Tag: Rivers Casino

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Bettors cash in on NFC picks

Sunday turned out to be one of the biggest weekends of the year for PA sports bettors at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Three of the top NFC teams drew heavy support and won.

Cowboys: 90% of bets
Saints: 70% of bets
49ers: 60% of bets

Also of note:

Big deficits in the Vikings and 49ers games provided tense moments for bettors. Over 80% of the tickets were on the pair of teams to win outright.
The Vikings trailed the Broncos 23-7 heading into the fourth quarter when they put up 20 unanswered points to win 27-23.
The Cardinals vs. 49ers spread fluctuated around 10 points for most of the weekend before closing at -9.5 for San Francisco. However, most PA sportsbooks had the Niners at -10. For Rivers bettors, the 49ers’ defensive touchdown as time expired covered the spread.
The Super Bowl rematch of the Patriots vs. Eagles was the game most bet on during the weekend at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Seventy percent of the tickets were on the Patriots to win and cover, which they did in a 17-10 victory.

Mattias Stetz, COO of Rush Street Interactive, commented:

“Sunday was another big day for bettors where they beat us heavily. When combined with Saturday’s college football games where the bettors also won, it was a very big weekend for sports bettors.”

Check All The Week 1 NFL Betting Lines At PA’s Major Sportsbooks

Go line shopping at Pennsylvania’s best sportsbooks with this rundown of the lines for all 16 NFL Week 1 games kicking off the 2019 season.

And so it begins: Week 1 of the regular NFL season.

The 100th season for the league kicks off Thursday, Sept. 5 with Green Bay at Chicago. A full slate of games follows on Sunday, Sept. 8, then the week wraps with Monday Night Football on ESPN on Monday, Sept. 9.

Pennsylvania sportsbooks are ready. The lines are set at FanDuel and SugarHouse, which is essentially the same book as BetRivers since the two are sister properties and utilize the same Rush Street Interactive software and Kambi betting lines.

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Week 1 NFL betting lines at PA sportsbooks

We’ve broken out the spreads and totals for the opening week’s games in the table below to make it easier to compare and shop.

We’ll be updating the table daily right up to the kickoffs as odds adjust.

Last updated: Sept. 8

GAME	FanDuel spread	SugarHouse spread	FanDuel total	SugarHouse total
GB vs. CHI	CHI -3	CHI -3	46.5	47
TEN vs. CLE	CLE -5.5	CLE -6	45	44.5
BAL vs. MIA	BAL -7	BAL -7	40	40
ATL vs. MIN	MIN -3.5	MIN -3.5	47	47.5
BUF vs. NYJ	NYJ -2.5	NYJ -2.5	40.5	40.5
WAS vs. PHI	PHI -10.5	PHI -10.5	44.5	44.5
LAR vs. CAR	LAR -2	LAR -2	50	49.5
KC vs. JAX	KC -3.5	KC -3.5	50.5	50
IND vs. LAC	LAC -6.5	LAC -6.5	44.5	45
CIN vs. SEA	SEA -9.5	SEA -9.5	44.5	44.5
NYG vs. DAL	DAL -7	DAL -7	45.5	45
DET vs. ARI	DET -2.5	DET -2.5	46	46
SF vs. TB	TB -1	TB -1.5	51	50.5
PIT vs. NE	NE -5.5	NE -6	49	49.5
HOU vs. NO	NO -6.5	NO -6.5	52.5	52.
DEN vs. OAK	DEN -2.5	DEN -2.5	42.5	42.5

Intro to key betting terms

Some betting basics, first, then we’ll take a quick look at some of the more interesting contests.

The most common football bet is the spread. You can find the spread for each of the 16 games above.

In the simplest terms, the spread is the number of points one team is expected to win by in a given game.

The favored team has to win by the point spread offered by the sportsbook in order for bets on that team to cash.

The favorite in a game is listed as being minus (-) in the point spread. The underdog in a game is listed as being plus (+) the point spread.

The reason for the plus is that an underdog can still lose the game and have a bet on them cash. Take, for example, Green Bay. The team is +3 for Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bears, so if they lose by one or two points, they still “cover the spread” because they lost by fewer than three points.

The total is just what it sounds like: A wager on whether or not the combined score for a game is over or under what the oddsmaker sets.

