The North Country's Favorite Playground

Gambling away the night at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino

Story and photo by Amanda DeLosh
Photos courtesy of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino

“Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, we’re the North Country’s favorite playground.”-Cue music. This llittle jingle will somehow manage to get inside your head for at least the next hour or so because it definitely always does for me. Obviously, this is what they were aiming at. Well, mission accomplished!

The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino is located in Hogansburg, NY, about an hour’s drive from Plattsburgh, and about 10 minutes from the Canadian border. Before even entering the large building, filled with money that was waiting to be put into my hand, a big parking lot that seems to go on for miles is at your service.  However, one special luxury available for visitors wanting to be treated like royalty happens to is a valet service.

After my family and I parked the car and walked up to the entrance of the big glass doors a large security guard opened the door and checked my ID to make sure I was of legal age to gamble. Without once popping a smile in my direction, he nodded toward the door and I proceeded to enter. I’m not going to lie this whole process intimidated me just a little bit.

If all of the slot machines are filled, and you’re feeling exceptionally lucky, there are card tables and other games you can enjoy. Among the choices are black jack, roulette, craps, let it ride, Caribbean stud, three card poker, Spanish poker, and regular poker. I myself didn’t feel so lucky.  I’m used to playing black jack with pretzels or Oreos for bidding purposes, so I felt using my own money was out of the question for the night.

The casino is equipped with various varieties of slot machines. Some have different themes where you can press a single button and keep putting in your bid amount. Others utilize the old-fashioned way of pulling the lever of the machine down, which I personally think is more fun.

After I took in everyone playing with their fortunes, my family and I decided to get some dinner and then we hit the slots. Inside the casino is a restaurant called Sticks Sports Bar. This restaurant has entertainment on Friday’s and Saturdays, and, might I add, great food and service from the very friendly wait staff.

My family and I were there to celebrate my mother’s birthday. Little did she know there would be an entertainer who would later sing Happy Birthday to her and get the rest of those dining to sing along.

This man was playing the keyboard, and singing to different songs, mostly fitting for adults. There was a little Billy Joel for example, and as soon as he started singing a few couples got up to glide across the dance floor for while everyone else watched.

All of our food was delicious, made to our satisfaction, and the wait staff was very friendly, making sure everything was right. We were always content with our dining experience. At one point, the manager came out to ask how our food was, which I thought was very nice.

All of this is just one part of the dining area. If you were looking for a more casual dining experience, the bar would be the place to sit. There are plasma screen televisions for those sport savvy folks who want to enjoy some drinks, dinner, and the game before they do a little gambling. Along with the bar, there are tables scattered around for those wanting to sit and eat in an area away from the entertainment.

When the night has come to an end and your pockets are either full of money—or well…not so full of money, like myself. You can have the choice of staying the night at the new Comfort Inn & Suites, which is next to the casino. This hotel was just built a few years ago, and is great for accommodating casino guests- just a hop, skip, and jump away from the action.

Have you ever been to the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino?