The Racetrack That Grew
Parx Casino & Racing
Live thoroughbred racing since the 1970s, one of Pennsylvania's biggest casinos, and a concert venue — all on Street Road.
Parx Casino & Racing is Bensalem's entertainment giant: a casino complex consistently ranked among the largest in Pennsylvania by gaming revenue, built on the grounds of the thoroughbred track that opened in 1974 as Keystone Racetrack and raced for decades as Philadelphia Park. Racing never left — live thoroughbred cards still run much of the year, headlined by the Pennsylvania Derby each fall.
The modern complex layers on a full casino floor, restaurants, sportsbook, and the Xcite Center concert venue, making it one of the busiest entertainment destinations in the Philadelphia suburbs. Love it or shrug at it, it is a defining piece of Bensalem's economy — and a major local employer and tax contributor.
Official website ↗Entertainment
The racing side
The track is the historic heart of the property. Thoroughbreds have run here since 1974, and the fall Pennsylvania Derby day — with the Cotillion for the fillies — brings graded-stakes racing and national attention to Street Road. General admission to the races has traditionally been free or minimal, which makes a live race day one of the area's most underrated cheap outings.
Watching morning workouts or an ordinary weekday card, you get a working backstretch community of trainers, grooms, and jockeys — an entire industry operating in plain sight behind the casino.
Entertainment
The casino era and what it means locally
Slots arrived in the 2000s under Pennsylvania's gaming law, the property rebranded as Parx, and table games, a sportsbook, and the Xcite Center followed. The venue now books national touring comedy and music acts, and the restaurant lineup covers everything from quick bites to steakhouse.
For Bensalem, the complex is an economic anchor: thousands of jobs and substantial host-community revenue that has helped hold municipal taxes down — a fact residents quietly appreciate every budget season. The trade-off is traffic on Street Road around big events, which locals learn to route around.
Questions People Ask
Parx Casino & Racing — frequently asked questions
What is Parx Casino?
Parx Casino & Racing is a casino and live thoroughbred racing complex on Street Road in Bensalem, PA, consistently among the largest casinos in Pennsylvania by gaming revenue. It includes a casino floor, sportsbook, restaurants, and the Xcite Center concert venue.
Does Parx still have live horse racing?
Yes. Live thoroughbred racing has run on the property since it opened as Keystone Racetrack in 1974, and continues much of the year. The Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes each fall are the track's marquee race days.
Where is Parx Casino located?
On Street Road (Route 132) in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, PA — just off Route 1, about ten minutes from both I-95 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and roughly 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia.
What is the Xcite Center?
The Xcite Center is the live entertainment venue inside Parx Casino, hosting national touring musicians, comedians, and other acts in a theater-style setting.
Want Parx Casino & Racing in your daily life?
I help buyers land in Bensalem and the neighborhoods around it — and I know which streets put places like this in your weekly routine.