Notable NFL games

Green Bay @ Chicago Bears

The opening game on Thursday, Sept. 5 is one to watch, and not just to quench a need for some football or listen to Meek Mill at the pre-game show. Or the fact that it is the most expensive opening day ticket.

The Bears are currently -3 favorites, which means these two teams are close to evenly matched, with Chicago benefitting from home-field advantage.

San Francisco @ Tampa

The San Francisco 49ers are playing away at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa is a single-point favorite, the closest game of the week.

A late injury report Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle to rookie wide receiver Jalen Hurd could shift the spread when it becomes clearer if he’s good to play – or not.

Eagles, Steelers and Nick Foles

There are several opening week games of particular interest to Keystone State gamblers, beginning with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Redskins @ Eagles

There are several opening week games of particular interest to Keystone State gamblers, beginning with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Washington Redskins are visiting the Eagles with the Birds favored to win. FanDuel puts the spread at -8.5 while SugarHouse pegs the spread at -9. On the points total, FanDuel has posted 46 and SugarHouse 45.5.
Pregame news coverage in the Washington Post has focused on the broken finger of Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

Pittsburgh Steelers @New England Patriots

The Steelers are on the road, playing against the Pats, last season’s Super Bowl champs.

FanDuel and SugarHouse both favor New England by 6 points.

The Steelers have no major injuries to contend with, according to Trib.Live, but star receiver Julian Edelman may have injured a thumb. Patriots nonetheless remain favored.

Kansas City @ Jacksonville

While not a PA contest, Keystone gamblers may have a strong interest in this contest with former Eagles’ QB Nick Foles now helming the Jaguars.

Visiting Kansas City is favored by 3.5 points at both books.

Want Some Instant Sports Betting Action? Try Jackpot Parlays At SugarHouse And BetRivers

New PA sports bettors might not realize SugarHouse and BetRivers offer up Jackpot Parlay action for those who want a little money on a longshot big payout.

Learning sportsbook vernacular is something like picking up a foreign language on the fly. Except instead of asking “Parlez-vous français?” the question is more apt to be, “How do you place a parlay wager?”

Or, in the case of two PA online sports betting sites, “What’s a Jackpot Parlay?”

So listen up, class, school’s in session with the sister Pennsylvania sites BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse as our virtual chalkboards.

What is parlay betting?

Let’s start with the simple definition of a parlay.

A parlay bet is a single sports wager made simultaneously on the outcome of two or more teams winning.

The appeal of parlay betting is a larger payout than choosing a single team to win.

Larger payouts for a parlay make sense since picking an individual winner is difficult. Picking more than one winner is harder. But then the reward for winning is larger.

How does the Jackpot option work?

That brings us to Jackpot Parlays, which offer a quick and inexpensive way to get into multiple sports games wagering.

A Jackpot Parlay is the equivalent of a quick-pick lottery, but a quick-pick chance that’s also a sports bet.

A traditional parlay wager is made by a bettor picking two or more outcomes, and not necessarily in the same sport. That usually means an investment of time and research to craft your bet.

A Jackpot Parlay lays out the options for you, minus the time studying up.

The betting option from PlaySugarHouse and BetRivers automatically puts together the bet for you. These bets can range from three to eight legs.

There is an amount of instant gratification to these bets too. The sites allow you to choose from a selection of events happening in the next four hours or events happening in the next 24 hours. There are no multi-day Jackpot Parlays though.

These bets, which can cost users as little as $.10 can yield some massive paydays if you are lucky enough to hit every leg. Be aware though that the odds on Jackpot Parlays, just like lottery quick picks, are very long by design.

How to place a Jackpot Parlay

A graphic icon labeled “Jackpot Parlay” is on the Sports Betting section of SugarHouse and BetRivers mirror sites.

Start by clicking the “Bet Now” button.

By default, the Jackpot Parlay selects a combination of eight randomly selected bet options.

At the top of the screen, you can see the potential payout if all of the bets are winners.

If the selections suit you, then you can click on “Place Bets.” You can choose an amount to wager with Place Bets, too. The potential payout shows at the bottom of the screen.

What are the Jackpot Parlay options?

The sites and their apps allow bettors some options. A bit of strategy can even come into play.

Here are the options:

Choose the sports you want to bet on.
Pick the time period for settling the bet. You can only wager on live events taking place within a 24-hour time frame.
Choose the number of bets you want to have in the Jackpot Parlay. Three is the minimum.
Pick the amount you want to bet, beginning at 10 cents.

