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A new survey by BetMGM ranked Pennsylvania as the third-best state for overall casino experience, behind just Nevada and South Dakota, after evaluating metrics like casino density, gaming options, and player-friendly policies.
Among the factors scored was whether venues are smoke-free, a point where Pennsylvania’s “partial” ranking underscores the atypical nature of the state’s leading property, Parx Casino.
The Pennsylvania casino landscape has 17 properties, with another on the way, that offers more than 24,000 slot machines.
Parx Sets itself apart as smoke-free facility
Parx Casino, located in Bensalem, is Pennsylvania’s largest casino and a rare smoke-free environment in a state where most casinos still allow designated smoking areas.
While the Clean Indoor Air Act provides exemptions for casinos, Parx has chosen to ban smoking entirely indoors, instead offering guests a covered, heated outdoor patio near the XClub West entrance.
The move was once seen as a risk, but the numbers tell a different story. Month after month, Parx leads the state in retail gaming revenue, surpassing competitors that still allow smoking.
The success suggests that clean air could be a competitive advantage, benefiting guests and employees alike while undercutting the long-held industry argument that indoor smoking is necessary to keep business strong. It could also be seen as an improvement to the casino experience.
Pennsylvania’s rising casino profile
BetMGM’s survey highlights how far Pennsylvania has come in establishing itself as a gaming powerhouse. With 17 casinos, a flourishing online casino market, and one of the nation’s most competitive sports betting industries, the state offers players variety on par with Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
Pennsylvania scored especially high for the number of casinos per capita and for the breadth of legal betting options, from slots and table games to online poker and sportsbooks.
The state has consistently ranked near the top nationally for total gaming revenue, surpassing $6.1 billion in 2024. This positions Pennsylvania not just as a regional hub but as one of the most profitable gaming states in the US.
Smoke policy remains a statewide debate
Still, the survey notes Pennsylvania only partially earned points for smoke-free environments. Unlike Parx, most casinos allow smoking in up to 50% of their gaming floors.
That reality has fueled ongoing debate in Harrisburg, where legislators are considering closing loopholes in the Clean Indoor Air Act that permit casino exemptions. Allegheny County Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel introduced HB 880, which would ban smoking inside casinos.
Parx’s performance could shape that debate. If the state’s top revenue generator can thrive smoke-free, it raises the question of whether Pennsylvania might eventually join other states that have decided to eliminate smoking.
