Located in Kansas City, Missouri, Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway offers a gaming experience nestled beside the iconic Kansas Speedway. While primarily a casino, potential visitors should be aware of its specific offerings and limitations.
Recent upgrades have significantly improved the casino's ambiance. Many visitors praise the establishment for being clean, spacious, and modern. A notable improvement is the implementation of a new smoking policy, which has made the atmosphere feel "fresher and more comfortable" compared to previous visits where the smell of cigarettes was "overwhelming." However, it's worth noting that smoking is still permitted in some areas, which can be a deterrent for non-smokers, even if the smell is "masked pretty good."
The casino provides a variety of gaming opportunities, including table games and slot machines. Reviewers indicate that the place is clean and well-maintained. However, a significant point of frustration for some patrons is the absence of Baccarat tables. Despite tables being physically present, they reportedly have not been open since the COVID-19 pandemic, even during peak weekend hours. While there were past concerns about slot machines "falling apart," the overall impression now suggests improvements in this area, with the sports book seemingly boosting the casino's viability.
Hollywood Casino boasts an "excellent choice for food and drinks." The sports bar located upstairs is generally considered "pretty nice." However, its operating hours can be "strange" and "inconvenient," especially outside of weekend visits. The Marquee Cafe, another dining option, has received mixed reviews regarding service. While one patron experienced "pathetically slow" service, waiting 40 minutes for a simple order in a non-busy restaurant, a subsequent visit highlighted the exceptional service of an employee named Juan S., who was praised for his attentiveness and communication.
One crucial detail for visitors is that Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway does not offer a hotel. This means no option for comped rooms, which can be a significant factor for those planning extended visits. On the positive side, the casino provides easy parking and a "great view of Kansas Speedway," which adds to the unique experience.
A highly important and concerning point raised by a reviewer is the casino's participation in a "set-off program." Beyond the standard deductions for taxes or child support, this program allows the casino to withhold winnings for other outstanding debts, such as old ambulance, hospital, or utility bills, regardless of their age. The reviewer highlights that this information is not disclosed upfront when patrons provide their information, only becoming apparent after winnings are withheld. This lack of transparency regarding potential deductions for various historical debts is a significant issue for some.
Generally, most workers at Hollywood Casino are described as "very nice." The staff contributes to keeping the place clean, which is consistently mentioned as a positive aspect. The aforementioned positive experience with Juan S. at the Marquee Cafe specifically showcases instances of excellent customer service.
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is a decent option for those seeking a clean and modern casino experience in the Kansas City area, especially if you appreciate the view of the Speedway. It has made notable improvements in its atmosphere. However, be prepared for the lack of a hotel and limited table game variety like Baccarat. Crucially, patrons should be aware of the potential for winnings to be withheld for outstanding debts via the "set-off program." If these factors align with your expectations, it can offer an enjoyable gaming outing, particularly if you are in the area and it's your closest option.
I came to Hollywood Casino to play table games, and I was impressed with the recent upgrades. The place looks much cleaner and more modern compared to when I visited 3 years ago. Back then, the smell of cigarettes was overwhelming, but now with the new smoking policy, it feels fresher and more comfortable. Big improvement in the overall atmosphere—much better experience this time around!
Clean spacious casino. Great view of Kansas speedway. Excellent choice for food and drinks. (This casino does Not offer a hotel)
This place can be so frustrating. Been coming here off and on for years and I’m just at my last straw with the place. To start off this casino doesn’t deal baccarat, and for some reason quit during the Covid times and although there may be a table available it is never open even on weekends from my experience. The slot machines were really falling apart at one point and I think the sports book saved it from going under by the looks of how things were. There isn’t a hotel here so getting comped rooms isn’t an option as far as I can tell. And although their sports bar up the escalator is actually pretty nice, it has strange hours which makes it inconvenient to deal with unless you’re there on the weekend.I went to the Marquee cafe to have lunch at one point and I got seated around 12:10pm. Managed to order a glass of water and a chicken sandwich around 12:15pm thinking this wouldn’t take long and I could get back to work. Well I was mistaken. 40 minutes went by from the time of a simple food order until I literally had to leave to get back to work, so I had to leave. People don’t have all day to sit around and wait for a food order for that long, especially when the restaurant wasn’t busy in the slightest. The last time I had to pull such a move was over 10 years ago. That’s some pathetic stuff.At the end of the day there seems to be a management issue in my opinion. Baccarat is the most profitable game in the casino and yet it’s not offered, there isn’t a hotel here, the food service is either pathetically slow or it’s not available at convenient times, making the options slim to none during the lunch hours.Just tired of the disappointing experiences, and if it wasn’t my closest casino in the area I would avoid it altogether.Edit Update:So I gave the Marquee Cafe another chance today and I’d just like to say what an awesome employee Juan S seems to be. I just decided to get food to go this time and he let me know it would be about a 15 minute wait and it was exactly 15 minutes. Juan was also great at communicating throughout the wait and when the food was ready he didn’t just hand me the bag right away. He made sure to ask if I needed ketchup or anything to go along with my meal. I noticed he was attentive to others as well and on top of it all. Keep that man happy!