You also have the option to remove one or more bets from the list by clicking on the “X.”

Recreational bettors are the target audience for Jackpot Parlays. These bets feature long odds but give someone who just wants a little money on the action something to root for, namely, the hope of a big payday.

BetRivers Brings Online Betting To Pittsburgh Sports Betting Scene

BetRivers joins its sister site PlaySugarHouse on the PA online betting market after launching its pp on June 25 for two days of testing.

The drip of online sports betting is now starting to flow.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh launched its online sportsbook, BetRivers, on June 25.

It is the third online sportsbook in Pennsylvania. Parx’s online sports betting platform launched on June 24. PlaySugarHouse.com launched the first app online sports betting market in the state at the end of May.

Hours for the two-day test period for BetRivers are:

Tuesday, June 25, from 4 p.m. to midnight
Wednesday, June 26, from 2 p.m. to midnight

All bets placed during the test are real-money wagers, with complete features and options available. Pending review and approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), 24/7 online and mobile wagering at BetRivers will start immediately thereafter.

Pittsburgh’s first sportsbook

Western Pennsylvania joins the online sports betting game with BetRivers. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is the only casino in the second-largest city in Pennsylvania.

“This summer marks Rivers Casino Pittsburgh’s 10th anniversary,” said Bill Keena, Rivers Casino general manager. “We’re celebrating one decade while planning ahead for the next. Full-service online, mobile and in-casino sportsbooks are where the industry is headed, and thanks to our Team Members, we’re already there.”

Online sports betting might be new to Pennsylvania, but users should get a familiar feeling with BetRivers. Rush Street’s in-house interactive unit oversees both BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse.com. The company works with lines provider Kambi on both books as well.

RSI has generated more than 50% of all retail sports betting in Pennsylvania since the market opened in November.

How to get started with BetRivers.com

Anyone can sign up for a BetRivers account, even if they are not in Pennsylvania. However, users must be physically located in Pennsylvania to wager and at least 21 years old.

Customers can access BetRivers via browser or app without setting up an account. You don’t even have to be in the state of Pennsylvania to view it, so long as you don’t want to deposit or bet.

If you do want to deposit or bet, you will need to set up an account. There is also the option for fast registration using an existing Rush Rewards or Casino4Fun account.

Here is the personal information required. It must be entered as it appears on your government-issued identification:

Name
Date of birth
Last four digits of your Social Security number
Email address
Phone number
Address

To access on your desktop, visit pa.betrivers.com.

Android users must also visit the website on their mobile devices and download the app to wager. Apple users can register using their mobile devices but will need to wager via laptop or desktop computer. Betting from iPhones and iPads will hopefully be available soon.

What can I bet on?

How ’bout dem ‘Stillers? They are currently listed +220 to win the Super Bowl. The lines are up for NFL Week 1 and the Steelers are +6 for their matchup against the defending Super Bowl champs New England Patriots.

Think the Pirates can climb out of the basement and make a pennant run? You’d make more than a few “bucs.” The Pirates are +15000 to win the World Series.

BetRivers offers an extensive menu of sports to choose from including:

Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
College sports
Football
Golf
Hockey
Motorsports
Soccer
Tennis
NASCAR
UFC or MMA

Current promotions for BetRivers.com customers

New account holders will be able to use the bonus code 250MATCH on their first deposit. The offer is to deposit and receive 100% of up to $250 in bonus money with a 1x wagering requirement.

Some small print on the promo to keep in mind:

The minimum deposit for the offer is $10.
Bonus money will be credited to the player’s regular bonus bank within 24 hours. All bonus money in the bonus bank always has a 1x wagering requirement.
It is up to the player if and when to activate the bonus money and start the playthrough requirement. However, the player needs to activate and play through the bonus money within 30 days after being credited with the bonus money; otherwise, it will expire.

BetRivers Sportsbook deposit and withdrawal methods

Customers have several ways to get money online.

Deposit options include:

Online banking (ACH)
Credit or debit card
SugarHouse Play+ prepaid card
Cash at the casino cage
Wire transfer

Withdrawal choices include:

Online banking
Cash at the cage
Check by mail
Prepaid card

First impressions of BetRivers

The BetRivers app isn’t splashy. But like Ben Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter, it gets the job done. It’s simple and easy to use. The newsfeed that shows screen names of users who win is a common feature of online casino games. It doesn’t add any real value to BetRivers. Except maybe the screen names that exalt Roethlisberger and burn Tom Brady.

