Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is a casino, thoroughbred racetrack, and hotel property in Charles Town, West Virginia. Its strongest draw is variety: slots, live tables, a dedicated poker room, a retail sportsbook, and horse racing offer several ways to build an outing. I see it as a good fit for an adult day trip or short overnight stay rather than a resort vacation. The main limitation is scheduling: poker is closed Monday and Tuesday, and not every table game operates whenever the casino is open.
Hollywood Charles Town: quick facts
| Location | 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Casino, thoroughbred racetrack, and on-grounds hotel |
| Operating status | Open |
| Minimum casino entry age | 21, with current acceptable photo identification |
| Table games | Blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Three Card Poker, and Heads Up Hold’em |
| Electronic table gaming | Rapid Fusion Roulette |
| Poker room | 17 advertised tables; closed Monday and Tuesday |
| Retail sportsbook | Yes |
| Horse-racing wagering | Scheduled live racing and year-round simulcasts |
| Hotel | The Inn at Charles Town; free casino-and-racetrack shuttle |
| Check-in / check-out | 4:00 p.m. / 11:00 a.m. |
| Daily hotel amenity fee | $10.00, including tax; eligible tier exemptions apply |
| EV charging | Available |
| Rewards program | PENN Play |
| Phone | 800-795-7001 |
| Information date | October 12, 2026 |
What kind of casino is Hollywood Charles Town?
This is a racino: a casino paired with a racetrack. Racing is more than a historical footnote here. Live thoroughbred racing and simulcast wagering remain part of the attraction alongside the casino games.
The Eastern Panhandle setting makes Charles Town a regional option for visitors from northern Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., area. Whether it is your most convenient casino depends on your starting point and traffic. I would compare the drive at your intended departure time, not just the mileage.
The legal operating entity is PNGI Charles Town Gaming LLC, identified in a West Virginia Lottery Commission meeting agenda. The property participates in PENN Play. For alternatives, see our guide to West Virginia casinos.
Casino floor: slots, video poker, and table games
Slots and video poker
Slots and video poker are part of the property’s established gaming mix. I would not treat an older machine count or title list as a promise about your next visit. Inventories change, and a favorite machine can disappear.
Check the total slot bet before pressing the button. The cabinet denomination is not necessarily the cost of a spin once lines, credits, and bonus features are included. For video poker, read the pay table: machines with the same game name can offer different payouts.
Winning or losing stories do not establish whether machines are generous. Set a bankroll you can afford to lose, and keep dinner and hotel money out of it.
Table games
The official list includes blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Three Card Poker, and Heads Up Hold’em, plus electronic Rapid Fusion Roulette. The property cautions that not all games are open at all times.
That qualification matters more than a long game list. If baccarat or a particular poker-themed game is the reason for your drive, ask about availability before leaving. Read the posted minimum rather than budgeting around an old directory’s wager range.
I would also check blackjack payouts and house rules before choosing a seat. An open chair alone is not much of a reason to pick a table.
Poker room: games and hours
Hollywood Charles Town advertises a 17-table player-versus-player poker room, separate from video poker and house-banked Three Card Poker. Listed games include Limit and No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo, 8 or Better.
| Day | Posted poker hours |
|---|---|
| Monday and Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. the following morning |
| Friday and Saturday | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following morning |
These hours reflect the October 2026 information. Recheck before a poker-specific trip. The table count describes room inventory, not how many games will be running.
Availability depends on player demand and available tables. Confirm your preferred game and stakes, ask about the waiting list, and have a backup plan. An Omaha listing is not a guarantee of an Omaha seat.
Sportsbook, horse racing, and simulcasts
There is an on-property retail sportsbook. Check staffed-counter hours, payment arrangements, and ticket-redemption procedures separately from the casino schedule.
A mobile sportsbook promotion does not establish the physical operation’s branding or procedures. Nor should you assume a retail ticket can be collected through a mobile account. Ask how to redeem a winning ticket if you will be home when the event ends.
The property also offers scheduled live thoroughbred racing and year-round simulcasts. For me, the track is the clearest reason to choose Charles Town over a casino-only outing: it adds a different activity without requiring another destination. Check the race calendar first. A night without live racing can still work, but it is a different trip.
