Parx Casino in Shippensburg is celebrating its first anniversary. It first opened its doors to the public on February 3rd, 2023. Since then, it has become a popular spot for people to visit.
A successful start in Shippensburg
Parx Shippensburg is a mini-casino owned by Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, the parent company of Parx Casino. It has 500 slot machines and 48 electronic table games. There is also an upscale family restaurant and sports bar called The Liberty Bar & Grill. In the sports bar are betPARX sports wagering kiosks where visitors can place bets on their favorite sporting events.
The Parx flagship casino in Bensalem is the largest one in the state. Both Parx in Bensalem and the mini-casino in Shippensburg are non-smoking venues. Parx also offers online gambling through its betPARX app. Players can use this casino app to gamble through their mobile phones.
A dedicated team
The General Manager of Parx Casino, Kevin Brady, says it was a successful start in Shippensburg thanks to the dedicated team. The team has shown growth in the way it takes care of customers since the opening.
Financial benefits to the area
John Knutelsky, Shippensburg Township Supervisor, believes the casino significantly benefits the area. It has been a windfall from a financial standpoint. The revenue it generates helps in various ways. For example, casino revenue helps to service Shippensburg University, which doesn’t generate any local tax.
The university was prepared for the opening of the nearby casino. It got a grant from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to educate students on illegal and/or underage gambling. Apart from gambling at brick-and-mortar casinos, students enjoy playing games in online casinos.
At the end of January, Parx Shippensburg donated $100,000 for dispersal to the local EMS, fire companies, and nonprofit organizations.
New entertainment venue
The beginning of the year saw the unveiling of a new entertainment venue at the casino called Side Pockets. Comedy nights are held on Friday nights, and live bands play on Saturday nights. Robbie Mason will perform live on Saturday, February 10th at 8 pm. Comedy night on February 16th, 2024, will feature The Legendary Wid with special guest John Kensil. The doors for the shows open at 7 pm, and entry is free. There are plans in the works to make more use of the venue during weekdays.
The casino market forecast shows that it is projected to grow to $511.6 billion by 2032 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.32% in the period from 2023 to 2032. This is good news for casinos in venues like Shippensburg. It is likely to be even more successful over time.