Sports betting marries slot play with jackpot parlay. It’s a feature on PlaySugarHouse.com and it carried over to BetRivers. Jackpot parlay is a computer-generated parlay created for a chance to win big.

The bettor can simply hit the “jackpot parlay” button and “place bets.” Or they can select a few criteria.

Consider it a lottery ticket with live action rooting interest included.

“It takes some elements from a slot machine and adds a sports twist to it,” explained Mattias Stetz, chief operating officer of Rush Street Interactive.

“The games are randomly generated, and if you want different games you can click the ‘re-pick’ button, and the randomizers spit out a new selection, very much like spinning a slot machine. You can even hold on to one or two games and re-pick the rest, just like in a video poker game.”

Rivers and Rush Street rules Pennsylvania sports betting

In May, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh earned $641,029 in revenue from sports betting. It’s sister casino SugarHouse led the state in revenue with $711,846. Rivers handle was $7,924,510.

The Rush Street operated PlaySugarHouse.com launched the Commonwealth’s first online sports betting platform, PlaySugarHouse.com. Across four days, most of it a testing period, it took $573,163 in bets. If SugarHouse were to keep that same level of action across a month, it would have generated more than $4.4 million in online bets.

Parx Launches Its PA Online Sports Betting Product

On Monday, June 24, Parx Casino began testing on its Parx Sportsbook online product at pa.parxcasino.com. It is the second betting app to launch in PA.

Pennsylvania’s highest grossing casino is ready to get into the game of PA online sports betting.

Parx Casino is conducting a soft launch of their online sportsbook.

Hours for the soft launch for Parx online sports betting are:

June 24 – 4:00 p.m. to 12 a.m.
June 25 – 2:00 p.m. to 12 a.m.
June 26 – 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.

When Parx finishes the testing period, if there are no major issues, the online product will be available 24/7.

PlaySugarHouse.com was the first to offer online sports betting in Pennsylvania when they soft-launched at the end of May. Parx becomes the second. However, soon three will be a crowd. Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh is scheduled to join in on the online sports betting action on Tuesday with the launch of BetRivers testing.

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What to expect from Parx Sportsbook

The birth of an online sportsbook, especially one run by a big daddy like Parx, carries a lot of anticipation. Parx’s website says:

“Your Sports Betting experience is about to get better! The Parx Casino online Sports Betting app is coming soon to PA.”

Users can expect an online experience similar to Parx’s Betslip Builder. As a part of Parx’s retail sportsbook, it allows users to build their betting slip in advance.

When they get to the kiosks or betting counter, they simply scan a QR code to submit and print the ticket. The app is user-friendly, easy to navigate, and is the betting equivalent of placing a mobile order at Starbucks.

Parx sports betting platform is only available on Android devices, Macs, and PCs. They claim it will be available on iOS devices in the near future.

First impressions of Parx Sportsbook

Monday got a jolt of juice. At 4 p.m. Parx soft-launched its online sports betting product.

For some, registration was a bit of a hassle. A customer trying to register and link their account to their XClub card reported difficulty signing up. Live chat online was responsive to questions.

Once “in” the online sportsbook, it immediately calls to mind Parx’s Betslip. The live betting interface, which resembles a game cast interface, is the MVP of this app.

Anyone who is counting down the days to kickoff will love the app. There is an extensive list of futures bets for the upcoming NFL season. Fans of every team can get in on the action by betting “yes” or “no” on if they will make the playoffs. Over/under win totals for each team is also listed.

Responsible gaming

Parx online sportsbook goes way beyond “Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.” They take real action, an almost parental control-like, approach.

There is a clock on top of the screen which shows the current duration of the session. The app includes a list of options to allow you to keep betting with major controls in place such as:

Deposit limits
Wager limits
Time limits
Max bet limits
Reality check tool, which notifies you based on how long you are on the app

How to get started with Parx online sportsbook

You must be physically located in Pennsylvania to use the Parx online sportsbook. You can access Parx online sportsbook via your browser or app without setting up an account. You don’t even have to be in the Keystone State to view it, so long as you don’t want to deposit or bet.

If you do want to deposit or bet, you will need to set up an account (which can also be done outside of PA).

