| 777 Harrah's Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19125 |
Harness racing on the Delaware River and much much more!
Harrah’s Philadelphia is located about a half hour southwest of downtown Philadelphia. Just follow I-95 along the Delaware River to the town of Chester (which is why this property was formerly known as Harrah’s Chester) to find this, one of Pennsylvania’s 6 “racinos”. These are so called because they are hybrid horse racetracks and Vegas-style casinos.
This property is decently sized, with a 100,000 sq. ft. casino floor that is open 24/7 and also offers a decent selection of restaurants, bars and live entertainment. The only glaring omission in the design is the lack of a hotel on property, but since the Philadelphia airport is just 10 minutes away, there are several nearby hotels to accommodate the needs of weary gamblers.
A Harrah’s casino, Philly style!
As mentioned, Harrah’s Philadelphia sports its own horse racetrack. They also offer all the table games, slots, video poker, and live poker that seasoned gamblers would expect from any casino in Las Vegas.
Horses ‘n’ harnesses
The racetrack at Harrah’s Philadelphia offers only harness racing on site. The racing season runs from April to December and race days are Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday along with some select races on holidays.
Even when the track is dark (and for those who want a wider selection of races), Harrah’s Philadelphia also simulcasts races from across the country and takes action on each one. Race fans won’t be lacking in horse betting options.
A ton of slots!
Harrah’s Philadelphia’s large casino floor hosts over 2000 slot machines. Betting limits range from penny machines to $100/spin variants. Most of these higher end slots can be found in their high limit section. This exclusive enclave is typically home to around 90 machines and has a host desk, a dedicated cashier, and the personalized VIP service that high-rollers have come to expect.
Although there are many more, here is a sample of the most popular slot machines found at Harrah’s Philadelphia:
- Lightning Link
- 50 Dragons
- Wheel of Fortune
- Michael Jackson King of Pop
- Super Monopoly Money
- Monopoly Prime Reel Estate
- The Wizard of Oz Gamefield XD
Video poker
Although not as pervasive as slot machines, Harrah’s Philadelphia still has a wide selection of video poker offerings. Most of these can be found on the numerous Game King multi-game, multi-denomation machines spread around the casino floor. Conveniently, these machines allow patrons to change limits and games without having to seek out a different machine.
Here are a couple examples of their video poker offerings in detail:
| Game (number of machines) | Denomination(s) | Number of playable lines | Percentage Hold (with optimal play) | Paytable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better (5) | $1, $2 | 1 Play | 98.39 JoB | 1-2-3-4-6-8-25-50-800 |
| Jacks or Better (21) | 25¢ | 1 Play progressive | 98.91% DW44 | 1-2-3-4-4-9-15-25-200-800 |
Table games
All the usual suspects can be found in the pit at Harrah’s Philadelphia, including some of the more unusual table games. Here’s what you’ll find:
- Craps
- Baccarat (mini and midi)
- EZ Baccarat (featuring the Dragon 7 side bet)
- Blackjack (featuring the Lucky Ladies side bet)
- Spanish 21
- Roulette
- Mississippi Stud
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- Let It Ride
- Four Card Poker
- Three Card Poker
- Pai Gow Poker
- EZ Pai Gow Poker (featuring the Queen’s Dragon side bet)
There is also a progressive jackpot side bet available for Four Card Poker, Let It Ride, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Mississippi Stud. This is one single jackpot attached to all four games jointly.
Poker, anyone?
Not Pennsylvania’s largest, Harrah’s Philadelphia poker room has just 28 tables, however they have one thing that no other Pennsylvania card room can claim – this is a World Series of Poker poker room and has been a stop on the WSOP circuit in years past. The poker room has a bad beat jackpot and regular high hand promotions and also runs daily and seasonal tournaments.
This room spreads Texas Hold’em (limit and no-limit) as well as Omaha and Seven Card Stud on demand. Their advertised limit range for limit games is $2-4-6 up to $20-40. Their no limit games range from $1-2 blinds up to $10-25 blinds.
