Presque Isle Downs & Casino

Address:	8199 Perry Hwy, Erie, PA 16509, USA
Phone:	+1 814-860-8999
Site:	presqueisledowns.com
Rating:	3.6
Working:	Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours Open 24 hours

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 4

Andy Nesbitt

Whenever I visit a casino, I sort of expect to lose some money but I NEVER expect to be robbed by the casino. Thats exactly what happened last night (12/28/12) at Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie. I had a nice dinner in Erie with friends and we decided to move the party to the casino. I am not a heavy gambler but I enjoy playing roulette. I went to the roulette table and cashed in $70 worth of $5 chips (I was betting on the outside only). The dealer informed me that there were already two other players using the standard red $5 chips so he issued me dark blue chips and explained that although there was no denomination on these blue chips, they were to be used as nickels ($5 chips). I saw no problem with that. I made a $10 bet and won. I decided to take my chips and walk away. I got a drink and went to the restroom and talked with my friends for a while. We decided to leave so I took my blue chips to the cashier and she told me I had to go back to the table where I got them to "chip up" before she could cash them. No problem. I took my 16 blue chips back to the table and said I needed to chip up. The dealer took them and gave me $16 in chips. I informed him that each chip was $5 - not $1. He told me that because I walked away from the table, those chips were now worth $1 - not $5. At this point, his supervisor got involved. He asked me how much my original buy-in was and I told him $70. He fiddled with his computer for a while and called HIS supervisor. After almost a half hour of waiting, they told me that they had no record of me being at that table and since I walked away with the chips, they could only be cashed for their minimum value ($1) costing me $66. I pointed to the ceiling and all of the cameras and explained that one of those cameras must have recorded the entire situation. He repeated that they had no record of me being at that table and used the excuse that I didnt use a "Players Card" so according to them, I was never at that table and was trying to scam them. However, if I had cheated at that table and tried to rob THEM, Im positive they would have it recorded from multiple angles on those same cameras. Like I said, Im not a professional gambler and I dont gamble often. I was unaware of the rule about leaving the table with those unmarked chips. The dealer could have signaled to me when I left that I needed to chip up before leaving but he did not. Additionally, he claimed he did not remember me at his table. This casino will still take tons of money form their patrons even without my business but Im still very upset about what happened and I will never go back there again. What started out as a nice night out with friends turned into a major disappointment. Im sure they could have gotten to the bottom of it and uncovered the facts but they claimed they couldnt do anything for me. I felt bullied into taking my $16 and leaving - which is what happened. I will never set foot in that place again!

Bev Z

We went because its our birthdays this month & they used to give you $10 free play. They changed the rule yet again, you get it only day of, before or after your actual birthday. Add its now a whopping $5 (barely worth the gas money if you live in town) Ok, so not the end of the world. But add they had 2 people working guest services & a line nearly out the door. 15 minutes wasted there & people complaining nonstop. Then we love to go out to watch & play the horse races. Wow! Where do I start? Some of the races werent even worth it with literally 4 horses in. Even those I think my dogs run faster. That also limits your betting options for obvious reasons of no matter what you could win if you bet across the board. We left after 3 or 4 races. Then bring on "Family Night," which is wonderful BUT the cheap eats so you can afford it as a family? Disgusting! We didnt eat but the people all around us were complaining that they were waiting for their grilled burgers & dogs forever at some points & the servers were trying to keep ahead by having a bunch of buns ready but the flies (hello horses = flies) were all over. The condiments area was a complete mess plus flies. The idea is great but youre a professional group. Spray for the flies, keep the area clean regularly and for Gods sake following the health rule of gloves doesnt keep filthy flies off! Disgusting & glad we werent eating! Our visit was well AFTER Roar on the Shore had gathered & left. The only truly packed area was the horse racing because of all the kids & families. So it wasnt a problem of being overwhelmed. Besides, if you know anything you know most locals avoid the place while we welcome all the bikers to gather there that entire week. Personally I have doubts we will return often for even the races, which we used to love & go to often.

former player

Nothing counts towards earning points. Free play does not count then if you happen to get free spins they dont count and if you happen to win the jackpot during a free spin you get a fraction of the jackpot because in tiny letters on the machine it says can not win with free spins. The priority line is a joke both in the buffet and at the cashiers cage. There is rarely any one at the priority line at the buffet and the 1 time I did get to pay before the other 100 people in the regular line then I was told to go to the end of the line and wait to be seated, had I just stayed in the regular line I would have been to the front by now. "Priority"? The next time I got through the priority cashier and was told to wait to the side of the regular line, after at least 30 people were seated before me I finally asked how many people are seated until you take "priority" next. At the cashiers cage there is a regular line and a priority line, no one ever looks at the priority line. The last time I could have been rude and jumped out and said "I am priotiry" but I wanted to see how many people they called before they got to me the "priority" . After the regular line was empty (at least 25 people) then they finally noticed me and called me over. I told the cashier that no one ever notices the priority line and she said it is kinda hard to see that line. Then maybe some changes need to be made. The web site shows casino hosts with an email address so I thought I would ask some questions and sent them each an email------------yep NO RESPONSE. The cash out machines where you put in your ticket and get your money only puts out $5 bills. A ticket over $200 cashed all in $5 bills. Annoying.

Jeff Olinger

I have been to many casinos in the country, Presque Isle Downs is by far the worst casino I have ever been to. The slots are so tight good luck squeezing a penny out of the $.50 minimum. The tables never pay, comps are terrible. I have spent my fair share of money in this place and asking for a buffet or a drink is impossible unless you are a casino favorite. I can say that I am local and get treated as such. This place is always complaining that the money is slipping, well if you treated people like they were customers and not a piece of dirt on the floor the players will come. I can say after last winter when the locals were the only ones at the casino during the bad weather and still were not treated well, come this winter that is supposed to be just as bad, that place will be a dead zone, and I will sit and laugh because the locals will be else where! I dont recommend this casino to anyone, EVER. When I do start recommending, it will be when the casino treats people better. Before I get someone that responds, I am in no way complaining that I do not win, its a casino thats the chance you take, I am complaining on how they treat you after you have spent your money in the casino and they look at you as if you havent spent anything!