USA Today Names Mount Airy Casino Resort One Of The Top Ten Casino Hotels In The Country

Mount Airy Casino Resort, Pennsylvania's first AAA Four-Diamond casino resort, placed fifth on USA TODAY's Top 10 Readers' choice award for Best Casino Hotel in the country, topping iconic Atlantic City and Las Vegas properties, including the Borgata and Bellagio.
Mount Airy Casino Resort is also the only Pennsylvania casino resort to make the esteemed Top 10 list.

The USA TODAY Best Casino Hotels list is made up of the leading properties that offer both top-notch gaming along with excellent amenities. Mount Airy's award-winning dining, lavish rooms and suites, luxury spa, championship golf course, countless gaming options and first-class entertainment contributed to the prestigious award.

The 2023 Top 10 Best Casino Hotels named by USA Today are:

1. Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut

2. Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey

3. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi

4. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

5. Mount Airy Casino Resort, Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania

6. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City

7. Harrah's Gulf Coast, Biloxi

8. Caesars Palace, Atlantic City

9. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida

10. Bellagio Las Vegas, Nevada

"To be named one of the top ten casino hotels in the country is an incredible achievement," said Lisa DeNaples, Mount Airy owner and managing trustee. "We are honored and humbled to be listed among the industry's elite and are grateful to our employees and valued guests for their support."

This latest award is added to an extensive list of honors Mount Airy has received so far this year, including 26 Best of Gaming awards from Casino Player Magazine, and another Four Diamond rating by AAA for the 13th consecutive year.

"With more than 1,500 casinos in the country, these accolades are a testament to the extensive amenities, lavish accommodations and unparalleled service Mount Airy Casino Resort offers," said Ben Koff, Mount Airy general manager and COO. "We pride ourselves on delivering one of the best casino resort experiences that guests can find anywhere."

In addition to almost 300 guestrooms and luxury suites, Mount Airy features a variety of signature restaurant options, including Guy Fieri's Mt. Pocono Kitchen and the award-winning Bistecca by Il Mulino. From casual eateries to upscale dining, there's something to suit every palate.

This all-encompassing, adults-only getaway pampers guests even further at the Spa at Mount Airy, which provides a perfect retreat after a day - or night - filled with excitement. The resort also features a 20,000 square-foot convention center and ballroom for those seeking the perfect wedding venue or conference space, while the four-season pool complex offers private cabanas, a poolside bar and lounge, and an outdoor deck area with table-side firepits and expansive views of the resort's award-winning, lakefront golf course.

For those seeking the ultimate gaming experience, the heart of Mount Airy is its impressive casino floor. Boasting nearly 1,700 slot machines, including both classic and modern favorites, as well as a wide selection of table games such as blackjack, craps and roulette, visitors are spoiled for choice. The casino also features a dedicated poker room and a multi-media sports betting lounge.

Renowned for its entertainment offerings, Mount Airy recently announced a diverse fall/winter lineup that includes British rocker John Waite, country crooners Lonestar, pop sensation Debbie Gibson, and Australia's hottest export, Thunder from Down Under.

With Mount Airy Casino Resort's vast array of luxurious accommodations, delectable dining, exciting gaming options and live entertainment, visitors to the Pocono escape can expect an unforgettable experience.

For more information or to make reservations, visit MountAiryCasino.com.

Casino Perks That Non-Gamblers Will Love

While Pennsylvania awaits a verdict on the state's proposed second casino, a recently-added feature at the ever-popular Valley Forge Casino (about 30 minutes northwest of Philadelphia) is making poker chip-wielding travelers around the country take note. Announced early last month, a new "Points for Miles" program offers gamers the chance to redeem casino player points for -- get this -- airline miles with US Airways.

Not such a terrible idea, is it? Though we usually expect our casino winnings in the form of cold, hard cash, this new twist is a practical alternative, and especially useful to those who fly US Airways (or their newly-merged partner, American Airlines) with any sort of frequency. Participating casino guests will benefit from playing a few extra hands at the poker table -- rack up enough casino points, and you could wind up with a discounted (or free) airline ticket.

Let's take a look at what other casinos are doing to stand out from the pack:

In southeastern Connecticut, the Mohegan Sun opened in 1996 and remains one of the world's largest gaming complexes. New updates are being made all the time to the rooms and guest facilities, but here's one of our favorite tidbits about this sprawling resor: inside the "Casino of the Sky" is the world's largest planetarium dome. The impressive ceiling features morphing fiber optics that make the entire (well, almost) cosmos accessible to an indoors-only crowd. Meanwhile, the resort just debuted a set of Premium Suites that were previously only available to celebrities and VIP high-rollers; the $8,000-per-night suites feature marble bathrooms, Bose-equipped living rooms, and 24-hour butler service.

Back in October, we spent some time marveling at the new health- and wellness-themed offerings at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and we still can't get the HEPA-standard air purified rooms out of our head. Totaling 171 rooms throughout the 14th floor of the hotel's main tower, "Stay Well" guests are treated to vitamin C-infused shower water, jetlag-relieving light therapy systems, all-natural, toxin-free mattresses, and cedar headboards -- all virtually unheard of in a city of cheap thrills and even cheaper hotel bills.

Palm Springs' only casino, Spa Resort Casino is a magnet for west coast vacationers with extra money to burn -- show up at any time of night, and you'll find a wide array of folks pulling at slot levers and congregating around blackjack tables. But the resort's most unique feature isn't to be found in the casino itself; rather, next door, at the spa, guests can enjoy a treatment known as Mineral Immersion. Inspired by the region's native hot springs, the four-step treatment includes steam, sauna, eucalyptus inhalation, and, last but not least, a private soak in the resort's private mineral springs. Day passes for non-guests available from $40.

Contributed by Alex Schechter