When Mohegan Pennsylvania established the state’s first casino in November 2006, it opened the door for Mount Airy Casino Resort to follow the next year.

Throughout the past two decades, Mohegan in Plains Twp., Luzerne County, and Mount Airy in Paradise Twp., Monroe County, combined to generate nearly $8.5 billion in revenue.

Mohegan Pennsylvania, formerly known as Mohegan Sun Pocono and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, boasts 80,000 square feet of gaming space that includes more than 1,500 slot machines and electronic table games and nearly 60 live table games, casino officials said. The property also includes a 238-room hotel, a 20,000-square-foot convention center, a variety of dining, nightlife and entertainment options, as well as live harness racing. Mohegan Pennsylvania introduced sports wagering in 2019.

Three years later, Mohegan introduced Embers Terrace, an outdoor attraction for dining, drinks and live entertainment during the warmer months, casino officials added. That same year, the casino officially changed names from Mohegan Sun Pocono to Mohegan Pennsylvania.

David Parfrey, vice president of marketing for Mohegan Pennsylvania, said the casino laid the groundwork for the rest to follow throughout the state and provided a place for customers to test their luck closer to home.

“We were the first casino in Pennsylvania to open our doors,” he said.

Prior to Mohegan opening in Northeast Pennsylvania, many gamblers crossed over the border to New Jersey, taking tax dollars out of the state, Parfrey added.

“We look at Mohegan Pennsylvania as a very important part of that gaming and entertainment shift in the commonwealth,” he said, while also explaining a notable shift in visitors’ needs over two decades.

“When we opened our doors, guests primarily came in for a gaming experience,” he said. “Today, guests are looking for a complete entertainment experience. Mohegan has evolved by expanding not only our dining options, but adding nightlife and hosting concerts and special events. We’re continually enhancing our guest experience. The key has been listening to what customers want and being willing to adapt to those preferences and changes. Our guests are looking for a full-scale entertainment destination, constantly providing them with memories. It’s much more than gaming at this point, and that’s been critical to our success.”

Additionally, Parfrey stressed employees take pride in providing a quality, personalized experience for customers and that the atmosphere around the facility keeps many workers around.

“We’re turning 20, and we still have almost 100 day-one team members who have built careers here,” he said. “It’s a family culture based on providing incredible guest service.”

Effect of skill games

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently ruled that skill games — which became popular at bars, restaurants, social clubs, gas stations and convenience stores — are “slot machines” as defined by the state’s Gaming Act, and therefore illegal to operate by any business not licensed by the state Gaming Control Board. Parfrey said consumers have more protections at area casinos.

“On behalf of Mohegan Pennsylvania, we certainly don’t want to see bars, taverns and local business owners hurt, but based on the Supreme Court ruling, these units were determined as slot machines,” he said. “The Mohegan Tribe of Indians 20 years ago made a massive investment and a bold risk into the commonwealth with building Pennsylvania’s first casino, employing over 1,000 employees and investing hundreds of millions of dollars in expansion and renovations, which has a massive ripple and wave effect into the community. We’ve always been about tax parity. Mohegan Pennsylvania invested $50 million to hold a license to be able to operate our gaming business segment here.

“Those (skill) games are untaxed, unlicensed and unregulated, and it’s much more than the tax piece of it. It’s also problem gambling. Brick-and-mortar casinos work very closely with the Gaming Control Board to ensure there are checks and balances in place so people who may have a gambling problem, or feel they may be headed toward one, have a means to speak with someone and protect themselves. That doesn’t exist right now with those games that were deemed slot machines”

Doug Harbach, director of communications for the Gaming Control Board, credited Mohegan officials for taking the first leap and serving as an innovative leader for the casino industry in Pennsylvania.

“They were the first to open, and that began by offering slot machines in their grandstands,” he said. “Then they built out the new facility and added table games, which was a significant expansion. They have increased the amenities offered to patrons, including, I think most importantly, the hotel. It transformed the facility from a place to go just on a daily basis to one where you can spend multiple days.

“I think that’s a big evolution of a lot of the casinos in Pennsylvania. What started just as a brick-and-mortar facility for slot machines and then tables in many cases turned into places to go for entertainment, an overnight stay and dining opportunities.”

Growth at Mount Airy

Brian Miller, assistant general manager of resort operations for Mount Airy Casino Resort — which includes nearly 1,600 slot machines, more than 70 table games and a sportsbook lounge — sees promising developments in 2026.

“The slot volume and table volume are growing for us, and that’s a positive sign,” he said. “Given the economic conditions and how the price of everything else is going up, there still appears to be room for disposable income for the gaming industry and for the resort industry.”

The resort also houses nearly 300 upscale, newly renovated guest rooms and suites, dining options including Bistecca by Il Mulino and Lucky 8 Noodle + Sushi Bar, a full-service spa, a year-round indoor/outdoor pool complex and a championship 18-hole golf course, casino officials said.

While Miller was initially skeptical about the casino’s decision to transition to a 21-and-over property in late 2022, he feels the move opened up some opportunities.

“We were able to rebrand this place and because the Poconos is so family-centric, it kind of gave us a little bit of a niche for people looking for something else and it actually turned out pretty well for us,” he said. “There has been a very positive response from our guests, who are predominantly older. They aren’t necessarily bringing kids or grandkids to the resort. They’re coming as a couple or as a group.”

Harbach also presented evidence that the decision to implement age restrictions hasn’t hurt the casino’s bottom line.

“More recently, they’ve shown a significant improvement in slot machine revenue,” he said. “In 2025-2026, it was the largest revenue number for slot machines since 2009.”

As technology continues to evolve, Miller emphasized the importance of staying on top of the latest trends to keep patrons engaged.

“There is a lot of technology out there using AI and cashless (payments),” he said. “It seems like the next generation doesn’t carry cash and we have to respond to how they would choose to spend their money. There is a lot of our attention and focus going into how we kind of hybrid our way into that world. The gaming industry is keeping up with it. It’s just a matter of getting it onto the property, testing it, making sure it’s secure, and then offering it to our patrons.”

Giving back

The two casinos also have contributed nearly $550 million back to support local community and public safety initiatives as well as regional economic development projects through the Local Share Account grant program.

Specifically, Mohegan Pennsylvania announced that more than $11.3 million in LSA funding was recently approved to support communities throughout Luzerne County, funding projects from bridge improvements to park enhancements and more.

This LSA funding for Luzerne County generated through Mohegan Pennsylvania’s gaming operations this year will support police and fire department improvements, roadway upgrades, downtown revitalization efforts, and key updates to Wilkes University and King’s College, casino officials said.

In addition to supporting community projects, revenue generated by Mohegan Pennsylvania has contributed more than $159 million in property tax relief for homeowners across Luzerne County’s 11 school districts since 2016, officials added.

“It’s a great moment each springtime or very early summer when those grants are awarded,” Parfrey said. “We know it goes directly to the county. It’s clearly tax dollars at work in the area, and that’s what makes us very proud of that portion of the tax revenue.”