Mount Airy to ban visitors under age 21 at hotel, restaurants, spa, pool
Dec. 13—Mount Airy Casino Resort visitors under 21 won't be able to enjoy a three-course meal or relaxing massage there starting Sunday, but can still tee up a Titleist at its neighboring golf course.
The Paradise Twp.-resort in Monroe County announced Monday that the age restrictions will apply to all hotel rooms, restaurants, the spa and pool areas, as well as the casino floor and bar area.
Another local casino — Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains Twp. — has barred guests under 21 from staying in the hotel since June 28, 2020.
Hassan Abdel-Moneim, who took over as vice president of resort operations at Mount Airy in May, said the shift toward adult-centric offerings has been in the works for several years.
"From what I understand, this was discussed prior to the pandemic," he said. "We send out surveys and there was a desire for more of an adult experience within the property."
Barring all minors from the casino property also will help stop illegal gambling activity.
In September, Mount Airy Casino Resort was fined $160,000 for three cases in which people under the legal gambling age of 21 gained access to the casino floor and gambled.
Among the violators was an 11-year-old female who played 10 different slot machines and cashed out two gaming vouchers.
"For us, underage drinking and gaming is a concern, so we want to do what is right," Abdel-Moneim said.
Resort officials felt it was important to allow minors access the golf course — which is set aside from the casino property — so families can keep spending quality time together.
"We had a long talk about it," Abdel-Moneim said. "There have been mother- and daughter-and father-and-son outings, and that's not bringing children into the property."
A covered outdoor pavilion which hosts a summer concert series will also be available to guests under 21, he said.
"Any of the meeting space would allow for minors to attend," he said. "It's just anything to do with the hotel, the pool and spa areas, and the gaming floor that would be off-limits."
Chris Barrett, president and CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, said he believes the switch to an adults-only facility will provide a boost to the resort.
"The Mount Airy brand is iconic, and part of that brand's story has been its attraction to adults for having romantic times together and exploring," Barrett said. "It lends itself much more to that type of demographic so naturally it's a very prudent and strong move."
Barrett said Mount Airy has an opportunity to cash in on customers from nearby big city markets looking for a quiet weekend getaway.
"It's really very brilliant," he said. "They're very innovative."
Abdel-Moneim said he previously worked on the West Coast and a couple of properties in Las Vegas adopted no-minors policies. Some towers in Atlantic City have adult-only pools, he said.
"I think it's becoming more normalized," he said. "If you think about it, casinos are for adults. ... it's an adult playground."
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rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @rtomkavage on Twitter.
