The Pocono Mountains are two hours from the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. However, the peace and serenity provided by the forested peaks seem like a whole world away.

Mount Airy Casino Resort is nestled among the Pocono’s trees and lakes and is the state’s first AAA Four Diamond Casino Resort. My family owns a house in the area, and when I turned 21, my friends and I would enjoy drinks and dinner, play the slots, and stay overnight at this lakefront resort.

With 284 lavish rooms, 62,000 square feet of gaming space, a full-service spa, numerous dining options, and easy access to picturesque hiking trails, Mount Airy Casino Resort has something for everyone. But as with any other establishment, Mount Airy does have its drawbacks.

Want to learn if Mount Airy Casino Resort is a good place for you to visit? Keep reading to get the inside scoop on this boutique mountain resort.

Just two hours from Philadelphia and New York City, Mount Airy Casino Resort is at 312 Woodland Road in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. Since it’s a short distance from Interstates 81 and 80, the place is pretty easy to get to. With ample parking, Tesla charging stations, and 24/7 valet services, guests should have no trouble finding a spot for their car.

Though it has a warm and inviting ambiance, Mount Airy Casino Resort is enormous. The 62,000-square-foot casino features 70 table games, nearly 1,700 slots, a 7,000-square-foot sportsbook, and a 12-table poker room. 

Mount Airy Casino Resort has a large high quality hotel and many dining options, from casual eateries to upscale restaurants. Grab some delicious comfort food at Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen, or indulge your taste buds with Bistecca by IL Mulino’s hand-crafted pasta and steak.  

After you feast, enjoy live entertainment at Mount Airy Casino Resort’s event centre. The resort regularly hosts comedy legends, rock royalty, and other headlining acts. 

Want to pamper yourself? You can do that as well. Book a massage or facial at Mount Airy Casino Resort’s 16,000-square-foot full-service spa. Guests can also sip cocktails and unwind on the daybeds beside the 51,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor pool. For the health conscious among us, the resort has a 24-hour fitness centre.

Perhaps the real USP for Mount Airy Casino Resort is its closeness to nature. There are multiple scenic on-site hiking trails and golf-lovers have a 18-hold course to enjoy. You certainly don't get that even at the best online casinos. 

Be aware though that it’s an adults-only resort, so all guests must be 21 or over. That will sound like heaven for some yet be a deal-breaker for those wanting to combine a family vacation with a gambling trip. No dropping off the kids at the pool then heading for the casino here!

Mount Airy Casino Resort has 62,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,700 slots, a poker room, and a 7,000-square-foot sportsbook. However, the casino doesn’t offer free Wi-Fi and guests must be 21 to enter.

The casino has a huge variety of slot games, including ones with lower denominations. Some of the popular games I spotted are Buffalo, 88 Fortunes, Monopoly Money, and Emerald City. Cocktail waitresses are always on hand with free drinks for players, and there are smoke-free slot rooms on the upper floor for those who prefer cleaner air.

I counted more than 70 table games in the casino that offer both minimum and maximum betting on Blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and more. You can also try your luck at one of Mount Airy’s progressive poker jackpots, including Spanish 21, Let it Ride, or Pai Gow.

Poker players who want a more intimate setting can visit the casino’s 12-table poker room on the main floor. Here, you can play Omaha, Stud, or Texas Hold’em.

Mount Airy also accommodates those who prefer online casinos. If that’s you, log onto PlayMountAiry.com to play virtual Blackjack, bingo, keno, or roulette. 

Mount Airy Casino Resort’s sportsbook is wonderful and features a state-of-the-art video wall with high-def televisions that broadcast multiple games simultaneously. The sportsbook is roomy and comfortable, with ample seating. Tellers are available when the sportsbook is open, which is from 2pm to 10pm on weekdays, 10am to midnight on Saturdays, and 10am to 10pm on Sundays. 

You can still cash out outside of these times, and at a speed that puts even online casinos that payout fast to shame, but you have to do it at the main gate. The casino has eight sports-betting kiosks open 24/7, including six in the sportsbook and two on the gaming floor.

Meanwhile, guests can visit one of the kiosks located around the perimeter of the casino floor for check cashing, credit services, and cash advancements. These were easy to find, although I didn’t need to use them personally. 

The on-site hotel has 284 rooms and suites, each designed to reflect the natural beauty of the Pocono Mountains. The king and double queen rooms boast spacious bathrooms and flat-screen 55-inch LCD televisions. Standard amenities also include a safe, so you don’t have to worry about where to keep those all important gambling winnings.

Guests who book one of Mount Airy’s sprawling king suites will enjoy porcelain showers and tubs, a granite countertop wet bar, two flat-screen 55-inch LCD TVs, and a large living room. However, the rooms don’t have refrigerators or microwaves.

Staff: While most of Mount Airy Casino Resort’s staff were friendly and helpful, I noticed the service was inconsistent. 

During my stay, the front desk clerks and cleaning staff always greeted me with smiles. The table dealers knew their stuff and made me feel like a VIP, even though I wasn’t among their highest rollers. I loved the complimentary drinks while playing slots, although tipping is obviously expected.

