Mohegan Pennsylvania, formerly Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, is a racetrack casino with an attached hotel in the Wilkes-Barre area of northeastern Pennsylvania. Its strongest appeal is convenience: a substantial slot floor, live tables, dinner, and an overnight room in one place, with harness racing adding something different. I see it as a good fit for an adults-only regional getaway, not a family resort vacation. The main trade-offs are smoking in designated casino areas and a hotel that requires guests to be 21 or older.
Mohegan Pennsylvania quick facts
| Address | 1280 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 |
|---|---|
| Location | Plains Township, outside Wilkes-Barre |
| Property type | Racetrack casino with an attached hotel |
| Licensed operator | Downs Racing, LP |
| Casino hours | 24 hours daily; individual facilities have separate schedules |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Slots | More than 1,600 games advertised in the official FAQ |
| Table inventory | 67 tables reported in January 2024; not a current staffed-table count |
| Poker room | Yes; the official poker page describes the room as smoke-free |
| Retail sportsbook | Yes |
| Hotel | 238 rooms: 218 standard rooms and 20 suites; guests must be 21 or older |
| Parking | Free; parking-lot shuttle available |
| Smoking | Permitted in designated gaming-floor sections and Breakers Bar, according to the June 2023 map |
| Rewards program | Momentum |
| Phone | 1.888.WIN.IN.PA |
| Information assembled | October 13, 2026; individual source dates vary |
The official visitor FAQ covers parking, slot denominations, hotel payment requirements, and everyday visit logistics.
What kind of casino is Mohegan Pennsylvania?
Think casino-centered short getaway, not secluded mountain retreat. The Wilkes-Barre mailing address and Plains Township location describe the same property. This is separate from Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.
The hotel, restaurants, spa, and adjoining track make it more flexible than a gambling-only stop. That matters if your evening includes dinner and drinks as well as casino play. It matters less if you live nearby and only want an hour at the machines.
The casino opened in November 2006. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s January 2024 license-renewal announcement identifies Downs Racing, LP as the operator and reports 1,630 slot machines and 67 table games at that time. Those are dated inventory figures, not a promise of availability during your visit.
Casino floor and games
Machine gaming is a major draw, but this is not a slots-only casino. Live tables, a dedicated poker room, a retail sportsbook, and racing give visitors several ways to organize a gambling visit.
My advice is to distinguish casino hours from game availability. An all-night casino does not mean every table is staffed, every betting counter is serving customers, or every restaurant is cooking.
Slots and video poker
The official FAQ advertises more than 1,600 slot games, with options ranging from penny slots to $100 per spin. Individual titles and configurations can change.
A penny denomination is not a penny minimum bet. Check the total wager before pressing Spin, especially when using Max Bet. The property itself cautions that games can accept multiple wagers.
For video poker, I would ask about the particular game and pay table before making a special trip. A familiar title alone does not tell you whether the version offered has favorable rules.
Stories about machines being hot, tight, or due do not establish a payout percentage. Keep your gambling budget separate from the money needed for dinner and the hotel.
Table games
The table-game mix includes blackjack, roulette, craps, and Three Card Poker. The property map also identifies high-limit table and slot areas.
I would not plan around an assumed $5 minimum. Limits can change with the game, day, and demand, so read the posted sign before buying in. At blackjack, check the blackjack payout and other rules; at roulette, look at the wheel’s zero configuration. The actual table matters more than a general casino description.
Poker room
Mohegan Pennsylvania has a dedicated poker room. The official June 2023 property map identifies it separately from the table-game areas and sportsbook.
The official poker page describes the room as completely smoke-free. That does not extend to the entire casino, so smoke-sensitive players should consider their route through the property too.
If poker is your main reason to visit, call ahead for operating hours, available cash games, and tournaments. Having a room is one thing; having your preferred game running when you arrive is another. Video poker and house-banked poker-style games are different products.
Retail sportsbook
The property has an on-site retail sportsbook. The regulator’s June 2026 gaming report records retail sports-wagering revenue for Mohegan Pennsylvania, providing more recent support than the older map.
Check betting-counter hours before traveling specifically to place a wager. Historical branding, an old online account, and casino opening hours do not necessarily tell you how the retail operation works today.
Harness racing at Pocono Downs
The adjoining harness track is one of the property’s distinctive advantages. The FAQ says The Downs is within walking distance of both the casino and hotel, so a track visit does not require a separate drive.
I like the extra purpose racing can give a casino trip: you can build an evening around a race card and dinner instead of spending it entirely at the machines. Check the live-racing calendar first. Live races and simulcast wagering on races elsewhere are not the same experience.
Hotel: is an overnight stay worth it?
The official Hotel & Spa page lists 238 guest rooms: 218 standard rooms and 20 suites. The seven-story hotel also has Spa Sapphire, a salon, and a fitness center.
The strongest reason to stay is being able to finish dinner or entertainment and return to your room without driving elsewhere. For a couple making a night of it, that convenience can be worth paying for. For a short afternoon gambling stop, it may add little.
Hotel guests must be 21 or older, and room service is unavailable. Request a smoke-free room in advance. Compare the final accommodation total, cancellation terms, and room category before booking rather than treating one advertised nightly rate as a year-round price.
Hotel deposits: credit card versus debit card
The room bill and security deposit are different things. A reservation requires a major credit card in your name; check-in allows a major credit card or an eligible debit card for the deposit and incidentals.
The published deposit is $50 with a credit card or $100 with a debit card with chargebacks turned on. Our comparison of those rules shows that the debit-card option ties up an additional $50 temporarily. These deposits are not resort fees or extra room charges.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Minimum guest age | The hotel publishes a minimum guest age of 21, so an overnight stay is not simply an all-ages alternative to casino access. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Standard rooms versus suites | The published inventory distinguishes 218 standard rooms from 20 suites, within a total of 238 guest rooms. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Reservation card versus check-in card | A reservation requires a major credit card in the guest’s name; check-in allows a major credit or debit card for the deposit and incidentals. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Credit-card versus debit-card security deposit | The published security deposit is $50.00 with a credit card versus $100.00 with a debit card with chargebacks turned on. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Deposit release versus bank availability | Unused funds are released at checkout, but debit-card funds may take up to 10 days to become available, depending on the bank. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Cash deposit versus cash settlement | Cash cannot secure the deposit, but it can pay for accommodations at checkout once a deposit has been secured. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Cash payment at checkout | Guests planning to settle the room bill with cash still need to arrange the required deposit. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel and casino: Pets versus service animals | The published policy allows service animals, not ordinary pets, in the hotel and casino. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Room service availability | Room service is unavailable; guests should plan meals around restaurant service rather than in-room delivery. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel: Smoke-free room request | The FAQ instructs guests to request a smoke-free room in advance. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania: Published parking charge | The property advertises free parking, removing a parking charge from the published visitor-cost checklist. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania RV parking: Overnight permission versus campground facilities | Overnight RV parking is permitted in lot E, but the location has no camping amenities or hookups. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania: Parking-lot shuttle scope | The documented shuttle connects parking lots to the casino; this passage does not describe an airport shuttle. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania: Free Wi-Fi coverage | The FAQ advertises free Wi-Fi around the property and in guest rooms. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania gaming floor: Complimentary alcoholic beverage eligibility | Complimentary alcoholic beverages are offered to actively gaming guests, rather than described as an unrestricted benefit for every visitor. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania Momentum: Cross-property redemption versus earning | Momentum Dollars can be used at the Pennsylvania and Connecticut properties, but earning them in Connecticut requires signing up for a card there. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania slot play: Denomination versus total wager | The FAQ cautions that games can accept multiple wagers and advises against pressing Max Bet without understanding the game. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania property map dated June 2023: Designated smoking locations | The dated property map permits smoking in designated gaming-floor sections and Breakers Bar; a smoke-free room should not be confused with a smoke-free property. |
| Mohegan Pennsylvania property map dated June 2023: Under-21 restaurant access route | The dated map directs guests under 21 to use the racing entrance for all-ages restaurants, rather than assuming access through the casino. |
| The Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania: Track access from hotel | The track adjoins the hotel and casino and is within walking distance, allowing guests to combine a stay with a track visit without a separate drive. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Additional check-in deposit when using a debit card instead of a credit card | $50.00 | A credit card requires a smaller security deposit. Treat the deposit as temporarily unavailable funds, not an additional room charge. |
| Illustrative stay budget plus credit-card security deposit | $250.00 of accommodation budget and deposit allowance | Allow room in your available credit for both the accommodation budget and the security deposit. This is a planning allowance, not a claim that the full accommodation bill is collected at check-in. |
| Illustrative stay budget plus debit-card security deposit | $300.00 of accommodation budget and deposit allowance | Keep deposit funds separate from your gambling and dining budgets. With a debit card, unused deposit funds may remain unavailable after checkout while your bank processes the release. |
Research references: moheganpa.com 1, moheganpa.com 2, moheganpa.com 3.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-13. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
For an illustrative final accommodation bill of $200, including applicable taxes and mandatory charges, the accommodation-and-deposit planning allowance is $250 with a credit card or $300 with an eligible debit card. This is a budgeting example, not a room quote or a claim that the entire room bill is collected at check-in.
Unused deposit funds are released at checkout, but the FAQ says debit-card funds may take up to 10 days to become available, depending on the bank. I would favor a credit card for the smaller deposit when practical, and keep either allowance out of the gambling budget. Cash cannot secure the deposit, although it can pay for accommodations at checkout once the deposit has been arranged.
