The Fixed Position You Can Measure From
New York City sits 16.0 straight-line miles from Yonkers Raceway & Empire City Casino, the nearest documented gaming venue in the reference set. Road distance is longer, and this article does not publish driving miles or travel time.
The question about craps and blackjack is a question about rules, and rules are set by authorities, not by geography. What this article can do is fix the venue positions so you can measure your own trip, then point you to where the current rule answer lives.
How Straight-Line Distance Works
A straight-line distance, also called great-circle distance, is the shortest path between two points on the Earth's surface. It ignores every road, bridge, tunnel, and border crossing. It is a measurement of position, not of travel.
Road distance is always longer because roads follow terrain, avoid water, and connect through junctions rather than cutting across open ground. A straight-line figure tells you which venues are geographically closest; it does not tell you which is quickest to reach.
The table below lists every documented venue paired with New York City in the reference set, with the measurement type stated for each row.
| Reference point | Straight-line miles | Measurement type |
|---|---|---|
| Yonkers Raceway & Empire City Casino | 16.0 | great-circle |
| Parx Casino and Racing | 64.6 | great-circle |
| Wind Creek Bethlehem | 71.2 | great-circle |
| Mount Airy Casino Resort | 74.1 | great-circle |
| Monticello | 75.6 | great-circle |
| Valley Forge | 85.5 | great-circle |
| Ocean Casino | 95.8 | great-circle |
| Showboat | 95.9 | great-circle |
| Delaware Park | 112.1 | great-circle |
Every figure above is a straight-line measurement between documented coordinates. None of them is a road distance, and none should be read as a travel time.
Where the Nearest Venue Sits
Yonkers Raceway & Empire City Casino sits in Yonkers, New York, at coordinates 40.918021, -73.86529. The venue opened in 1899 as a horse racing facility and is owned by Vici Properties, with documented slot machine count of 7,500 and gaming floor space of 120,000 square feet.
Yonkers lies north of New York City, close to the city border. The venue's documented position places it near the intersection of Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue. The straight-line figure of 16.0 miles reflects that proximity, but the actual drive involves the Hudson Valley road network and is longer.
Other Documented Venues and Their Positions
Parx Casino and Racing sits in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, northeast of Philadelphia, at 40.1186, -74.953. It is owned by Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment and opened its poker room on January 11, 2018. The documented slot machine count is 3,200, with 300 hotel rooms and 30,000 square feet of event space.
Wind Creek Bethlehem sits in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at 40.6148, -75.3591, owned by Wind Creek Hospitality. It opened on May 22, 2009, with documented figures of 3,000 slot machines and 180 table games. Mount Airy Casino Resort sits in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, in the Pocono Mountains, at 41.1133, -75.3217, with 1,800 slot machines, 284 hotel rooms, and 70 table games.
| Venue | City and state | Straight-line miles from New York City | Documented facility field |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yonkers Raceway & Empire City Casino | Yonkers, New York | 16.0 | 7,500 slot machines |
| Parx Casino and Racing | Bensalem, Pennsylvania | 64.6 | 3,200 slot machines |
| Wind Creek Bethlehem | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | 71.2 | 3,000 slot machines |
| Mount Airy Casino Resort | Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania | 74.1 | 1,800 slot machines |
These positions are fixed. Your starting point is not. If your query uses "me," "here," or "my location," no reference point exists in the data, so this article cannot measure from you. What you can do is take the venue coordinates above and measure from your own position using any mapping tool.
Why Straight-Line and Road Distance Differ
Several factors stretch the gap between a straight-line figure and the road you drive. Terrain forces roads to follow valleys and ridges rather than cut across them. Water bodies require bridges or tunnels at fixed crossing points. Road networks connect through junctions, and crossing a state line can add miles even when the straight-line distance is short.
For New York City, the Hudson River, the East River, and the dense urban road grid all push road distance above straight-line distance. A venue 16.0 miles away as the crow flies may require a much longer drive depending on which crossing you use and where you start.
What Governs the Craps and Blackjack Question
Whether craps and blackjack are permitted at a given venue is set by the gaming authority of the state where the venue sits, and by the venue's own table rules. A venue in New York and a venue in Pennsylvania answer to different authorities. This article does not state the legal status of any game at any venue; it tells you where the answer lives.
For any venue you are considering, check the state gaming regulator's published rules and the venue's own table games page. Table games offered at a property change, and the authority that licenses the property is the source for the current position.
What to Confirm Before You Go
Before travelling, confirm three things. First, the venue's current table game lineup, because games are added and removed. Second, the venue's own published rules for craps and blackjack, which vary by property. Third, the road route from your actual starting point, because straight-line distance does not translate to a drive.
The authoritative channels are the venue's own website, the state gaming authority's published rules, and a mapping tool for your route. None of those is a figure this article can supply.
FAQ
Is Yonkers the closest casino to New York City?
In the documented reference set, Yonkers Raceway & Empire City Casino is the closest at 16.0 straight-line miles. That is a great-circle measurement, not a road distance, and the set is not a complete census of every venue. Check the state gaming regulator for a full current list.
Does straight-line distance tell me how long the drive is?
No. Straight-line distance is the shortest path between two coordinate points and ignores roads, water, and terrain. Road distance is always longer, and this article does not publish driving miles or travel time. Use a mapping tool with your actual starting point.
Where do I find whether craps and blackjack are permitted at a venue?
The state gaming authority that licenses the venue sets the rules, and the venue's own table games page lists what is currently offered. This article does not state the legal status of any game. Confirm both sources before you travel.
Play responsibly
Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, never as a way to earn income or recover losses. 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
18+ or 21+ depending on where you are; follow the minimum age that applies to you.
This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.