| Mohegan Pennsylvania | |
| Pushpin Map: | Pennsylvania#USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Mohegan Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | 41.2689°N -75.8193°W |
| Location: | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| Address: | 1280 Hwy 315 |
| Rooms: | 238 |
| Attractions: | Pocono Downs At Mohegan Pennsylvania |
| Notable Restaurants: | Ruth's Chris Steak House |
| Casino Type: | Land-based Native American gaming Racino |
| Owner: | Downs Racing, LP Division of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, of The Mohegan Tribe |
| Names Pre: | Pocono Downs (1965–2005) Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (2005–2015) Mohegan Sun Pocono (2015–2022) |
| Website: | Mohegan Pennsylvania |
Mohegan Pennsylvania (formerly Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, then Mohegan Sun Pocono) is a racino located in Plains Township on the outskirts of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The casino features over 2,300 slots, live tables for blackjack, roulette and poker, and a sportsbook offering sports betting. The facility opened in 1965 as Pocono Downs, a harness racing track, which continues as an attraction at the complex.
The Pocono Downs harness racing facility opened in July 1965.[1] The NaNmiles harness track still operates as a component part of the racino that emerged when casino gambling was added 41 years later.
Mohegan Sun acquired the Pocono Downs racetrack on January 25, 2005 in a $280 million purchase from Penn National Gaming.[2] Mohegan Sun renamed the property "Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs", and began a major expansion. It began operation in November 2006 as the first slots casino in the state of Pennsylvania.
In January 2010, then Governor Ed Rendell signed a bill to legalize table games in Pennsylvania. The casino was among the first to receive approval for table games, and planned to hire 600 new employees for the expansion. Table games began operation on July 13, 2010.
In November 2013, Mohegan Sun opened a hotel that is connected to the casino floor.
In March 2015, just months before the 50th anniversary of the original Pocono Downs racetrack, the racino changed its name to "Mohegan Sun Pocono".[3]
On January 28, 2019, Mohegan Sun Pocono signed a partnership with Kindred Group to begin sports betting at a sportsbook at the casino along with offering online gambling and sports betting.[4] Mohegan Sun Pocono became the first casino in Northeastern Pennsylvania to offer sports betting.[5] On March 29, 2019, Mohegan Sun Pocono applied for a sports betting license;[6] the license was approved on May 15, 2019. The casino constructed a 1130square feet sportsbook that contains a video wall, 7 sports betting terminals, and 3 teller windows.[7] The Unibet Sportsbook at Mohegan Sun Pocono opened on October 5, 2019, with former National Football League and Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.[8] Unibet launched online gambling and online sports betting on November 12, 2019.[9]
On March 18, 2020, 55-year-old Carmine Fusco, a horse trainer and co-owner of Windgate Farms in Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, who won over 2,000 races, including many at Pocono Downs, became the first person to die from the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania;[10] Fusco, who grew up with his 10 siblings in New Jersey, all of who still lived in that state, was one of four in his family to die from COVID-19 at that time, with his sister becoming the second person to die from the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey five days earlier, his mother dying a few hours after him, and his brother dying the next day.[11]
On October 4, 2022, the racino changed its name again, to "Mohegan Pennsylvania".[12]
The facility has fourteen restaurants or food service areas, including a food court, Johnny Rockets, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and Rustic Kitchen.
There are also four shops, including a wine and cheese shop.
Mohegan Sun also owns off-track betting facility/sportsbook in Allentown.