Valley Forge Casino to Open March 31

The area’s newest casino will be cha-chinging before the month is over.

Valley Forge Casino Resort, located in the former Valley Forge Convention Center in Upper Merion, will officially open its doors at midnight on March 31, following two invitation-only test nights, on March 27 and 29, to benefit the Upper Merion Township Foundation. The $150 million upscale casino and resort will be Pennsylvania’s 11th casino, in the shadow of the King of Prussia Plaza, about a mile away.

“From a local economic-impact standpoint, we’re going to provide quite a bit in income taxes and also gaming revenue to Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Valley Forge spokesperson David La Torre.

On its website, Valley Forge claims to be “the region’s only full-amenity gaming resort with live table games and all the latest and greatest slot machines.” The selection of games includes Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Pai Gow Poker, Mini and Midi Baccarat and hundreds of slot machines.

What you might not expect is the casino access policy. According to the site, the casino is open only to guests of the property who are attending a convention, meeting or private function; guests who spend a minimum of $10 in one of the resort’s dining, nightlight or retail outlets; and individuals who buy a term membership to the casino, which include additional perks such as a free meal and discounts at the resort’s restaurants. All guests must be 21 or older.

“We’re very excited about our access plans, and especially our membership opportunities," said Robert Carmignani, vice president of marketing for Valley Forge, in a press release. “All of these options allow our patrons to enjoy the amenities of our resort and provide access to the casino. We expect to deliver an unmatched, sophisticated resort experience.”

The casino’s access policy is intended to provide guests with “the most exclusive and exciting gaming experience anywhere,” according to the press release. On opening night, resort staff will focus on making sure each guest receives “top notch personal service,” according to La Torre.

“It’s really a day to put all our hard work preparing into action for our guests,” La Torre said. “Opening at midnight gives us a chance to spread out opening day.”

According to La Torre, the full facility will be open on March 31 with the exception of two restaurants – Pacific Prime Steakhouse and Viviano Italian. Both are slated to open sometime in April.

The Radisson Hotel at Valley Forge Casino offers 486 guest rooms and suites, with complimentary parking and shuttle service to the mall. Valley Forge will also boast a nightclub, lounge and two bar areas, a full-service spa, a 24-hour fitness center, an eventual total of seven upscale restaurants and two retail shops.

VF Casino Resort hopes to create more than 850 jobs, with at least 650 full-time positions. A sampling of current openings include receptionist, accountant, nightlife servers, hotel night manager, marketing representative, valet parking attendant, bartender, hospitality executive and food service workers.

“The number [of positions] just keeps going up as we get closer to opening,” La Torre said. “We look forward to opening our doors to the community, and creating more than 650 jobs for working area families,” said Valley Forge President and CEO Saverio “Sal” R. Scheri, III, in a press release issued in February.

To discover more about Valley Forge Casino Resort, check out the website, or call 610-354-8118.