Restaurants and bars
The June 2023 map lists Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Rustic Kitchen, The Hive Taphouse, Molly O’Sheas, and Pearl Sushi Bar. Other listed outlets include Johnny Rockets, Electric City Roasting Company, Slice’d, and Tony Luke’s. Bars include Breakers, Embers Terrace, and The Sunburst Bar.
The useful distinction is between a dinner you build the evening around and a quick meal between games. Ruth’s Chris is the steakhouse option for the former; casual outlets make more sense for a shorter visit or tighter food budget. Check the current lineup, menus, and hours for your date.
For a special dinner, I would arrange the restaurant first and let gambling fit around it. A 24-hour casino does not guarantee late-night kitchen service, and the lack of room service makes meal timing important for hotel guests too.
Entertainment and amenities
Racing, the spa, dining, and scheduled entertainment provide reasons to step away from the floor. The map identifies a seasonal outdoor concert venue and event and convention spaces. The FAQ says there is no on-property nightclub with a dance floor.
Spa Sapphire is open to the public without a hotel stay, making an appointment an option for a day visit.
Choose an actual performance or activity before selling a nongambling companion on a weekend here. Check the venue address on any ticket: nearby Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza is a separate location, not a theater inside the casino.
Parking and practical visit information
Use 1280 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 for navigation. Free parking is an advantage for a regional driving trip. Request the parking-lot shuttle by calling 570-831-3600 and selecting option 1. This is a parking-lot service, not a description of airport transportation.
Overnight RV parking is permitted in lot E without camping amenities or hookups. Think overnight parking, not a campground.
Smoking policy
Mohegan Pennsylvania is not entirely smoke-free. The June 2023 map permits smoking in designated gaming-floor sections and Breakers Bar. A smoke-free room or poker room does not make the whole visit smoke-free.
Ask about your preferred games and routes to restaurants and the hotel. I would choose an entirely smoke-free property if avoiding tobacco exposure outweighs the convenience of staying here.
Age restrictions and younger companions
You must be at least 21 for casino gambling, and the hotel requires guests to be 21 or older. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
The dated map directs guests under 21 to use the racing entrance for all-ages restaurants. Arrange the permitted route before bringing younger companions for a meal or event rather than expecting to walk through the casino.
Other practical details
- Wi-Fi: The FAQ advertises free Wi-Fi around the property and in hotel rooms.
- Pets: Only service animals are allowed in the hotel and casino.
- Drinks: Complimentary alcoholic beverages are offered to actively gaming guests, not as an unrestricted benefit for every visitor.
- Accessibility: Discuss the specific room, entrance route, and event seating you need when making arrangements.
Momentum rewards
Momentum is the property’s rewards program. Use your card for slot play, and ask how table play is recorded. The FAQ says restaurants and lounges accept Momentum Dollars for discounts or purchases.
Momentum’s published terms say Momentum Dollars expire after 12 months of inactivity. Check your balance and expiration terms before counting on rewards for a later trip.
The FAQ says Momentum Dollars can be redeemed at both the Pennsylvania and Connecticut properties, but earning them while visiting Mohegan Sun in Connecticut requires signing up for a card there.
My rule is simple: use rewards for play you already intended to make. Increasing your budget to chase a room offer can turn a discount into an expensive souvenir.
Our take: who should visit?
Mohegan Pennsylvania suits adults who want a regional casino getaway with dinner, an attached hotel, and the option of harness racing without moving between properties. I would put convenience ahead of resort-style recreation here: free parking, substantial machine selection, and the adjoining track make a short stay easy to organize. Smoke-sensitive travelers and families needing an all-ages hotel should choose another property, while budget-minded guests should account for both the final room bill and temporarily unavailable deposit funds.
For a broader comparison, see our guide to Pennsylvania casinos.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs the same as Mohegan Pennsylvania?
Yes. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Mohegan Sun Pocono are earlier names for the Wilkes-Barre-area property now called Mohegan Pennsylvania. It is separate from Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.
Is Mohegan Pennsylvania open 24 hours?
Yes. The casino is open 24 hours daily. Restaurants, gaming areas, betting counters, and entertainment have separate schedules.
Does it have a poker room and sportsbook?
Yes. Mohegan Pennsylvania has a dedicated poker room and retail sports wagering. Call ahead for poker games and betting-counter hours.
Is parking free?
Yes. A parking-lot shuttle is available, and overnight RV parking is permitted in lot E without camping amenities or hookups.
Can children stay at the hotel?
No. The hotel publishes a minimum guest age of 21.
Is the casino smoke-free?
No. The property map permits smoking in designated gaming-floor sections and Breakers Bar. The poker room is described as smoke-free, and smoke-free hotel rooms should be requested in advance.
Can you pay the hotel deposit with cash?
No. A card is required to secure the deposit. Cash can pay for accommodations at checkout once the deposit has been secured.
Sources and information dates
Information assembled October 13, 2026, using the official property pages and Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reports linked above. Dated inventory and map details are identified where used. Game availability, dining schedules, racing dates, rewards terms, and hotel offers can change.