It’s a small space, fitting a little more than 700 people into the grand ballroom. On the second floor of the casino near the new entrance, the space is actually rentable for conferences, weddings, and similar events, and undergoes a hasty reconfiguration for concerts and similar events. I realized this as I walked through SugarHouse to go see a stand-up show from Trevor Noah on Saturday night in the casino’s new Event Center. Yes, the expansion included a giant parking garage. Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House is scheduled to open sometime in the near future. It’s expanded the gaming floor - the casino has an actual poker room now, instead of just a “poker tent” - and the whole place has been refreshed. The casino is in the process of a $165 million expansion. For a while, SugarHouse’s slogan might as well have been: “Sad, even for a casino.” It was just a slots barn at first only recently is it becoming more of a destination. Unfortunately, among my group of friends, I might be the only one to feel that way. That includes the sole casino in Philadelphia, SugarHouse.
I enjoy the thrill of pretending that next small bet or slot pull will lead me to riches, I enjoy the people watching and I enjoy the complimentary drinks. I’m not a huge gambler, but I like places where you can gamble. Photo | Matt Bishop for SugarHouse Casino
