Pocono News Section

Table Games Arrive at Mt. Airy Casino

Table Games Arrive at Mt. Airy Casino - Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 04:12AM EST

Reported by: Monica Madeja
Tuesday June 08 2010

Mount Airy Casino is one step closer to having table games.

A key component, the tables themselves arrived Tuesday at the Paradise Township casino.

It's something betters have been waiting on since the games were approved in April, and might prove to be a critical milestone for the casino, just in time for the busy travel season.

The equipment moved off the truck and on the floor, to potentially change the Northeastern Pennsylvania casino scene for good.

Kenneth Rayside of Carbondale said, "This is the best thing that has happened to this area in a long time."

George Toth, President and CEO Mount Airy Casino, said "This brings a whole new customer, a whole new clientele, new base to the Poconos and it very exciting."

Seventy-two table games rolled in straight from Sin City are on the verge of making their debut at Mount Airy Casino.

"It makes us a full fledged casino," said Toth. "So on a competitive basis with New Jersey or Connecticut; we're right where we want to be."

And they're hoping the Poconos, not Atlantic City is where locals want to be this summer.

"Its actually closer to come here than it is to drive there. So I'd rather be here than down there," said Skip Tower of New Jersey.

The first wave of tables has come, but they are not complete. Table accessories like felt and the roulette wheels will arrive in the coming weeks. Once the state gives the OK, the games will begin.

The addition of table games is bringing some 400 jobs.

Casino execs expect table games to be ready for customers in early July.