Presque Isle Downs & Casino
Presque Isle Downs & Casino is a casino, sportsbook, and thoroughbred horse-racing property near Erie, Pennsylvania.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Presque Isle Downs & Casino is a gaming and horse-racing property in Summit Township, near Erie, Pennsylvania. The facility combines a casino, live and simulcast racing, pari-mutuel wagering, sports betting, and hospitality-oriented entertainment. It occupies approximately 272 acres near Interstate 90 and serves the Erie-area market as well as visitors from the wider Pennsylvania and surrounding regional catchment. The property was developed by MTR Gaming Group, which broke ground in October 2005. The casino opened on February 28, 2007, making it one of Pennsylvania's early racino developments. Simulcasting was transferred from MTR's former upper Peach Street location and began at the new property in August 2007. The one-mile oval racing track opened on September 2, 2007. Its Tapeta Footings surface, made from a mixture of sand, rubber, fiber, and a wax coating, gave the track a distinctive technical position: it was described as the first synthetic horse-racing track longer than one mile in the Northeastern United States and the first United States racetrack paved with Tapeta. The gaming complex was initially centered on slot-machine gaming and racing. Its casino later expanded to table games, while the property has been described as operating approximately 1,500 to 1,600 slot machines. Pennsylvania's regulated gaming framework distributes a substantial share of gaming revenue to the Commonwealth, supporting purposes that include property-tax relief, economic development, tourism, and the horse-racing industry. Table-game revenue also contributes to state and local government funds. Presque Isle Downs added sports wagering after the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved its sports-betting license on February 6, 2019. The property planned a sportsbook and 50 self-service betting kiosks. BetAmerica kiosks began operating on August 9, 2019. BetAmerica's online sportsbook then conducted a three-day soft launch beginning December 16, 2019, followed by a full launch on December 19, 2019. These additions broadened the property from a traditional racino into a multi-channel gaming venue. Ownership changed materially in January 2019. Eldorado Resorts, the successor to MTR Gaming Group, sold the property to Churchill Downs Incorporated for $178.9 million. Churchill Downs thereby added the Pennsylvania casino and racing operation to its portfolio of gaming and racing assets. Presque Isle Downs continues to be identified with both casino gaming and thoroughbred racing, including named stakes races such as the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes, Presque Isle Mile, Tom Ridge Stakes, Satin and Lace Stakes, Karl Boyes Memorial Stakes, HPBA Stakes, and Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes. The property remains an active Pennsylvania gaming and racing destination, although specific current operating details can change under regulatory, ownership, and wagering-market developments.
History
Presque Isle Downs & Casino was developed as part of Pennsylvania's expansion of regulated casino gaming and racetrack gaming. MTR Gaming Group broke ground for the property in October 2005 on a large site in Summit Township near Erie and Interstate 90. The development was designed to combine casino gaming with thoroughbred racing, creating a racino rather than a stand-alone casino or traditional racecourse. The casino opened on February 28, 2007. Simulcast racing operations were moved from MTR Gaming's former location on upper Peach Street and became operational at the new property in August of that year. The track followed on September 2, 2007, with a one-mile oval designed for thoroughbred racing. Its Tapeta Footings synthetic surface was notable in the United States and Northeast: it was described as the first Tapeta-paved racetrack in the country and the first synthetic track longer than one mile in the Northeastern United States. The surface used sand, rubber, fiber, and a wax coating. The property operated within Pennsylvania's revenue-sharing and regulatory framework. Its casino offered slot machines and later table games, while racing and simulcasting provided additional wagering products. Under the state's gaming arrangements, gaming revenue is divided between the operator and the Commonwealth, with public allocations supporting areas such as property-tax relief, economic development, tourism, and horse racing. Table-game revenue also flows to state and local government funds. MTR Gaming Group's ownership was subsequently succeeded by Eldorado Resorts. In January 2019, Eldorado sold Presque Isle Downs & Casino to Churchill Downs Incorporated for $178.9 million. The transaction placed the property within Churchill Downs' broader portfolio of racing and gaming assets while preserving its regional identity in northwestern Pennsylvania. The property expanded into sports betting during 2019. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved its sports-betting license on February 6. Presque Isle Downs planned a sportsbook and 50 self-betting kiosks, and BetAmerica kiosks began operation on August 9. BetAmerica's online sportsbook received a three-day soft launch beginning December 16, followed by a full launch on December 19. This development extended the property beyond its traditional combination of slots, table games, racing, and simulcasting. Presque Isle Downs has also hosted named stakes races, including the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes, Presque Isle Mile, Tom Ridge Stakes, Satin and Lace Stakes, Karl Boyes Memorial Stakes, HPBA Stakes, and Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes. Its identity therefore rests on the integration of casino gaming and horse racing, with sports wagering adding a newer digital and retail channel. The property remains an active casino and racing venue, although its precise gaming inventory, wagering partners, and event calendar are subject to change.