There is also the option to link to your XClub account. Here is the personal info required:

Name
Date of birth
Last four of your Social Security number
Email address
Phone number
Address

To download to desktop go to pa.parxcasino.com.

The Android download is an easy process when you go to pa.parxcasino.com on your phone’s browser. The option to download on Android will immediately pop up. Once you click that, the app will begin to download on your phone.

Current promotions for Parx Sportsbook customers

All new Parx customers can get $10 free just for signing up. There is no deposit required.

If you are depositing, be sure to take advantage of the deposit bonus promo. Parx is offering a risk-free bet of up to $250 commiserate with your first deposit.

Both of these are available without a promo code.

Some small print to note on both of the promos:

It must be used in full and cannot be divided into multiple bets
It’s only valid on events with minimum odds greater than -200
It must be used in 10 calendar days from the date it was awarded
Any unused or remaining free bet amount will be forfeited
To be eligible for the $250 risk free offer the player must deposit a minimum of $10

Parx Sportsbook deposit and withdraw

Customers have a number of ways to get money online.

The current deposit options are:
Play+ prepaid card
ACH/ e-check
Bank wire
Cash at the Parx cage
Check
PayNearMe

Withdrawal options:

VIP Preferred (ACH/eCheck)
Check by mail
Cash at the cage
Play+

Parx establishes dominance

Parx’s physical location in Bensalem began taking bets in January. A few weeks later, the South Philadelphia Turf Club, located a Carson Wentz Hail Mary from the sports complex, added sports betting to their offerings. Oaks Race & Sportsbook (the turf club formerly known as Valley Forge), received a $500,000 renovation for its March sports betting launch.

Currently, Parx operates three of Pennsylvania’s eight retail sportsbooks.

Chasing a sugar high

At the end of May, SugarHouse launched the Commonwealth’s first online sports betting platform, PlaySugarHouse.com. Across four days, most of it a testing period, it took $573,163 in bets. If SugarHouse were to keep that same level of action across a month, it would have generated more than $4.4 million in online bets.

In New Jersey, there are 14 online sportsbooks. In May, online operators accounted for more than 80% of the overall handle. At 82.6% of the total handle, May featured the highest percentage of bets made with NJ online sportsbooks.

New $60 Million Hotel Landing In Rivers Pittsburgh

Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh has almost everything, but not a hotel. Rush Street Gaming will be fixing that with this $60 million expansion.

One of Pennsylvania’s strongest-performing casinos will soon get a standout hotel to go with it.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh announced that it will begin construction this summer on a $60 million hotel called The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh.

The seven-story hotel will feature 219 guest rooms and be attached to the east side of the casino facing the Carnegie Science Center.

Hotel was first approved in 2017

The Pittsburgh Planning Commission first approved the hotel in 2017. However, plans for the building were delayed after gaming legislation was passed that added mini-casinos across the state and transformed PA’s gaming landscape.

In the meantime, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh completed several significant property enhancements. Those upgrades included:

Adding a gourmet burger restaurant, FLIPT
The Event Center for large galas and expositions
Launching Pittsburgh’s first licensed sportsbook

Big month for parent company Rush Street Gaming

The announcement of The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh continues a busy month for Rivers Casino Pittsburgh’s parent company, Rush Street Gaming.

At last week’s Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Rush Street Gaming presented its plans to rebrand Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino as Rivers Casino Philadelphia.

Rivers brand will be strong in PA

The SugarHouse rebrand, which will begin this summer, will create a uniform gaming, rewards, and marketing product for all of the company’s Rivers casinos. Rush Street Gaming also operates Rivers Casinos in Des Plaines, Illinois and Schenectady, New York.

In Pennsylvania specifically, the Rivers brand will benefit from two well-performing casinos in the state’s two biggest cities.

Hotel construction should boost an already-flourishing casino

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is typically one of the state’s top performers in both slot machine and table game revenue, as well as overall earnings. The construction of the hotel and corresponding rooms should strengthen that performance.

It also is generally the top sportsbook in the state, thanks to its status as the only book in the city. Comparatively, Philadelphia has six sportsbooks in its larger area. Rivers Sportsbook took in more bets than anyone in May, with $7.9 million in wagers.

The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh will feature expansive windows on every level with unobstructed views of the Ohio River and Pittsburgh’s famous skyline.

The guest rooms will also include 10 luxury terrace suites, each with private first-floor patios.

