The Tri-State area has some of the best casinos in the country outside of Las Vegas. Luckily, I’ve lived here all my life. This gives me easy access to gambling hotspots in Philly, Atlantic City, and the surrounding suburbs, including Parx Casino.

A stone’s throw away from Center City Philadelphia, this mammoth 260k square-foot gaming destination offers slot machines, live tables, poker, and a racetrack. Parx also has numerous bars, restaurants, and live entertainment venues. 

Want to get an insider’s opinion on Parx? And discover what it offers that even the best online casinos can't? Keep reading and I’ll give you my honest opinion as a visitor and Philly local.   

About 20 minutes north of Philadelphia, Parx Casino is located at 2999 Street Road in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It’s easy to get to, even if it’s your first time visiting the area. Just look for the big, upside-down horse head. If you take 1-95 North from the city to Street Road, the casino will be on your right. There’s plenty of parking, and Parx is wheelchair accessible.

Parx Casino is expansive to say the least. It features 188 live tables, over 3,320 slot machines, and a 48-table poker room. Parx East hosts live Thoroughbred horseraces every Saturday through Tuesday, starting at 12:25pm.

From casual cuisine to gourmet meals, you can enjoy a variety of unique dining experiences. Looking for after-hours refreshments? Foodies offers grab-and-go eats 24/7. Visit the 24-hour Parx Casino Sportsbook sports bar to order drinks around the clock.

In addition to its many games and restaurants, Parx also has multiple entertainment venues. Xcite Center, Parx’s largest entertainment space, accommodates 1,500 guests. Dance the night away at 360 nightclub. With plush seats, Xlounge is the perfect spot to relax and sip cocktails with friends. 

Parx doesn’t have an attached hotel. Perhaps a sign of its age, as any brand new casinos of this size almost certainly would. However, many accommodations are within driving distance, including Quality Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites. 

Staff: Parx Casino’s staff is a mixed bag. While some dealers are knowledgeable and friendly, others can be standoffish. During most of my visits, the bartenders and servers treated me like I was the only person in the room. They also knew the menus inside out and offered personal recommendations when I couldn’t decide what to order. 

Food and drink: The casino has multiple dining options, including fast-casual and upscale restaurants.

Reserve a table at Parxgrille, an award-winning signature steakhouse, for seasonal fare and chef-inspired dishes. Liberty Bell Gastropub offers a farm-to-fork menu, including grass-fed Pennsylvania beef.

The Liberty Bell Beer Garden is great to visit any time of the year. I love cozying up to the firepit on the all-season patio on chilly nights.

Want to eat like the locals? Stop by Chickie’s and Pete’s for their famous Crabfries. This laid-back restaurant and bar also has wings, salads, soups, and cheesesteaks.

Open 24 hours, Foodies is a quick-serve restaurant that’s ideal if you’re more of an on-the-go type. Order pizza, pretzels, waffles, or wraps any time of day or night.

Parx has three entertainment venues, including:

• Xcite Center: This custom-designed venue features state-of-the-art lighting, advanced engineered acoustics, and two 16-foot by nine-foot video screens. While the seats are comfortable, they don’t have cupholders. You must also buy drinks at the casino bar and bring them inside.  
• 360: This nightclub provides a more intimate setting to see live music. Unwind in the lounge area during breaks between table games.
• Xlounge: This is by far the most relaxing space in the entire casino. Chill out with a cocktail or craft beer before or after a show.

There are nine ATMs located throughout the casino: two in the front and back, two near the gift shop, and three near Chickie’s and Pete’s on the right side of the main building. Parx has one cashier, where you can trade your chips for cash in an instant - a real upside of playing at a land based venue, as even fast payout online casinos will usually have you wait while your winnings clear.

Parx casino is a non-smoking facility. Smoking is only allowed at one designated outdoor patio area.

Slots: Parx Casino has 150k square feet of gaming space and more than 3,320 slot machines, including Reel, Novelty, Progressive, and Video Machines. If you’re looking to win big, try your luck at the many jackpot slots.

If you’re playing late into the night, just be aware that there aren’t many servers circulating the casino slots with free beverages.

Table Games: There are 187 live tables where visitors can play poker, baccarat, craps, and 60+ blackjack and roulette games. The craps tables have a $15 minimum and Blackjack has a $25 minimum to play. Choose from a wide array of table gaming experiences, including e-tables and hybrid tables. 

Some of the casino’s most popular table games are Three and Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Mississippi Stud. Let It Ride offers progressive bonus wages with a $50,000 minimum for players with a Royal Flush. When placing progressive bets, you’ll also have an opportunity to win random bonuses.

