Will a casino by any other name be just as sweet?
SugarHouse Casino is betting on it.
At Wednesday’s Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) meeting, representatives from SugarHouse’s parent company, Rush Street Gaming, presented plans to rebrand the property to Rivers Casino Philadelphia.
Upgrades on the way
A series of property upgrades later this year are the highlights of the rebrand.
They include:
- A new state-of-the-art permanent sportsbook
- A new signature restaurant
- An online casino experience that complements the brick-and-mortar operations.
The physical transformation of the property will occur over the next several months, including signage, gaming pieces, Team Member uniforms, and more. Rivers Casino Philadelphia will debut in Philly later this fall.
This rebranding represents a $15 million reinvestment in the property. Local companies and contractors will complete all changes to the facility. Additionally, a $164 million expansion in 2016, will continue the property-wide transformation.
Four casinos under one name
Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates own and operate SugarHouse. The company currently has three other casinos in the U.S. operating under the Rivers Casino brand:
- Rivers Pittsburgh
- Rivers Des Plaines
- Rivers Schenectady
Rebranding SugarHouse Casino will enable regional and national marketing to promote one Rivers Casino brand across multiple markets and channels.
There’s no change in ownership of the property.
SugarHouse’s 1,600 employees bring Rush Street’s total workforce to approximately 6,000 across four states. SugarHouse Team Members voted the casino a leading Philadelphia workplace for the 14th time in 2019. Rivers Casino Team Members have similarly lauded their employers many times.
Rivers Casino Philadelphia will remain committed to its Fishtown neighborhood and to the city. The Penn Treaty Special Services District will continue to receive a $1 million annual operating grant from the casino, even after the name change.
Sports betting and online casino advantage
A main reason behind the rebrand is the advent of online sports betting and online gaming. The goal is a seamless brand platform that will enhance customer experiences throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.
“Since receiving our casino license in 2006, gaming in Pennsylvania has evolved tremendously,” said Greg Carlin, CEO of SugarHouse Casino and Rush Street Gaming.
“Keeping pace with the changing landscape has been paramount to our success. Creating a unified brand is another example of how we’re anticipating and responding to the competitive market for gaming.”
PGCB acknowledged SugarHouse’s plans to rebrand during the board’s June 12 meeting.
SugarHouse says guests can expect a seamless transition, expanded players’ club benefits and a 360-degree, full-service gaming experience that includes land-based, mobile, and online.
PlaySugarHouse.com Pennsylvania will align with the Rivers brand later this year. The transition will also be seamless for online players. It is still unclear how this will pan out with the launch of the Rivers Pittsburgh’s real-money sports betting app later this summer.
Timeline of Rivers Casino Philadelphia rebrand
- Now: Rebranding announcement
- Early summer: Begin property transformation, including internal controls (signage, gaming items, etc.)
- Midsummer: Launch iGaming
- End of summer: Launch of expanded, permanent sportsbook
- Fall 2019: Ceremonial Rivers Casino Philadelphia launch
Philadelphia-area casinos and sportsbooks
Sugarhouse Casino, Philadelphia’s first casino, opened on Delaware Avenue in 2010. But it’s not only one. Since opening in 2010 other casinos have joined the fray and, especially recently, upped the ante.
Parx Casino, about twenty miles from Philadelphia, opened in 2009 and is now the state’s highest grossing property.
Harrah’s Casino Philadelphia, formerly Harrah’s Chester, opened in 2007 with slots and hose racing. The casino added table games in 2010.
Valley Forge Casino Resort opened in 2012 and is twenty miles from downtown Philadelphia. In January, they announced the addition of 250 new slot machines as part of a complete renovation of the gaming floor.
The renovations “reflect the continued momentum and growth coming from Valley Forge Casino Resort which has invested over $40 million over the past year.”
The $600 million Live! Hotel & Casino is currently being built on the site of the former Holiday Inn north of Citizen’s Bank Park. The property should open in late 2020.
The South Philadelphia Race and Sportsbook (a short walk from the Philadelphia sports complex) and Oaks Race & Sportsbook are operated by Greenwood Racing Inc., the parent company of Parx Casino. Both properties received upgrades earlier this year when sports betting launched.
SugarHouse Casino revenue
In March, SugarHouse was the only Philadelphia-area casino that did not see a year-over increase in total gaming revenue. SugarHouse’s $27.5 million revenue in March was a (distant) second in the state and down four percent from over year.
According to a May 2019 report by the PGCB, SugarHouse’s gross slot machine revenue was $15,563,286.02, a small 0.09 percent gain compared to their 2018 numbers.
In April 2019, Rivers and SugarHouse sportsbooks were second and third, respectively, when it came to sports betting revenue.
What’s in an app name?
SugarHouse launched the state’s first online betting app, PlaySugarHouse.com Pennsylvania.
The western side of the state shouldn’t have to wait too long to join the online betting app action as well. The Rivers Pittsburgh sports betting app is reportedly a few weeks away from launching.
How the rebrand will affect the existing PlaySugarHouse apps in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania is still unclear.