The Poconos has exactly one casino inside the mountains: Mount Airy, at Mount Pocono. Two larger floors sit within about an hour on either side. Mohegan Pennsylvania is north-west at Wilkes-Barre, and Wind Creek is south in Bethlehem, on the site of the old steelworks. Each suits a different trip, and the choice usually comes down to whether you want a resort weekend, harness racing or the biggest table pit in the region. Players must be 21.
Side by side
| Mount Airy | Mohegan Pennsylvania | Wind Creek Bethlehem | |
| Where | Mount Pocono, in the Poconos | Plains Township, Wilkes-Barre | Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley |
| Slots | 1,800 | 1,600+ | 2,000+ |
| Table games | 80 | Close to 50, plus electronic tables | 150 |
| Poker | 12 tables, the only poker in the Poconos | 9 tables, non-smoking | Smoke-free, open 24/7 |
| Extras | Golf, 51,000 sq ft spa, adults only | Harness racing February to November | 553 rooms, spa, Betfred sportsbook |
| Google rating | 4.1, 14,000+ reviews | 4.0, 10,600+ reviews | 4.2, 20,000+ reviews |
Mount Airy: the mountain resort
Mount Airy behaves more like a mountain resort with a casino than the other way round. It was Pennsylvania's first AAA Four Diamond casino resort, and it is adults only, 21 and over throughout, which is unusual for a property with a golf course and a spa. Expect couples and groups rather than families. The floor carries 1,800 slots and 80 tables, a recently opened sportsbook and a 12-table poker room, the only poker in the Poconos. Beyond the floor are close to 300 rooms, an 18-hole golf course, a 51,000-square-foot spa and a 20,000-square-foot event space. Mount Airy review.
Mohegan Pennsylvania: racing and a smoke-free card room
Mohegan Pennsylvania, still widely signposted as Mohegan Sun Pocono, is a racino at Wilkes-Barre. Its pit of close to 50 tables is bigger than anything in the Poconos proper. Its nine-table poker room is non-smoking, a rarity in Pennsylvania and the deciding factor for many regulars in the north-east. The Pocono Downs harness track runs an unusually long season, from February to November, and you can watch from indoor dining rooms overlooking the track. The hotel has 238 rooms and a spa. Mohegan review.
Wind Creek Bethlehem: the biggest floor
Wind Creek is built on the former Bethlehem Steel plant, and the blast furnaces are the view from the pool terrace. At 4.2 from more than 20,000 reviewers, it has the strongest rating of any large Pennsylvania casino. More than 2,000 slots and 150 live tables make its pit second only to Parx in the state, so a broad spread stays open even on quiet nights. The poker room is smoke-free and open around the clock, with limits from $3/$6. A $160 million expansion finished in June 2023 took the hotel to 553 rooms. The Betfred sportsbook keeps shorter hours than the casino, from 2pm on weekdays. Wind Creek review.
Which one to choose
- A weekend away without the kids: Mount Airy.
- Harness racing: Mohegan, with racing for most of the year.
- Smoke-free poker: Mohegan's nine tables, or Wind Creek's 24-hour room.
- The biggest choice of tables: Wind Creek.
- The highest rating: Wind Creek, at 4.2.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a casino in the Poconos?
Yes, one: Mount Airy Casino Resort at Mount Pocono. Mohegan Pennsylvania and Wind Creek Bethlehem are within about an hour.
Is Mount Airy adults only?
Yes. The whole property is 21 and over.
Is Mohegan Sun Pocono still open?
Yes. It now operates as Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Which Poconos-area casino has the best poker room?
Wind Creek's smoke-free room runs 24 hours. Mount Airy has the only poker inside the Poconos, with 12 tables.
For other regions, see our guides to casinos in Philadelphia and casinos in Pittsburgh.