Poker: In the mood for some poker? Check out the 24-hour Parx Poker Room, located inside the main casino. This area has 48 tables and a three-table VIP high-limit poker enclave.

Online Gaming: While in-person games are pretty good, online players can have subpar experiences, especially with virtual three-card poker. There are much better options for online players, particularly those looking for the best payout online casinos.

Sports: Parx now offers online sports betting, including props, teasers, parlays, spreads, and moneyline. Players can also bet on pro and college football and basketball games, as well as MMA, hockey, soccer, and golf.                                                                                                                               

VIP: Xclusive is Parx’s VIP gaming area and offers $1 to $100 denomination slots and a private cashier.

Horseracing: The crown jewel of Parx Casino is its on-site horseracing track, located at Parx East. Smarty Jones, winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, started his racing career here.

Races happen daily, Saturday through Tuesday. Players can use the casino’s free Phonebet app to watch videos and race replays, view past and current results, and place self-service wagers. 

Parx Casino Welcome Bonus is available exclusively to new members and offers a no deposit bonus worth $20 for registering. There are 20x wagering requirements for bonus cash. Slots count 100% toward clearing turnovers, while table games have lower rates. After depositing money, you’ll receive a 100% boost, maxing out at $750. This also triggers a bonus of 500 free spins, with 100 spins released weekly over five weeks.

Most of the on-running and long-term bonuses are for sportsbooks. This was a letdown for me because I love playing games in the casino.

 Xclub VIP Program

Xclub is the casino’s VIP Program. You’ll need to obtain a VIP membership card in person to receive physical perks and prizes. The program has four tiers, including Players, Premium, Elite, and Elite Royal.  Players will progress to higher tiers after earning enough qualifying points within six months. VIPs can connect the betParx app to their Xclub account to receive casino comps whenever they wager online.

Parx racing guests can enroll in the casino’s Player Rewards program by visiting a guest service center. Phonebet users can call Player Services at 1-888-346-7737 to request an application. However, new members only get $10 worth of free slots. 

Overall, Parx Casino has a lively and exciting atmosphere. With numerous games, entertainment venues, and restaurants, there’s quite literally always something to do here. But if you’re looking for that quieter ambiance, I’d strongly recommend a visit the Xlounge, where things seem to go at a slower pace.

Being such a large facility, Parx is surprisingly well-maintained. However, I found that the slots and bar areas get pretty messy during the weekends. And while the security staff made me feel safe, visitors can get loud and boisterous on Friday and Saturday nights. I’d say it’s to be expected.

Despite the wild weekend crowds, Parx is one of my favorite places to go to eat. I love visiting Bambu for Chinese-inspired dishes, including sushi, noodle soups, and dumplings. One of the menu’s standout selections is the Signature Peking Duck with steamed lotus root buns.

Burgervana is great for those who want fresh, made-to-order burgers, and I’ve eaten here plenty of times on past visits to Parx. This casual restaurant also has hotdogs, chicken sandwiches, and savory sides.  

I’d really encourage you to check out Liberty Bell Gastropub. This restaurant has 28 craft beers on tap and serves some of the best comfort food I’ve ever tasted, including gourmet burgers, rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, and prime rib. All of the ingredients used are locally sourced.

Parx also has tons of beverage options, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Order specialty cocktails, seasonal craft beers, and mocktails.  entertainment venues. 

⭐ Standout Moment

For me, it’s the poker room at Parx. With 48 tables surrounded by super high-end finishes, it’s something of a testament to the game. This really is how poker should be played.

One of my favorite things about Parx is its accessibility. It’s a short drive from Philadelphia, making it convenient for people from the city and suburbs to visit. It’s also easy to spot from Street Road. While the campus is large, there are plenty of signs that helped me get to where I wanted to go.

I think Parx is easily one of the best casinos in the Philadelphia area. It’s also a great place to see a concert, enjoy a romantic dinner, or get happy-hour drinks with coworkers. I really highly recommend Parx to other players who enjoy table games, slots, and betting on the ponies. I’d also suggest you visit Parx just for its restaurants and live entertainment, both of which are excellent in their own right.

If you want to gamble and avoid the two-hour drive to Atlantic City, Parx is a fantastic option. 

Parx Casino is around 20 minutes north from Philly, so it’s pretty easy to get to. The I-95 will take you from the city almost all the way to the casino. Come off at Street Road taking a left, and the casino will emerge to your right not long after. You can’t really miss it. There’s free parking, though you can pay for a valet service if you’d prefer. It was a $5 fee for this when I visited.

You can get the bus to Parx Casino from neighbouring towns and suburbs. SEPTA bus routes 50 and 130 call past the casino seven days a week. There’s also a late service, the 20 route, after 9:30pm each day. Then there’s also route 150 available Monday through Saturday.