In the gently rolling hills of the Poconos, nestled among the lush natural landscape, a new sensory experience has unfolded. Mohegan Pennsylvania, a branch of the Connecticut-based Mohegan Tribe commercial gaming enterprise, has thrown open the doors of its smoke-free Aristocrat Gaming Lounge in collaboration with gaming manufacturer Aristocrat. The launch which was held on Friday, April 24, 2024, has given life to a new climate-conscious casino trend.
Ensconced right by the resort’s hotel entrance, the Aristocrat Gaming Lounge’s 2,000-square feet contours are filled with the electrifying echoes of 55 of Aristocrat’s top-of-the-line slot titles. In a universe where puffing on cigars and cigarettes has long been part of the setting, this innovative lounge bans smoking entirely, drawing in patrons with its refreshing, clean-air ambiance.
“We’re exhilarated to inaugurate the non-smoking Aristocrat Gaming Lounge, a concrete step toward promoting exceptional and wholesome gaming experiences,” articulated Tony Carlucci, the president of Mohegan Pennsylvania. “Winning hands with Aristocrat, a seasoned player in the casino slot domain, has empowered us to deliver an exhilarating gaming adventure.”
Pioneering gaming titles such as Dragon Link, Lightning Link, and Buffalo only serve to heighten the thrill of the venture. They are complemented by upcoming crowd-pleasers such as Triple Supreme Extreme, Mo Mummy, and Whisker Wheels, all amplifying the lure of this captivating smoke-less arena.
In stark contrast, the main casino floor of Mohegan Pennsylvania spans an expansive 67,000 square feet, bustling with over 1,600 slots and close to 60 live dealer table games. However, a significant part of the floor space is earmarked for smoking. The no-smoking policy for this newly launched Aristocrat Gaming Lounge endorses a national shift towards healthier gambling spaces, notwithstanding the leniency of Pennsylvania laws permitting tobacco consumption in half of the casino floor space.
The casino’s spokesperson elucidated that the Aristocrat Gaming Lounge is “completely enclosed, with an ingress to and from the Sky Food Court.” Keeping up with the resort’s commitment to green, clean gaming, there’s a door that links the hotel to the Aristocrat Gaming Lounge.
Mohegan’s commitment to healthier environs is in sync with the motto of two other casinos in Pennsylvania – Parx Casino located north of Philadelphia in Bensalem and its sister concern, Parx Casino Shippensburg. These two are the only brick-and-mortar gaming houses out of 17 in the state that does not permit indoor smoking.
Mohegan Pennsylvania, perched on 400 hillside acres in Wilkes-Barre, is renowned for its diverse offering besides gaming. Its sprawling property boasts of a 238-room hotel, a 20,000 square foot convention space, a palette of eateries and bars, retail shopping arcades, nightlife and live harness horse racing. Further drawing in lovers of music and sports, the glittering Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza is a stone’s throw away, magnetizing concert-goers and hockey aficionados alike.
