Of all the games you can play in a casino, trying to beat a chicken at Tic-Tac-Toe stands out.
You can get a chance to do that this month at Presque Isle in Erie, with a potential payout of $1,000 (plus a T-shirt).
If those X’s and O’s aren’t your game, try for Steelers season tickets at Rivers in Pittsburgh, Phillies tickets at Harrah’s Philadelphia, or new cars and cash at a variety of other sites throughout the state.
Here’s a look at some of Pennsylvania’s best casino promotions and attractions for August:
Harrah’s Philadelphia
777 Harrah’s Blvd.
Chester, PA 19013
(800) 480-8020
Major league drawings
Phillies tickets and slot free play are among the prizes in a monthlong Harrah’s promotion with drawings every Friday in August.
Caesars Rewards members get one free entry every day they swipe their cards at a promotional kiosk. Plus, customers can get an additional entry for every 25 tier credits earned. One hundred bonus entries are available on Mondays and Caesars Rewards mobile app users can get 5X entries on Tuesdays.
From 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 2, 9, 16, and 23, hourly hot-seat drawings will award one prize of $200 in slot free play. Winners who show they have the mobile app also get a Phillies hat.
The finale drawing at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 will award eight prizes, including Phillies tickets, jerseys, and hats and up to $750 in slot free play.
Hollywood at Penn National
777 Hollywood Blvd.
Grantville, PA 17028
(717) 469-2211
$80,000 progressive drawing
A cash prize of $80,000 is up for grabs in the monthly progressive jackpot drawing at Hollywood Casino on Aug. 29.
Marquee Rewards members get one entry for every four points earned for slot or table gameplay during the month.
Every half-hour from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 29, five entrants will be chosen to play a game offering slot free play and a chance to be in the finale drawing. At 9 p.m., four more entrants will be chosen to participate in the finale.
During the finale drawing at 9:30, each of the 10 participants will select a prize envelope from a barrel. One envelope contains the $80,000 grand prize, and the others have varying amounts of slot free play. If no one wins the top prize, the September jackpot will be $90,000.
Meadows
210 Racetrack Road
Washington, PA 15301
724-503-1200
Corks and Kegs Festival
The annual celebration of craft beer, wine, and spirits, along with live music, food, and classic cars, will be Aug. 24 and 25 on Meadows’ racetrack apron. Admission is free, although you’ll have to pay for beer sampling, food, and vendor items.
The music lineup includes Billy Price and Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers.
The classic car cruise will be Aug. 25.
Mercedes-Benz giveaway
A Mercedes-Benz is the top prize in an Aug. 31 drawing that also will give away multiple prizes of $100 or $250 in slot free play or table game match play.
Marquee Rewards members get one drawing entry for every 10 tier points earned from Aug. 1 through 10 p.m. Aug. 31.
On Aug. 31, hourly drawings from 6 through 9 p.m. will award 20 prizes of $100 in free play/match play and five prizes of $250 in free play/match play plus a ticket in the finale drawing. Five more winners of $250 in free play/match play and a finale ticket will be selected at 10 p.m.
The drawing for the car will follow.
Mohegan Sun Pocono
1280 Highway 315
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(888) 946-4672
Hot Summer Fun
This is the last month for a group of summerlong promotions, with grand prizes being awarded on Aug. 30 and 31:
Toys of Summer giveaway
Momentum Rewards members earn entries throughout the month for an Aug. 31 drawing that will award an outdoor vehicle valued at up to $25,000 and five prizes of $1,000 cash. Momentum Club members receive one drawing entry for every status point earned by slot or table game play, with 5X entries on Mondays and 10X entries on Saturdays.
Party on the patio
Food trucks, drink specials, and live music by tribute bands will be available every Thursday at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with music starting at 7:30 p.m. This month’s bands include:
- Crazy On You (Heart tribute) on Aug. 1
- A Proud Monkey (Dave Matthews Band tribute), Aug. 8
- Tramps Like Us (Bruce Springsteen tribute), Aug. 15
- Draw the Line (Aerosmith tribute), Aug. 22
- Rubicon (Journey tribute) Aug. 29.
Fifty Shades of Summer
From 5 to 10 p.m. every Friday, five Momentum Club members will be randomly selected each half-hour to play for cash and slot free play by picking beach balls on a giant digital game board. Prizes range from $200 in free play to $5,000 cash, with the $5,000 prize guaranteed to be awarded each week. Players who reveal and match a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses will qualify for a $50,000 cash grand prize event on Aug. 30.
Slot tournament Sundays
Every Sunday, a free slot tournament will offer weekly prizes of cash and slot free play, with the summer’s top winner getting a trip to Las Vegas and a shot at a $1 million cash prize. Momentum Club members who earn three status points between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. on tournament day are eligible. Winners from each session get $250 cash and $250 in slot free play.