- 2019
Ownership transfers to Churchill Downs
[1]Churchill Downs Incorporated acquired the property from Eldorado Resorts in January.
- 2019
Sports-betting license approved
[1]The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved a sports-betting license on February 6.
- 2019
BetAmerica kiosks launch
[1]Self-service BetAmerica betting kiosks began operating on August 9.
- 2019
BetAmerica online sportsbook launches
[1]The online sportsbook conducted a soft launch in December and fully launched on December 19.
- 2007
Casino opens
[1]Presque Isle Downs opened to the public on February 28.
- 2007
Simulcasting begins at the new property
[1]Simulcast racing operations moved from the former upper Peach Street location and began at Presque Isle Downs in August.
- 2007
One-mile Tapeta track opens
[1]The property's one-mile oval track opened on September 2 with a Tapeta synthetic racing surface.
- 2005
Construction begins
[1]MTR Gaming Group broke ground in October for the casino and horse-racing development near Erie, Pennsylvania.
Products and positioning
A regional Pennsylvania racino that combines casino entertainment, thoroughbred racing, simulcasting, and regulated sports wagering in an accessible Erie-area location.
Gaming · 2007
Casino gaming
The casino is the property's principal gaming operation, offering slot-machine gaming and table games under Pennsylvania regulation. The referenced description identifies approximately 1,500 to 1,600 slot machines, although the exact current inventory may vary. Gaming revenue is subject to Pennsylvania's statutory distribution framework.
Horse racing · 2007
Thoroughbred horse racing
Presque Isle Downs operates a one-mile oval thoroughbred racing track that opened in 2007. The track uses Tapeta Footings, a synthetic material made from sand, rubber, fiber, and wax. The property has hosted named stakes races including the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes and Presque Isle Mile.
Wagering · 2007
Simulcast racing
The property provides simulcast racing following the transfer of operations from MTR Gaming's former upper Peach Street location. Simulcasting complements live racing by allowing customers to view and wager on races conducted at other tracks.
Sports wagering · 2019
BetAmerica sports betting
Presque Isle Downs expanded into sports wagering in 2019 after receiving Pennsylvania regulatory approval. The offering included 50 self-service kiosks, which began operating in August, and an online sportsbook that completed its full launch in December.
Brand decisions
2019
Sell the property to Churchill Downs IncorporatedM&ABackground
Eldorado Resorts, the successor to original developer MTR Gaming Group, owned the property before the transaction.
Action taken
Eldorado Resorts sold Presque Isle Downs & Casino to Churchill Downs Incorporated in January 2019.
Aftermath
The property became part of Churchill Downs Incorporated's portfolio of racing and gaming properties.
Acquisition price. $178.9 million (January 2019 transaction)
2019
Enter regulated sports bettingProduct launchBackground
Pennsylvania's regulated sports-betting market created an opportunity for Presque Isle Downs to add wagering products beyond casino games and horse racing.
Action taken
The property obtained regulatory approval, planned a sportsbook, introduced 50 BetAmerica self-service kiosks, and launched an online sportsbook.
Aftermath
Sports wagering became an additional retail and digital offering associated with the property.
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