Players at the Harrah’s Philadelphia poker room are rewarded for their play with food comp dollars based on the number of hours they play. Players earn $1 per hour at the lower limits up to $3 per hour in higher games.
What kind of rewards? Total Rewards!
As a Caesars property, Harrah’s Philadelphia uses the very popular Total Rewards player rewards program. It is the same program they use in all their casinos (over 40) worldwide. This allows players the flexibility of earning rewards points at one location and redeeming them in another. Imagine racking up a pile of points at Harrah’s Philadelphia one week, and then next month using them for a comped stay plus free food at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas! This popular and powerful rewards system is one of the best reasons to choose Harrah’s when considering where to play in the Philadelphia area.
While gaming, players are earning rewards credits and tier credits simultaneously. Reward credits are redeemable in cash, free play, food, beverages, hotel stays, merchandise, and entertainment. Reward credits are also earned when you purchase these same items from Caesars properties (at a rate of 100 reward credits per $1 spent).
Tier credits determine which of the four levels a player is currently on – Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Seven Stars. The number of tier credits earned in a calendar year is what counts.
- Gold – less than 4,999 tier credits
- Platinum – 5,000 to 14,999 tier credits
- Diamond – 15,000 to 149,999 tier credits
- Seven Stars – 150,000 tier credits and above
What does being Diamond and Seven Stars get you?
The Diamond and Seven Stars tier levels are prestigious at Caesars properties world wide. Unfortunately, two of the chief benefits of these levels of the Total Rewards program are unhelpful at Harrah’s Philadelphia, specifically. These tier levels result in many free hotel stays but this property has no hotel. Also, these tier levels grant access to the Diamond Lounge found on most Caesars properties (where free food and beverages are on offer) but Harrah’s Philadelphia doesn’t offer comped alcoholic beverages in their Diamond Lounge.
Regardless, the Diamond and Seven Stars tier levels are prized and valuable achievements for Caesars guests worldwide. Some of the other benefits you can expect at these levels include:
- Free play offers
- Comped hotel stays, meals, and entertainment
- Priority service lines
- Vacations
- Special gifts
- Invitations to exclusive gaming tournaments and other events
Online gaming
As of August, 2024, Harrah’s Philadelphia hasn’t officially entered Pennsylvania’s nascent online gaming market, but they will do so very soon. They have already applied for the state’s $10 million license allowing them to operate online slots, table games, and peer-to-peer gaming (geek-speak for online poker). In addition, it is expected they will use 888 Poker as a tech gaming partner to create and manage their online gaming content.
For those Pennsylvanian’s eager to gamble online right now, consider trying Pennsylvania’s online lottery. It’s easy to play, very fun, and you can win real money. Even better, new players receive $5 to play when they sign up.
Dining options
Harrah’s Philadelphia doesn’t offer the widest variety of restaurant choices, but they cover all the basics. Quick and easy meals, mid-range comfort foods, and some higher end dining options can be found on property. Here’s the list:
- Cove Steakhouse & Raw Bar – A classic steakhouse with fine wines and exceptional seafood
- Guy Fieri’s Philly Kitchen + Bar – Features signature cuisine from the famous chef, focusing on casual foods with a unique twist
- The Market – A “grab ‘n’ go style option for lunch, dinner, and late-night noshing
- Mien Noodles – Classic Asian cuisine featuring noodle soups and a sushi menu available Wednesday through Sunday
- Philly Steak Shack – Comfort food done right – Philly style!
- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts – America’s favorite doughnuts
- Starbucks – America’s favorite coffee
Booze and bands – the nightlife options
Similar to their dining choices, Harrah’s Philadelphia doesn’t offer a ton of choices, but they do cover the usual bases, including a live concert venue. Here’s what’s on tap:
- C-Bar – A lounge situated at the center of the casino floor. Easy to find and the perfect meeting place for drinks and relaxing
- The Copper Mug – A popular bar featuring a wide selection of beers to explore
- The Block Entertainment Center – The place to go for live music. See here for upcoming events.