Rushmore Casino

Amid much fanfare, casinos in Pennsylvania opened blackjack tables and other casino games yesterday. And at the Mohegan Sun casino at the Pocono Downs racetrack, two players won $25,000 at the blackjack table before the room opened to the public.

Four Mohegan Sun players were chosen at random to help open the new game room. In the opening ceremonies, the four players were to play a free round of blackjack in which a winning hand was worth $25,000 or a new Mercedes. Of the four players, two claimed the $25,000 on winning hands, while the “losers” took home a consolation prize of $5,000. (Now those are some true blackjack bonuses.)

After this, Mohegan Tribe vice chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum burned sage and offered a traditional good-luck blessing. The casino presented a donation of $12,000 to the United Way based on a charity blackjack night recently held there. The floodgates were then opened for a large crowd to play various games at 46 tables including some blackjack variations and 16 poker tables.

Blackjack and table games also started in the Mount Airy Casino Resort, and a few customers reported some dissatisfaction. The main complaint was that the casino offered so few $5 blackjack tables and so many with $15 minimum. Mount Airy PR reps told local media that “It all depends on business volume. We’re going to try [to get more $5 tables], but we can’t guarantee when they’ll be available.”

Nevertheless, Mount Airy reported success with thousands of players enjoying blackjack, craps, roulette and other table games, plus 11 poker tables and special high-roller rooms.