Valley Forge Casino Resort’s slot revenue up over previous year

“The remarkable aspect of the 2014 slot revenue numbers is the fact that Valley Forge Casino Resort — the only full-amenity casino resort in the region — had the only increase in slot revenue from 2013 to 2014,” noted VFCR marketing director Jennifer Galle. “All other casinos, particularly in the Philadelphia area, saw a drop in revenue, while VFCR increased by nearly 20 percent.”

A midweek, early evening once-over of license plates in the jammed parking lot revealed that the vast majority of patrons were from Pennsylvania, which is in sync with casino studies.

“We find that our regular clientele travel from as far north as the Lehigh Valley and as far west as Harrisburg,” Galle said.

And it’s probably a safe bet to say that not all of those folks have driven here to hit pay dirt at the slots or tables.

With high-end restaurants Pacific Prime and Viviano Cucina Italiana, run by renowned chef Tony Clark, having become attractions in their own right since the casino opened nearly three years ago, the glittering First Avenue fun palace has gradually evolved into what CEO Mike Bowman has called “more than a casino.”

Even the world-famous Hemmings Motor News Great Race chose VFCR as a pit stop..

“Our Tony Clark restaurants could go up against any non-casino restaurant,” Galle said. “A lot of casinos have restaurants that are an amenity for the casino, but people come here just for the great dining experience by Tony. We believe these amenities that separate us from other casinos.”

More than 1,200 guests filled the Convention Center last New Year’s Eve for the Jerry Blavat party, with three weddings were simultaneously going on in the ballrooms, Galle recalled.

While a few Pennsylvania casinos have added some retail stores to their mix, VFCR’s proximity to the East Coast’s largest shopping mecca has made that move unnecessary, Galle suggested.

“A great aspect of our location is the retail shopping we have so close; the King of Prussia Mall is just a few minutes away from the casino. Our guests can come to the casino for a weekend, gamble, see a show, experience fine dining, and take advantage of the East Coast’s premier shopping destination. We also have a number of great partnerships with the mall and several high-end retail shops,” Galle added. “We recently held a gaming promotion during which our guests were transported to Tiffany’s at the mall for shopping, and we gave guests a King of Prussia Style Pass, which offers $500 in savings at mall stores, for simply providing their email addresses. We’re always exploring other ways to partner with the mall and with businesses in the King of Prussia area.”

With the debut of the Valley Forge Casino Resort Music Fair last month, folks are now traveling here from further away than Harrisburg or Allentown, Galle admitted.

“When it comes to our larger Valley Forge Casino Resort Music Fair shows, guest are traveling farther distances and staying overnight. When Smokey Robinson came to town in December, the hotel rooms in both of our towers were nearly sold out for the night.”