However, getting a hold of the people at the spa was hard. It was also difficult to order a drink quickly because the casino was so busy, and the bar looked like it was understaffed. I had the same issues at the poolside bar. 

Mount Airy Casino Resort’s casino is clean and well-kept. However, smoking is permitted. Being a non-smoker, I was turned off by the cigarette smoke and loud music.

Food: I loved Mount Airy Casino Resort's many restaurants. Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen is the perfect place for guests who want a casual setting. The restaurant is open 24/7 and has full breakfast and dinner menus. Want a late-night snack? I recommend getting the Trash Can Nachos. They don’t actually come from the trash can, I was reliably informed.  

There is a buffet at Mount Airy and it is a great place to go for a self-service option. Load up on house-made soups, fried chicken, fresh salads, spare ribs, and more. It was all good. Bistecca by IL Mulino and Lucky 8 Noodle + Sushi Bar are up-scale eateries. Both are perfect for romantic dinners.

Entertainment: The resort has two main bars: The Glass Bar and Pia’s Lounge. The Glass Bar hosts entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm to midnight. There is also a bar by the pool.

At Mount Airy Casino Resort’s large full-service spa and salon, you can treat yourself to a full-body massage, pedicure, or facial. A 20% gratuity is automatically added to your bill, so keep that in mind.

I have to say, though, that the pool was one of my favourite aspects of the resort. During the summer, you can swim through the underwater passageway between the adjoining indoor and outdoor pools. The pool is heated in the winter for year-round swimming. The lounge, daybeds, and cabanas are great places to chill out with friends with sharable snacks such as fruit bowls, chicken wings, or chips and dips. The poolside bar offers beer, cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. It’s just all good. 

Are you a golf fanatic, or at least traveling with one? Mount Airy Casino Resort is home to “The Best 18 Golf Holes in America.” Well, at least it is according to Sports Illustrated. Just remember to skip the denim and wear proper golf attire and footwear, including a collared shirt.

Accessibility: Mount Airy Casino Resort strives to accommodate all guests. They offer rentable electric scooters and an ADA-compliant swimming pool lift. The rooms have grab bars near the toilet and lowered sinks for guests in wheelchairs. However, the showers don’t have safety bars.

Grey Eagle Casino Resort is a fully accessible property, so no one should feel excluded. The casino itself is large with ample room to manoeuvre.

Meanwhile, service animals and carers are welcomed too. 

Mount Airy Casino Resort offers a rewards program for loyal guests. 

Player’s Club card carriers can earn tier points and exclusive benefits each time they use their cards at the slot machines or tables. The program has four tiers: Select, Plus, Elite, and Ultra. Ultra card members can earn free hotel rooms, spa treatments, and dining privileges. This tier is by invitation only. 

There are also chances to win Carnival Cruises, and who wouldn’t want one of those? New members can receive up to $100 in free slot plays upon enrolment, which is reason enough to join. You must swipe your card at one of the promotional kiosks by midnight on the same day you register to receive the free slot plays.

Should you join up? Well, chance of freeplay aside, it’s probably only worth it if you plan on becoming a regular visitor. If you’re not, you’re unlikely to get enormous value from the program.

Player’s Club aside, the casino offers numerous promotions, prizes, and giveaways. Eligible guests have the chance to win new cars, $1 million, and more.

I found the atmosphere at Mount Airy Casino Resort both inviting and exciting. The rooms, suites, and spa are great for guests looking for a relaxing ambiance. I really appreciated the rooms, which are outfitted with colour schemes and décor that are reminiscent of the Poconos.

The name kind of tells you everything with Mount Airy. It has a bit of a country club or mountain getaway feel to the place. Its location certainly keeps any rowdies on a spontaneous weekend visit away. 

That has obvious implications for the atmosphere, some good and some bad. It had the same natural base ambience all casinos enjoy, but it didn’t really get much livelier than that. The resort itself can be described as sleepy, but in a very positive sense. It’s a place to relax, and it delivers on that in a very good way. 

A natural upside of that is the whole place feeling very safe and secure, which is essential in casinos. Security staff were visible but not an oppressive presence at all, which is always the right balance to strike. 

Overall, I’d definitely describe my experience as a positive one. It's a different experience to those offered by the biggest and best new casinos and mega-resorts, but in the end that is the think to love most about it. 

Overall, I think Mount Airy Casino Resort is a wonderful getaway for friends and couples. It has something for everyone, including dining, gaming, live entertainment, golf, and spa services. 

It probably just about marries the excitement of a large casino with the serenity of a mountain retreat where you can relax all day and gamble all night. 

The food options are excellent, as are the pool and spa, but I did feel a little let down by the service at times. The staff themselves weren’t rude or anything, in fact they were very good, but it felt like there were maybe not enough of them to provide the level of service the place deserves. Maybe I just caught it on a bad day, though, who knows?

But, ultimately, Mount Airy does what it sets out to do and it’s a great getaway spot.