Hotel: The Inn at Charles Town
The Inn at Charles Town is on the grounds but separate from the main casino building, with a free shuttle to the casino and racetrack. Think hotel-and-casino arrangement, not a room tower with an elevator straight to the tables. Ask about shuttle hours if you expect to finish late.
The property describes guest rooms and 18 track-view suites. The suite figure is not the total room count. Amenities include continental breakfast, WiFi, bottled water, a fitness center, and a business center.
Check-in begins at 4:00 p.m.; check-out is at 11:00 a.m. Late departures can incur an additional charge. You must be at least 21 to rent a room.
For a lodging comparison, the Ranson visitors bureau’s 2019 destination guide places Home2 Suites directly across from the casino, in a shopping center with restaurants and a grocery store. It is worth considering if everyday conveniences matter more than staying on casino grounds. Confirm current amenities, rates, and the route to the casino before booking.
Hotel fees and booking-cost comparison
The room rate is only the starting point. Published charges include:
- Room tax: 12%.
- Daily amenity fee: $10.00, including tax.
- Phone or front-desk reservation fee: $10.00 per reservation; online and PENN Play app bookings avoid it.
- Tier exemptions: Elite and Owners-level members have published exemptions from both fees.
The comparison below combines published charges with clearly labeled hypothetical room prices and stay lengths.
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 |
|---|---|
| Charles Town: Phone and front-desk reservation fee versus online and app bookings | Phone and front-desk reservations carry a $10.00 reservation fee; online and app reservations do not. |
| Charles Town: Reservation-fee tier exemptions | Owners Club and Elite members receive a booking-fee waiver. |
| Charles Town: Room taxes versus room deposit | The published room tax is 12% per room per night; the separately listed room deposit is $100.00 per stay. |
| Charles Town: Daily amenity fee and included benefits | The $10.00 daily fee includes tax, breakfast, WiFi, bottled water, fitness and business center access, and a $5.00 dining voucher. |
| Charles Town: Amenity-fee exemptions | Elite and Owners-level PENN Play members are exempt from the daily amenity fee. |
| Charles Town: Paid versus selected complimentary reservation deposits | Paid reservations require a first-night room-and-tax deposit before arrival; selected complimentary reservations require a refundable $100.00 deposit at booking. |
| Charles Town: Cancellation deadline and complimentary-room liability | Failure to cancel by 6:00 p.m. the day before arrival can trigger a one-night room-and-tax charge, including for complimentary reservations. |
| Charles Town: Card hold versus accepted check-in payment methods | Check-in involves a card hold for anticipated charges and incidentals; cash, personal checks, and prepaid cards are not accepted for check-in. |
| Charles Town: Check-in, check-out, and late-departure policy | Check-in begins at 4:00 p.m.; check-out is at 11:00 a.m., and late check-outs can incur an additional charge. |
| Charles Town: Nonsmoking-room cleaning charge | Smoking in a nonsmoking room triggers a $250.00 cleaning fee. |
| Charles Town: Pets versus service animals | Pets are prohibited, with an exception for ADA-defined service animals. |
| Charles Town: Best Rate Guarantee comparison requirements | A competing rate must match the itinerary, room and bed type, guest count, and applicable booking terms. |
| Charles Town: Best Rate Guarantee timing | Claims have both a booking-related submission deadline and a minimum advance-arrival requirement. |
| Charles Town: Hotel-to-casino transportation cost | The hotel publishes complimentary shuttle transportation to the casino and racetrack, without specifying hours in this passage. |
| Hollywood Charles Town dining: PENN Cash dining conversion | The dining page advertises $2.00 in dining credit for each $1.00 of PENN Cash at participating destinations. |
| Hollywood Charles Town new-member offer: Dining-credit eligibility and participation limits | New PENN Play members must also register for the app to receive the advertised $25.00 dining credit; participating outlets vary, and Zia Park is excluded. |
| Hollywood Charles Town poker room: Weekday versus weekend operating schedule | The room is closed Monday and Tuesday; Friday and Saturday have later closing times than Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. |
| Hollywood Charles Town poker room: Published game selection versus guaranteed availability | The 17-table room lists Hold ‘Em and Omaha variants, but actual availability depends on player demand and available tables. |
| Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races: Casino entry age and identification | Casino entry requires guests to be at least 21 and carry acceptable identification. |
| Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races: Underage casino access versus live-racing access | Under-21 guests cannot enter the casino floor; minors have limited access to specified racing areas around live racing and must remain accompanied by an adult. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Room tax on an illustrative $200.00 one-night room charge | $24.00 | Budget for room tax separately from the advertised room charge and the daily amenity fee. |
| Daily amenity fees for an illustrative two-night stay | $20.00 | The amenity fee adds to an overnight budget even when booking online avoids the separate reservation fee. |
| Reservation-fee difference: phone or front desk versus online or app | $10.00 per reservation | For an otherwise identical booking, online or app reservations avoid a charge that applies by phone or at the front desk. |
| Amenity fee less the dining voucher’s face value | $5.00 per day after an illustrative voucher-value offset | The voucher offsets part of the fee only if you use it on dining you already intended to buy; it is not a cash refund or a reduction in the hotel charge. |
| Dining credit from an illustrative existing PENN Cash balance | $20.00 of dining credit | Check participating outlets before redeeming an existing balance for a planned meal; this conversion is not a reason to increase gambling. |
Research references: pennentertainment.com 1, pennentertainment.com 2, hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com, pennentertainment.com 4, pennentertainment.com 5.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-12. 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.
The easiest saving is the booking channel. For an otherwise identical reservation without a tier waiver, online or app booking avoids $10.00 compared with phone or front-desk booking. It does not remove the daily amenity fee.
An illustrative $200.00 one-night room charge, not a quoted rate, produces $24.00 in room tax at the published rate. An illustrative two-night stay without an exemption carries $20.00 in amenity fees. These are budgeting examples, not live availability or a complete checkout quote.
The amenity package includes a $5.00 dining voucher. Fully using it on a meal you already planned offsets part of the $10.00 daily fee, leaving a $5.00 difference before valuing the other benefits. The hotel still charges the full fee. A voucher is not a cash refund and has little practical value if unused.
Deposits, card holds, and cancellation terms
A fee is a cost; a refundable deposit or authorization hold can instead affect the money or credit available during your trip. Compare them separately.
Paid reservations require a first-night room-and-tax deposit 24 hours before arrival. Selected complimentary reservations require a refundable $100.00 deposit at booking. The terms also list a $100.00 room deposit per stay. Check your reservation’s requirements rather than assuming every listed amount is an additional charge.
A valid credit card in the reservation holder’s name is required at check-in. Cash, personal checks, and prepaid cards are not accepted for check-in. Holds cover anticipated charges and incidentals, and their release can take longer than your stay, depending on the issuer.
The published cancellation deadline is 6:00 p.m. the day before arrival. Missing it can trigger a one-night room-and-tax charge, including on complimentary reservations. A comped room is not automatically a risk-free booking.
Restaurants, bars, and PENN Play rewards
The Eatery is the clearest casual-dining starting point. The property describes five spots serving Italian dishes, burgers, Hong Kong cuisine, desserts, and craft beer, a useful mix for groups that cannot agree on one cuisine.
Skyline Terrace Buffet appears in a special racing-event listing. Do not treat those packages as everyday buffet prices or assume daily service.
I would settle meal timing before the first wager. Check outlet hours and reservation requirements: an open casino does not mean every kitchen is serving.
The Sportsbook Restaurant advertises Wednesday Pour House Trivia at 7:00 p.m., with teams of up to seven. Recheck the event before organizing dinner around it.
Dining credits and rewards value
PENN Play handles rewards and offers. The dining page advertises $2.00 in dining credit for each $1.00 of PENN Cash at participating destinations. Under that conversion, an illustrative existing $10.00 PENN Cash balance provides $20.00 in dining credit, subject to participation and offer terms.
The homepage also advertises a $25.00 dining credit for new members who register for the app, with outlet restrictions. Check current eligibility before counting it toward dinner.
I like rewards best when they reduce spending you already planned. Gambling more to earn a meal or a higher tier is a different proposition, and usually the wrong approach to a dining budget.
Entertainment and practical visit information
Live racing is the distinctive attraction beyond the casino floor. For concerts and other events, check the calendar and ticket terms rather than assuming an event will coincide with your stay.