Mount Airy Casino Resort
312 Woodland Rd.
Mount Pocono, PA 18344
(877) 682-4791
Double points on penny machines
Every Monday in August, Player’s Club members get double points for play on penny slot machines at Mount Airy Casino.
Handbags of cash
Five prizes of up to $10,000 cash and two designer handbags will be given away in drawings from 1 to 10 p.m. Aug. 30.
Players club members get 10 entries for every 1,000 points earned. Overall, 50 prizes totaling $35,000 in cash and slot free play will be awarded.
Parx
2999 Street Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
(888) 588-7279
$80,000 Crazy 8s sweepstakes
Parx players earn entries from Aug. 8 to 24 for drawings that will award $80,000 worth of slot free play. Entries are multiplied for play on Aug. 9 and 16.
From 3 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24, eight prizes of $800 in free play will be given away every half-hour. At 8 p.m., two prizes of $8,000 in free play will be awarded.
Presque Isle Downs
8199 Perry Highway
Erie, PA 16509
(866) 374-3386
Chicken Tac Toe
If you can outwit a chicken, you could win up to $1,000 cash, not to mention a T-shirt at Presque Isle Downs.
The human vs. hen Tic-Tac-Toe challenge returns this month, with showdowns available from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays plus noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 13 and 27.
The contest is open to Presque Isle Club members who earn 500 tier points each promotional day and then print a game ticket at a casino kiosk.
Those who beat the chicken in Tic Tac Toe win up to $1,000 cash and a T-shirt. If the chicken wins, the human gets $5 in free play and probably a ribbing from anyone watching. Those who tie the chicken get $7 cash.
On Thursdays, the human wins $50 in slot free play if the chicken lays an egg during the game.
$2,500 chip race
A free weekly blackjack contest on the last four Saturdays of August offers a top prize of $2,500 cash.
Registration starts at 7 p.m. Friday and closes at 3 p.m. Saturday or when the 100 available spots are filled.
From 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10, 17, 24, and 31, entrants play 10 blackjack hands within five minutes against the dealer. The player with the day’s highest chip count gets $2,500 cash.
Rivers
777 Casino Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(877) 558-0777
Steelers season ticket drawing
Starting Aug. 1, players who make a single bet of at least $100 on any professional football game at Rivers Sportsbook get an entry for a Sept. 8 drawing with a top prize of two Steelers season tickets for the 2019-20 season.
Frankie Valli
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Frankie Valli will perform two shows at the Rivers Event Center as part of the casino’s 10th-anniversary celebration.
Shows will be at 8 p.m. Aug. 10 and 11, with tickets costing from $69 to $99.
Valli was lead singer for The Four Seasons, famous for “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night).” The group was the subject of the Broadway musical “Jersey Boys.” Valli’s first new studio album in 15 years, “Romancing the ’60s,” is to be released in October.
SugarHouse
1001 N. Delaware Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
(877) 477-3715
Work zone winnings
SugarHouse, in the middle of remodeling itself, is offering a $25,000 home renovation as the top prize in drawings on Sept. 2.
Players earn entries from Aug. 1 through 7:45 p.m. Every half-hour from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2, entrants will be chosen to select a construction that will reveal a prize. At 8 p.m., one entrant will be selected for the grand prize of the renovation project from Lowe’s.
The casino’s $15 million project includes adding a permanent sportsbook, carpet replacement throughout, and a remodeled high-limit lounge. It will eventually change its name to Rivers Casino Philadelphia.
Valley Forge Resort Casino
1160 First Ave.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 354-8118
Cold cash sweepstakes
Five prizes of $5,000 cash will be given away in drawings at Valley Forge on Aug. 31.
Valley Club members start earning entries for slot or table play on Aug. 1. Members get five entries for each point earned through Aug. 31, 10X entries (20X for Elite tier) for play on Mondays.
From 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 31, one entrant will be chosen each hour to win $5,000 cash. Winners must be present to claim the prize.
Wind Creek
77 Sands Blvd.
Bethlehem, PA 18015
(877) 726-3777
2019 VW sweepstakes
Wind Creek is giving away a top prize of a 2019 Volkswagen Atlas and four prizes of $1,000 in slot free play in a drawing at 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
The first entry is free, with additional entries based on rated slot play from July 29 through 6:45 p.m. Aug. 25. Rewards members get 25X entries for play on Tuesdays this month and on Aug. 23 and 24 and 10X entries for play on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays through Aug. 18.
A second-chance drawing at 9 p.m. Aug. 25 will award five prizes of $1,000 in slot free play.
Slot machine hot seat
Hourly drawings from 1 to 7 p.m. Aug. 26 will award two prizes of up to $500 in cash, slot free play or gift cards. Prize values are doubled for the drawing at 8 p.m.
To be eligible, your Rewards card must be inserted into a slot machine at the time of the drawing.
