HarrisburgNightlife

[…] The so-well-connected-his-UPC-is-dialed-into-the-system Mike at Harrisburg Nightlife got invited to the soft opening. Check out his spot-on review here  […]

Left by Jersey Mike » Archive » Place Yer Bets! on February 11th, 2008

Great post - you scooped the Patriot! The big question is: Were the drinks free on the casino floor?

Left by floor9 on February 11th, 2008

[…] No Free Drinks at Hollywood Casino Posted by floor9 In Casino, Central PA 11Feb 08 Once again, the local blogging community scoops the Patriot — check out the review over at HarrisburgNightlife. […]

Left by floor9.com » Blog Archive » No Free Drinks at Hollywood Casino on February 11th, 2008

How late do they serve alcohol and food?

Left by danwxman on February 11th, 2008

The coffee place (”Extras”) is open 24/7. I believe real food service ends around 2am, and as far as I can tell, beverage service does as well. It’s curious that they didn’t go for an entertainment license so they can serve drinks 24/7 (I could be wrong; maybe they already did).

Left by floor9 on February 11th, 2008

The electronic table game aspect is very interesting. But I think the reason there aren’t that many is because the casino makes a much larger profit off of slots. If they prove popular though, I imagine they might put more in at a later time.

What’s this about an entertainment license for 24 hour alcohol? Theoretically, could a restaurant, bar or nightclub get this type of license? I’ve never heard of it.

Left by danwxman on February 11th, 2008

I’ve only vaguely ever looked into it, so someone correct me if I’m way off.

Basically, the entertainment license allows a venue to continue liquor sales after 2am. I’m pretty sure it allows for sale 24/7. The two restrictions are the extreme expense and a membership requirement. From what I recall, the word “membership” has a lot of wiggle room. “Membership” can be as informal as completing an “application” at the door. In the case of a casino, you could very easily set a rule that in order to receive free drinks or after-hours service, you need to present your players’ card; thus, “membership” to the casino is established.

I think the license is available to any venue or organization that is eligible to apply for a liquor license. Most venues stay away from it because of the cost — not just the license itself, but additional staffing and other operational costs. However, for a casino that’s already open 24/7 and is basically raking in cash hand over fist, it would seem like a logical addition.

A friend of mine is the resident DJ at a club up north that has an entertainment license, I’ll have to ask him about it. I think they stay open until sunrise or later.

Left by floor9 on February 11th, 2008

I think maybe you are just confusing it with an afterhours license, where bars can serve until 3am? That’s the only way establishments can serve after 2am (in PA), or so I thought. There aren’t any afterhours places around here but there’s a couple in Philly and one in Pittsburgh that I know of.

Left by danwxman on February 12th, 2008

I may very well be. Like I said, I’ve never done any hardcore research on the topic; this is all word of mouth from a few different sources. I emailed a friend over at LCE and will summarize his response here. Back to the point, even if it required modification of our existing laws, there’s no reason why the casinos shouldn’t be allowed to go 24/7.

Left by floor9 on February 12th, 2008

danwxman - I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but I know of at least four “after hours” places around here that serve until 3 or 3:15.

Left by Sara on February 12th, 2008

First of all, I have been to Vegas several times. I have a hard believing that Hollywood slots parlor is going to be anyting like Vegas. I have also been to the “Slot parlors” in WV and Del. They are full of senior citizens. They are the most unhip places ever. I will check it out but I have a feeling that it’s going to be more of a dining destination than anything else.

Left by rick56 on February 12th, 2008

I just visited the casino last night. It was actually pretty nice. There are no free drinks, but the drinks are not that expensive. I asked a cocktail waitress about it, she told me because of PA law they cannot give out free drinks. Thanks PA liqour control board for sucking ass in yet another aspect of life! Anyways.. the first machine I sat down at, a 2 cent 3 wheel multiple pay line slot, inserted my card and 10 dollars, and walked away with over 40 after 5 minutes. The bar in the middle of the casino, Hollywood on the Roof, was amazing. The bartenders are fast, the drinks hard and cheap. There was a live preformance even on a thursday night, doing covers of songs along the lines of Johnny Cash. While this is not Atlantic City or Vegas, it is down the street and it is quite the treat. I can’t wait to see what additions it brings over the next few years, regardless of what all the negative nancies say.

Left by amanda on February 14th, 2008

Walking up to the bar in the middle, a mixed drink cost around 4 dollars. From the cocktail waitress herself a mixed drink was 3 dollars, but much smaller. The cocktail waitresses are also very quick with the drinks, because they use handheld devices to put in their drink orders, which is pretty cool and relatively new to the area, I have only heard of it being used at Bricco before.

While the drinks are not free, they are certainly cheaper than going most anywhere downtown non-happy hour. Maybe in the near future they will make them free, or perhaps they will be free to premium players, whenever they figure out their tier levels and how their point system works, which wasn’t explained at all when I signed up, I was just so excited to go look around I figured I’d ask questions later.

Left by amanda on February 15th, 2008

I’m going to wait on signing up until they roll out the inevitable signup promos. I think we’ll see some of that beginning around their grand opening in March.

Left by floor9 on February 15th, 2008

I was pleasently surprised when I did sign up for my card, when they gave me it they give you a free twisty rope thing that attached to your belt buckle or keys and holds the card, in Atlantic City I’ve spent up to 10 bucks on them to hold my cards, it was a small momento, but I was excited for it. The slots have the nice feature of welcoming you personally when you put your card into the machine, and you can check out your balance but I’m unaware of what that balance means currently, and theres also a countdown balance, like at Total Rewards Casinos in AC, which I also never understood.

I figure they can’t not include any new players in any promotions and if they do look for the short brunette throwing a hissy fit!!

Not to mention I am going to attempt to ask for my free hourly drink, can’t hurt, damn lying cocktail waitress, thanks for the heads up Bone!

Left by amanda on February 15th, 2008

I just got my response from the LCB. Basically, liquor sales must stop between 2am and 7am (unless it’s a club license, in which case club members can be served liquor up until 3am). HOWEVER — and this is interesting — there’s legislation in the works right now to consider extending liquor sales until 5am at the casinos. Presumably, this would only bar (pun intended) sales between 5am and 7am.

Left by floor9 on March 1st, 2008

[…] A recent thread over on Harrisburg Nightlife talking about Hollywood Casino in Grantville led to a discussion on Pennsylvania’s liquor laws.  The subject of the oft-discussed but rarely-seen mythical “entertainment license” came up.  While no such license actually exists, I did uncover some interesting news about a (hopefully) upcoming liquor law change. […]

Left by Hollywood Casino - Drinks ‘Till 5? on March 1st, 2008

[…] still haven’t returned to the Hollywood Casino after the grand opening, but as I assumed, it sounds like the “table games” are some of the most popular games. I don’t […]

Left by HarrisburgNightlife » Blog Archive » Don’t Pee On My Leg and Tell Me it’s Raining on April 8th, 2008