Ticketmaster’s 2020 Event Center guide describes floor seating and raised seats at the back. Check your show’s seating chart, particularly if you prefer an elevated view.
The property lists Harpers Ferry National Park and Historic Shepherdstown as nearby attractions. They can round out an overnight trip but are separate outings, not casino amenities.
- Arrival: Use the casino address for gaming and the hotel’s arrival instructions when checking in with luggage.
- Identification: Casino entry requires age 21 or older and current acceptable photo identification. Under-21 guests cannot enter the casino floor.
- Families and racing: Supervised minors have limited access to specified racing areas around live racing. Check the rules before a family outing.
- EV charging: Confirm connectors, availability, and charges before relying on the advertised stations.
- Parking and accessibility: Ask about parking charges, valet, accessible entrances, and drop-off points if they affect your plans.
- Smoking: Ask about current casino arrangements if smoke exposure is a deciding factor. A nonsmoking hotel room does not answer the gaming-floor question.
- Shuttle: The free hotel service connects the inn, casino, and racetrack. It is not an airport-transfer promise.
Strengths and limitations: plan around your main attraction
I would choose the trip’s main attraction first, then fit the rest around it. A casual casino stop requires less coordination than poker, a race-night dinner, and an overnight stay.
| Trip priority | Why Charles Town fits | Practical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Casino and racing evening | Machines, tables, and a working thoroughbred track | Coordinate racing and restaurant schedules |
| Poker visit | Dedicated room listing Hold ‘Em and Omaha variants | Monday and Tuesday closures; games depend on demand |
| Overnight gambling trip | On-grounds inn with a free shuttle | Separate buildings, shuttle timing, fees, and card holds |
| Sports-betting stop | Retail sportsbook | Check counter hours and ticket collection |
The strength is the range of activities; the limitation is that they do not share one interchangeable schedule. Two useful checks before leaving beat discovering after the drive that your preferred game or meal is unavailable.
A September 2026 guest comment on Loc8NearMe praised game variety but wished there were fewer smoking areas. That is one person’s experience, not a review consensus or a map of the smoking policy. Smoke-sensitive visitors should ask about the areas where they expect to play.
Who this casino is best for
Hollywood Charles Town suits adults seeking a regional casino-and-racing trip, with enough game variety and an on-grounds inn to make an overnight stay practical. The free shuttle helps, but separate buildings, hotel fees, and activity schedules require planning; one supplied guest comment also raises smoke exposure as a consideration, not an established consensus. Choose another property for a resort-centered vacation, or if your essential game, dining option, or smoke preference does not fit the arrangements available for your visit.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races have a poker room?
Yes. It advertises a 17-table dedicated poker room, closed Monday and Tuesday. Games depend on player demand and table availability.
Does it have a sportsbook?
Yes, there is an on-property retail sportsbook. Check counter hours and ticket-redemption arrangements before a betting-specific trip.
How old do you have to be to enter?
You must be at least 21 and carry current acceptable photo identification. Under-21 guests cannot enter the casino floor.
Is the hotel inside the casino?
No. The Inn at Charles Town is on the grounds but separate from the main casino building. A free shuttle serves the casino and racetrack.
Does booking online remove all hotel fees?
No. Online or app booking avoids the $10.00 reservation fee. The separate $10.00 daily amenity fee applies unless you qualify for an exemption.
Are horse races held every day?
Live racing follows a schedule. Check your date before making it the centerpiece of the trip. Simulcast wagering is a separate offering.
Can you bring a pet to the hotel?
Pets are prohibited, with an exception for service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Sources and information date
Property details and booking terms reflect information collected October 12, 2026. Recheck schedules, offers, and reservation terms for your travel dates.
- Official Hollywood Charles Town homepage: property information and new-member dining offer.
- Official visit information: entry rules, racing, nearby attractions, and EV charging.
- Official casino information: table games, poker, sportsbook, and rewards.
- Official hotel information and policies: lodging, fees, taxes, deposits, cancellation terms, and shuttle.
- Official dining information: The Eatery, event buffet listing, and PENN Cash conversion.
- West Virginia Lottery Commission meeting notice: named legal operating entity.
- Previous official domain: HTTPS address and the original website link.