Absolutely WRETCHED customer service.I recently returned from a year and a half long deployment and just got engaged. To celebrate this new chapter, my fiancé and I decided to spend a fun evening with friends, with a last minute visit to Hollywood Casino. Unfortunately, what should have been a joyful experience was marred by disappointing customer service and inflexible policies that left us frustrated and unwelcome.Admittedly, I misplaced my wallet that evening, but I had several alternative ways to verify my identity, including high-quality photos of my state-issued ID (front and back), military ID, and social media platforms. While I understand the importance of policies, I believe there’s room for improvement in how these situations are handled.My fiancé and I paid over $50 for an Uber to and from the casino, only to be declined entry despite offering forms of valid identification. This was not a case of misunderstanding the location’s policies — it was the unwillingness to exercise discretion or even attempt a reasonable compromise that turned a celebratory evening into a frustrating waste of time and money.When we arrived at the casino around 11:00 PM, my fiancé (who works in private security) approached a security guard to explain the situation. Almost immediately, we were greeted by Pamela, who set the tone with a condescending attitude. When I politely offered to scan the photo of my ID to see if it would work, she dismissed me without even letting me try, stating, “You’ll just have to take my word for it.” Her demeanor was unnecessarily snarky, and her response to our polite inquiries was neither understanding nor professional.At one point, I tried to understand if Pamela’s hostility was rooted in a bad day. When I asked, she admitted, “It’s not you I have a problem with; it’s the way your fiancé came at me.” While I don’t believe my fiancé acted inappropriately, I still apologized to her for any miscommunication, attempting to de-escalate the situation. Yet, Pamela’s attitude didn’t improve, and her tone remained disrespectful.Frustrated but determined to resolve the issue, I stepped outside to call the casino’s assistant security manager, Griffin. Griffin was understanding and professional over the phone but ultimately informed me that there was no flexibility in the policy, even though he had no doubt about my age after reviewing the multiple forms of evidence I provided. He referred me to the head of security, German, to whom I left a voicemail.As we waited for our friends to finish their evening inside, we observed something deeply frustrating. A woman walked into the casino without showing any ID. When we questioned why she wasn’t asked for identification, the staff responded, “She looks over 30.” This inconsistency was disheartening. If visual assumptions about someone’s age can bypass ID checks, why wasn’t my situation—backed by documented evidence—granted the same consideration?Here’s the key: I wasn’t there to gamble or drink. I simply wanted to join my fiancé and friends for a celebratory evening. I even suggested marking my hand with a visible stamp or X to ensure I wouldn’t access restricted areas. Yet, no compromise was offered. Instead, Pamela added insult to injury by laughing at my fiancé’s question, “Is this how you treat all service members?” Her response, “How about you, buddy?” was dismissive and disrespectful.While I respect the need for policies, tonight’s experience highlighted a glaring lack of flexibility and customer care. What should have been a simple misunderstanding turned into an unnecessarily frustrating ordeal. After spending over $50 on an Uber just to be turned away without even the opportunity to scan my ID or discuss a reasonable compromise.
Nice casino, easy to get to. Still allow smoking which is a deterrent for me. They mask it pretty good. Parking was easy as well. Wasn't as lucky this time as last but had a good time.