Casino Road Trip

Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort
Chuck Darrow

Back story: Bally’s Twin River Lincoln (there’s also a BTR in nearby Tiverton, R.I.) stands on the site of Lincoln Downs, a horseracing facility that operated between 1947 and 1977, when it was turned into a greyhound track. In 1992, Lincoln was granted state permission to offer video lottery terminals whose gaming options included blackjack and poker. It was purchased in 2005 and in 2007, it was christened Twin River Casino. In 2018, the hotel tower opened. Just about two years ago, the corporate entity called Twin River, which owned the casino and hotel, re-branded the complex as Bally’s Twin River Casino Resort. 
 

Getting there: BTRL is located just a few miles west of downtown Providence, and is easily accessed via I-95. Expect an average travel time of about five hours from Cherry Hill, although I-95 through Connecticut is seldom free of congestion issues and a longer drive is a distinct possibility. 
 

Accommodations: The hotel boasts 136 rooms and suites across four floors. Standard rooms are hardly the largest to be found in a gaming hall, but are far from cramped. The modern motif extends to the rooms, which feature safes, large-screen TVs and mini-fridges. 
 

Game on: The casino floor offers an impressive array of machines (more than 4,100) and table games (in excess of 100) arrayed in two separate, but adjacent, areas. Tables with $10 minimums—a seemingly disappearing species-- are available. Smoking is permitted on the main floor, but there is a non-smoking gaming space with its own entrance. The layout is easy to navigate. There is a sports book, but the 23-table poker room has been shut down since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 

Let’s eat: Dining is definitely a BTRL strong point: One of the two high-end dining rooms is Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis which, faithful readers may recall, is among Casino Road Trip’s favorite Italian eateries, casino or otherwise (there are outlets at Bally’s casinos in Atlantic City and Dover, Del.). The casual, comfortable restaurant from South Philly native Longo specializes in “red gravy” dishes. While prices are in line with similar gambling-den eateries elsewhere, most offerings (including what is arguably the best antipasto to be had anywhere) can easily feed two adults. 
 

Pool and spa: Currently, there is only an indoor pool, but a 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art spa is under construction with the opening scheduled for the first quarter of 2023. 
 

Other activities: BTRL is a short drive from the historic state capital, Providence, whose Federal Hill neighborhood is a cool and funky combination of Italian South Philly and hipster Fishtown. The tourist-focused town/island of Newport—My favorite spot on the East Coast--is an hour drive from the casino. 
 

Coming attractions: In addition to the spa, the ongoing upgrade project includes a redo of the front desk/reception area, additional fast-dining options and construction of 40,000 square feet of gaming space resulting in a completely reconfigured casino floor. 

 

For more information or to book your room, call: 1888.577.9222 or visit: AAA.com/travel