kennethw896
I hate casinos to begin with. Too much trash and flash. The buffet is good and not at a bad price and they run all my UFC ppv's with decent drink specials. Other then that its pretty much what ya see is what ya get.
abcde1111
This place has gone downhill. While I don't go to a casino looking to get rich, I go to have fun. Or at least try. Tioga being a half an hour away. It is not fun when you are constantly down. $2.50 bet on colossal, 12 spins 3x, $14.55 win. $2.00 quick hit, 25 games 3x, $9.80 win. $2.50 bet pretty kitty, 10 spins, $11.12 win. $2.00 bet lucky fountain, 15 free games, $4.88 win. Four total bonuses in three hours playing is good for Tioga. I find that when I go up there these days, it isn't really to play slots, but to get my daily dose of laxative in the forum of the over priced buffet. Save your hard earned cash!
amethyst1875
We attended an event here. They have plenty of covered parking. Everyone enjoyed the food. It was a buffet with lots of vegetables - salad, broccoli salad, squash with green beans as well as mashed potatoes, stuffed fish & roast beef, bread & dessert. There were complaints that the cash bar was pricey with limited wine options. The bathrooms were very clean. All around I think everyone had a great time!
237katiek
Prices at the buffet are getting more expensive as are the cocktails at the bars. You will not get anymore, just pay more. We usually meet a few local couples and go once a week for "dinner" and play the machines. If you want just the salad bar section, like me, you ought to go on one of the cheap nights (M, T, W). If you are a food gorger then you will can certainly consume until you burst. I have never tried the desserts but I see several people with multiples, so they must be okay. Service staff are always friendly and on top of the empty plates and drink refills.As noted by several people, the machines all seem to be paying less and less.This combined with the drink prices and the buffet prices have many of us thinking about going to a local restaurant where you can get a Fantastic Prime Rib dinner for less than the buffet. Drinks are less expensive and a bit more generous and we don't lose our money at the machines!If your bottom line is hurting, raising the prices WILL NOT help. Tioga Downs does not offer enough quality for the price. We will go less often and spend our money elsewhere.
889bertg
It is a small casino with only machine. There is a small racetrack it nice and clean. The staff is really friendly. Buffet is OK but a bit expensive.
646KarenB
I have had my ups and downs at this casino. Sometime you can go in an play for hours, sometimes you cannot open any bonus, and you leave discouraged. They have a lot of different machines, they change them fairly frequently. Staff is very nice, wish they would put in ticket redemption machine, so you don't always have to go to the cashier if and when you might win. they do now announce winners like other casino's do, so you really just don't know if anyone is winning. We go because it is the closest to our home.
msmacher
Have been here several times. Tioga Downs is competing for a gambling license but needs to "up the ante" for the current experience. First the good; very community based, hit it on the head with the "Country Fair" theme which attracts the local population. The best way to describe this Racino is that it is Wal-Mart style, quality is sometimes lacking. I went with some friends to a Labor Day weekend event, trotter racing, a BBQ and a horse trick riding show. Some comments;The BBQ was $10 held in a tent and court area next to the race track. The wrist band was not classy at all. The food was served buffet style, the hotdogs were warm and greasy as they sat in greasy liquid. The "Spiedies" a local thing which is marinated meat pieces cooked on a grill and served on Italian bread. They were not grilled, but maybe baked, this doesn't allow them to sear and the flavor is lost. These Spiedies tasted like boil chunks of chicken, no flavor. They were served on a sub roll, not Italian bread, just not good. The pulled pork tasted like the $5 a pound pre-made stuff in the cold meat dept. of any grocery store. The potatoes salad was good, but very warm. The BBQ beans were under cooked and flavorless. The whole thing was not put together very well, plus families were going in buying two adult tickets then feeding their kid's. Sorry, Racino's should not be a family event felt a little uncomfortable with the kid's there. There was also some problems with music. During the races which started around 6:30 PM a country band started playing in the BBQ tent which was trackside. If you were at the rail, you couldn't here the announcer for the races and for some race fans someone announcing the race is part of the thrill of attending the race. Then when the Texas Trick Rider's showed up you could not here anything, because the bed decided to do a 10 minute long song. Eventually a gentlemen from Tioga Downs, told the band to shut it down and this seemed to work off and on the rest of the evening. Just terrible, what was the Entertainment Director thinking?A few things about the race track, first, port a john's for bathrooms. My gosh, invest in some bathrooms at the trackside level. Second, one of my friends has a bad knee and there did not seem to be any handicap access to the race track area, you had to walk up or down some many steps to get to the track. With a older base, maybe a elevator, etc. could be installed? They are doing new construction and maybe that was why thing's were this way. Right know, just an average place, they need to do something more to make this a destination place.
