chef-select nigiri and one tuna roll. It was some of the best Asian cuisine I’ve ever had in Philly, hands down.

Visiting Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia was the perfect way to spend a Saturday evening with my girlfriends. We really enjoyed our delicious dinner at Luk Fu and the friendly, knowledgeable dealer at the blackjack table.

While the casino wasn’t overly crowded, I could still feel the excitement in the air. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t as packed as I thought it would be on a Saturday, but I assume the crowd grew larger the later it got.

The casino was easy to navigate, clean, and had top-notch security. All of the slots I played were well-maintained and simple to use. I enjoyed the complimentary drinks and attentive waitstaff as I played. I must admit, though, that I should have paced myself better!

While we didn’t place bets in the FanDuel Sportsbook, we did check it out. Despite it being a pretty spacious area, we had trouble finding seats, so we didn’t stay that long. We also swung by the poker room and found that was full to the brim, too. Luckily, none of us were too keen on playing poker, so we weren’t too disappointed.

While we had no trouble finding an ATM, none of us appreciated the high withdrawal fee.

⭐ Standout Moment

My entire evening at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia was pretty great. However, the cherry on top was our amazing dinner at Luk Fu. I ordered the Sushi Deluxe, which I highly recommend. The dish includes seven pieces of chef-select nigiri and one tuna roll. It was some of the best Asian cuisine I’ve ever had in Philly, hands down.

Live! Casino Philadelphia has a lot going for it. There is a great selection of games, the location is ideal for sports fans, and the waitress service offering complimentary drinks is exceptional. 

It still has that brand new casinos feel to it as well, which was nice to experience, as well as some excellent promotions. 

All in all, there was far more that I liked about it than I didn't.

🧭 How to get there

How to Get There

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is located at 900 Packer Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Visitors from South Jersey should take the Walt Whitman Bridge. After crossing into Pennsylvania, take the Packer Avenue/7th Street Exit (350) off Interstate 95. Stay on 7^th Street and make a right onto Packer. Turn left onto Darien for Porte Cochere and the parking garage.

Drivers from the northwest suburbs can take Interstate 476 and Interstate 95 North to the Broad Street Exit (17). After merging onto Broad, make a right on Packer Avenue, then a right on 10^th Street for the surface lot.

Folks from the northeast should get off Interstate 95 South at Exit 19 for toward Packer Avenue/Walt Whitman Bridge. Keep right and follow the signs for Interstate 76 East/Packer Ave, then merge onto South Front Street. Make a right onto Packer, then a right onto Darien for Porte Cochere. 

If you’re coming from south of Philly, follow Interstate 95 North to the Broad Street Exit (17). Merge onto Broad Street, right onto Packer Avenue, then right onto 10^th Street for the surface lot.

The nearest subway station is the NRG Station, which is about a two-minute walk from the casino.

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is conveniently located close to everything South Philly has to offer, including the sports stadiums, Xfinity Live!, the Italian Market, and what I like to call Philly’s Cheesesteak Triangle. At the corner of Wharton Street, 9th Street, and Passyunk Avenue, visitors can order Philly’s famous cheesesteaks from either Pat’s or Geno’s.