The hotel’s location will be a desirable one. Patrons of The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh will be within a short walk to Heinz Field (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers), PNC Park (home of the Pittsburgh Pirates), and subway stations with routes all over the city.

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What’s next for Rivers Casino Pittsburgh?

The attached hotel will fill a need for Rivers Casino Pittsburgh that is not lacking much else.

The casino currently features:

2,708 slots
128 table games
A 30-table live poker room
55 hybrid gaming seats
Nine restaurants and bars
A riverside amphitheater
Black box Event Center space
Multipurpose ballroom

The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh will add 128 new jobs

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, which opened in 2009, currently employs approximately 1,700 staff members and has been voted a great place to work in Pittsburgh.

The new hotel, which was privately funded, should add 128 permanent new hotel and casino jobs, along with 1,400 temporary construction jobs.

The hotel is expected to open in early 2021

It will take approximately 18 months to complete the project. The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh should open in early 2021.

“The time is right,” Greg Carlin, CEO of Rush Street Gaming and Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, said in the news release. “Statewide gaming expansion changed our schedule, but never our intentions. Rush Street always envisioned a hotel for Rivers to create a full-service destination on the North Shore. We see it as a natural evolution.”

Rush Street Gaming continues to bring positive changes to its Rivers properties.

The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh is simply the latest evidence.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow: SugarHouse Transforming To Rivers Philadelphia

The popular Philadelphia casino SugarHouse is ditching the name and fully rebranding. Be ready to start calling it Rivers Philadelphia, effective this fall.

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 14^th 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.

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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.

Pennsylvania Cashing In On Economic And Social Contributions Of Casinos

Casinos get a bad wrap as blights on communities, but PA casinos create jobs, outreach, and tax revenue for local communities.

Winners aren’t just limited to inside the confines of a casino.

Pennsylvania is experiencing a jackpot of jobs and an economic windfall as a result of the casino gaming industry.

On May 29, at a Get to Know Gaming event, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released their latest report, Casinos & Communities – Pennsylvania. It provided an in-depth look at the gaming industry’s economic and social contributions to communities across the state.

Highlights of the report included:

33,171 jobs supported
$1.8 billion in wages generated
$2.5 billion generated in taxes

In 2004, Pennsylvania legislators passed the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, legalizing casinos and racinos. Today, there are 12 commercial casinos and racinos across the Commonwealth, which have rocketed Pennsylvania to the second-highest commercial gaming revenue in the United States, behind only Nevada.

“Over the last 15 years, gaming companies across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have served as an anchor for state and local economies, generating billions of dollars in tax revenue and operating as good stewards and community partners in the places casinos call home,” said Bill Miller, president and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association.

Casinos as a beacon of hope

The growth of the gaming industry helped fill the void left by the downturn of the mining and manufacturing industries.

Ravaged by the high unemployment, crime and poverty for decades, the 2007 opening of Caesars Entertainment’s Harrah’s Philadelphia provided a beacon of hope. In May 2015, Harrah’s reported:

1,400 jobs created
$1.6 million in charitable contributions
$1.4 billion in taxes
A $100 million economic impact in the city of Chester

Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland explained that when the shipbuilding, steel and automobile industries left the city, jobs were limited and businesses were not coming.

“Harrah’s was the first real economic development that we had in this city for quite some time – for decades. They took a bet on the city. Folks now feel good about going to work in the morning. The casino has provided them with the opportunity to better take care of their families. And not just jobs, because jobs can come and go, but they provide them with career opportunities.”

Boosting the economy and nightlife

Twenty-five miles south of Chester, King of Prussia is in many ways, a world apart. It is home to the largest concentration of commercial office, industrial and flex buildings in the Philadelphia suburbs.

However, the area needed a boost from the 2008 recession. Boyd Gaming’s Valley Forge Casino was a “big, big part of that transition from a bad economy to a good economy,” said Eric Goldstein, executive director of King of Prussia’s Business Improvement District.

The casino created job opportunities and attracted visitors while keeping entertainment dollars in the community with their nightlife offerings such as musical acts, stand-up comedy, dueling pianos and Valley Beach, a pool bar with entertainment every Friday and Saturday night during the summer months.

“In the past four years, we’ve added almost 40 new restaurants at King of Prussia, which is crazy. You must have a lot of people to support that level of new business. The casino is obviously helping with that,” Goldstein added.

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