EdV791
When New York racetracks were failing the NY legislature approved the addition of casinos to racetracks hence the nickname racinos. It certainly has paid off particularly the Tioga Downs Casino has increased consumer participation. At one point the racetrack was closed because of lack of participation but since a casino was added, profits have increased to the point where the casino is expanding, a high rise garage is being built and a hotel is being added. The racetrack is still operating and includes trotters only. Each year my wife and I travel to the Finger Lakes for a short vacation and always stop at Tioga Downs on the way for a few hours of "fun" depending on whether we win or not. It is a small casino. Restaurants are at a minimum and include a Subway, a bar with sandwich specials, and an all you can eat buffet. There are no "table" games available (Blackjack, poker, roullet, etc.) only slot machines. The payback on the machines is only average but is worth a visit.
elbojbb
Happened to run into one of the band members of a group playing at Tioga Downs, and he comped my wife and me a couple of front row tickets.Before the show, we paid $19 each for a meal at their buffet. The line to get into the buffet was endless, the sun shone directly into anyone's eyes facing West, and the food was (at best) hospital or nursing home quality. The steak was tough and the prime rib tougher, with no steak knife to cut it. The chicken was okay, and the desserts pre-processed. Had to ask the waitress for drink refills even though she stopped 3 or 4 times and could see the glasses were empty.The front row seats were on the end, and we could see exactly 1.5 of 5 band members. (evidently that don't actually test the sight lines when the place chairs on the track) Fortunately no one bought the front row tickets in the center section, and we were allowed to move.If you're going, eat before you get there. They're counting on customers being so intoxicated that you won't notice how bland and insipid the food actually is.
191sherry
The machines are very tight and payouts very low. There was a time when you did win a little money, not any more. I think they should stay the way they are and move the real Casino to the Binghamton area.
LeonJ361
Played the slot machines and had their buffet dinner. Excellent! Not crowded. Watched the harness racing. Very satisfied with this casino.
flashcash
went to tioga downs the other sunday and was pleasantly surprised. had seen bad reviews and expected the worst, but found the opposite. the gaming floor was small compared to nearby pennsylvania casinos but the property is nonsmoking which for us is a plus! the staff from the players club reps to the great bartender at coasters (eric) were all friendly and eager to help. a tip: valet park...it"s only $3. and mike the valet will take good care of you. we found the slots payout to be the same as eveywhere else, by state law they must return 92%. we"ll be back.
Frogger688
My family, friends enjoy going to the races here. It is and inexpensive way to have something to do on the weekends when it is nice. There is no admission cost and you don't have to bet if you don't want to and bets are as low as 2 dollars. It is just a fun time.
NewYorkGrandpa
I have gone to Tioga Downs from the day they opened the doors and I have seen this location grow and hopefully will grow into a full casino soon. The food areas are excellent for the money especially the Sunday Brunch and if your a member you will get a discount and can use your points. Monthly you will receive coupons to get free play and food discounts. The entertainment that they have during the year is excellent with big names included. The harness racing is great to watch and play. I would recommend visiting Tioga Downs and have a fun filled day. Also this facility is kept very clean and even with construction going on building a garage and eventually a hotel the area is very well kept.
JohnandJaneS
Slots only, no table games. Trotters in season. Long walk to the parking lot....although there is a shuttle and valet parking. Food in the bar and buffet is OK, but nothing special. Good size casino for a local place in the middle of nowhere. It gets mobbed, almost claustrophobic, on weekends. Great spot for the local retired grey haired set who have a few bucks to spend (ie: lose) and don't want to travel far.We go there mostly for the cheap but good shows and we stay to eat the OK food and donate a few bucks to the machines. Many of the shows are only $10 with open seating. Some we've been to were great. Some were better than shows I've seen for $100 a ticket. Some were just OK. How good does a show have to be to be a bargin for 10 bucks??? The reserved seat shows cost more and get better acts.......but no one will ever beat Bill Haley and the Comets.....what a hoot, and only ten bucks a seat!Disregard all of the above if they get a permit for table games and build an auditorium and hotel. Then, we'll see.