- Philadelphia Live Casino Opening Date
- Philadelphia Sands Casino
- Is Harrah's Philadelphia Casino Open Today
Orchid will remain open under the same social distancing and cleaning guidelines as the casino. Orchid Bar is closed. To further promote social distancing and adhere to the latest guidance by the CDC and local health authorities beverage service will be restricted to active gamers seated at a slot machine, table game, or poker table. Casinos around Philadelphia will begin reopening Friday following more than three months of closure because of the coronavirus pandemic, and almost every one in the region — including in Atlantic City — should be open by July 2. Casino & Hotel South Philly - the new flagship luxury Live! Hotel, scheduled to open in 2021. Now open – Live! Casino & Hotel is one of the largest commercial casinos in the country, located in the Washington DC/Baltimore corridor, just off I-95, Route 100, and the B/W Parkway at Arundel Mills. South Philadelphia's long-delayed Live! Hotel & Casino Philadelphia will be open and operating in 2020, according to developer Stadium Casino LLC. Gilbane Building Company is the general contractor for the project. Demolition is scheduled to begin in December 2018, with construction beginning in 2019.
| Rivers Casino Philadelphia | |
|---|---|
Rivers Casino in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Rivers Casino Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Rivers Casino Philadelphia (the United States) | |
| Location | Fishtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Address | 1001 North Delaware Avenue |
| Opening date | September 23, 2010 |
| Theme | Contemporary Industrial |
| No. of rooms | None. |
| Total gaming space | 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m2) |
| Signature attractions | The Event Center |
| Notable restaurants | Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House |
| Casino type | Land-based Riverfront |
| Owner | Rush Street Gaming |
| Architect | Cope Linder |
| Previous names | SugarHouse Casino (2010-2019) |
| Coordinates | 39°57′51″N75°07′53″W / 39.9642°N 75.1314°WCoordinates: 39°57′51″N75°07′53″W / 39.9642°N 75.1314°W |
| Website | riverscasinophiladelphia.com |
Rivers Casino Philadelphia, formerly SugarHouse Casino, is a casino entertainment development along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Fishtown neighborhood, one of five stand-alone casinos awarded a gaming license on December 20, 2006 by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
History[edit]
SugarHouse Casino was awarded a gaming license on December 20, 2006 by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, along with four others.[1] Many neighborhood residents sought to prevent the development of the casino due to quality of life issues. Residents of the Fishtown neighborhood have taken the lead in the creation and leadership of the prominent anti-casino organizations, including Casino Free Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Neighborhood Alliance, and Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront. On the other side, Fishtown Action (FACT), the largest membership organization in the nearby community with over 600 members, has continuously supported the casino project. This support is largely in part because of a community benefits agreement along with the New Kensington CDC.[2] Web components multiple slots real money.
The 1,300,000-square-foot (120,000 m2) casino complex is located on the 22-acre (8.9 ha) site of the former Jack Frost Sugar Refinery, hence the 'SugarHouse' name. Phase I, estimated at $550 million, includes a casino floor with 3,000 slot machines, and tables, along with a variety of retail and dining outlets. Future phases of the project include a 500-room hotel with health spa, a 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) event center, and expanded dining and retail facilities.[citation needed]
It was estimated that SugarHouse Casino would generate in excess of $1 billion in gaming taxes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia over the first five years of operation.[3]
On April 15, 2008, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court convened in Philadelphia to determine if the City of Philadelphia had the right to lease the land where the casino was to be located. The city's Mayor Nutter revoked the SugarHouse license in January,[4] and the city's lawyers claimed the city never had the authority to issue the license in the first place. The owners of SugarHouse Casino argued that the city could not legally revoke a license to build on the riverbank.[5] On August 22, 2008 the Supreme Court ruled that the permits were legal.[6]
Groundbreaking on the project began on October 9, 2009,[7] The casino opened on September 23, 2010.[8] and the first phase opened on September 23, 2010.[9]
On July 22, 2014, SugarHouse casino broke ground on a project to expand the casino floor, add restaurants, add a parking garage, and bring more amenities to the riverfront. The expansion opened on May 9, 2016.[10][11][12]
SugarHouse began offering online gambling in New Jersey in 2016. In fall 2018, SugarHouse added online sports betting in New Jersey.[citation needed]
On December 13, 2018, sports betting began at SugarHouse Casino with a two-day test period; official sports betting began on December 15, 2018. SugarHouse became the first casino in the Philadelphia area to offer sports betting.[13] The casino initially operated out of a temporary sportsbook.[14] On May 28, 2019, SugarHouse Casino became the first casino in Pennsylvania to offer online sports betting within the state of Pennsylvania.[15] The permanent $5 million, 5,700-square-foot (530 m2) BetRivers Sportsbook opened in October 2019, consisting of a large HD video wall that can broadcast multiple games, six betting windows, and 22 self-serve betting kiosks.[14] The casino offers betting on multiple sports including football, basketball, hockey, boxing, and soccer.[16]
In 2019, SugarHouse's parent company, Rush Street Gaming, announced that the casino would be rebranded as Rivers Casino Philadelphia, matching the name used by Rush Street's other properties, including Rivers Casino Pittsburgh.[17] The new name became official on October 29, 2019.[18]
On July 17, 2019, SugarHouse conducted a soft launch for online gambling in Pennsylvania; the testing period lasted two days. Online gambling offered by SugarHouse consists of slot machines and table games, with online poker to launch at a later date.[19]
Dining[edit]
Rivers Casino offers the following dining options:[20] Total rewards online slots no deposit.
- Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House
- Coffee Spot
- The Marketplace
- Mian
- Jack's Bar & Grill
Entertainment[edit]
The Event Center at Rivers Casino is home to concerts and entertainment performances.[21] Free entertainment is also available at Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House.[22]
Transportation[edit]
The Rivers Casino is served by the SEPTA Route 15 trolley and the SEPTA City Bus routes 25 and 43 at the Frankford and Delaware Avenue station.[23]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^PA GAMING CONTROL BOARD APPROVES 11 PERMANENT OPERATOR LICENSES. Pgcb.state.pa.us (December 20, 2006). Retrieved on February 5, 2013.
- ^'Casino gets community benefits agreement'. PlanPhilly | Casino gets community benefits agreement. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^Philadelphia Gaming Advisory Task Force Final ReportArchived December 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^Marcia Gelbart (January 24, 2008) Nutter revokes SugarHouse license. philly.com
- ^Court to hear SugarHouse casino land dispute
- ^Mary Clair Dale; AP (April 15, 2008). 'Pa. court weighs Philly waterfront casino license[permanent dead link]', International Business Times.
- ^'Sugarhouse Casino begins construction'. whyy.org. October 9, 2009. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
- ^Mark Abrahams (September 24, 2010). 'SugarHouse Casino Opens For Business'.
- ^Brian Krassenstein (September 23, 2010) SugarHouse Casino Opens in Philadelphia, Will it Kill Atlantic City?. Thenewsoftoday.com. Retrieved on February 5, 2013.
- ^'SugarHouse Casino breaks ground on $164 million expansion'. 6 ABC Action News. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
- ^'Urban Engineers Breaks Ground with SugarHouse Casino'. aiaphiladelpia.org. AIA Philadelphia. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
- ^'SugarHouse Casino Cuts Ribbon on $164 Million Expansion | Business Wire'. www.businesswire.com. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
- ^Maykuth, Andrew (December 13, 2018). 'Game on: SugarHouse becomes first Philly-area casino to offer sports betting'. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- ^ abShelly, Kevin (October 15, 2019). 'New Permanent Sportsbook At SugarHouse Bears BetRivers Name'. Play Pennsylvania. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^Maykuth, Andrew; Barkowitz, Ed (May 28, 2019). 'SugarHouse becomes first Pennsylvania casino to launch internet sports betting'. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^'Sports Betting'. Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^Maykuth, Andrew (June 12, 2019). 'Philly's SugarHouse Casino will soon have a new name'. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^Staff (October 29, 2019). 'SugarHouse Debuts New Rivers Casino Philadelphia Name'. Philadelphia, PA: KYW-TV. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^Maykuth, Andrew (July 15, 2019). 'Parx, SugarHouse, Hollywood casinos set to launch online gambling this week'. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^'Rivers Casino Philadelphia Dining'. Rivers Casino. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^'The Event Center'. Rivers Casino. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^'Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House'. Rivers Casino. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^'Casino Service'. SEPTA. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
External links[edit]
Mark Dorrin, 66, hasn't seen his gambling friends in over three months.
But at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, the Prospect Park resident stood in line for the reopening of Harrah's Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester. Dorrin, a customer of Harrah's since it opened in 2007, used to visit at least twice a week. And he came Friday in part 'to see old friends —I've already seen four.'
The casino opened its doors at 9 a.m. to repeat customers belonging to its loyalty-card program, , but Dorrin and other early arrivals were let in half an hour early to prevent long lines forming outside. Going forward, the casino will once again be open 24/7.
Philadelphia Live Casino Opening Date
Harrah's, owned by Caesars Entertainment, is one of many casinos in the region that are reopening this week as Pennsylvania and New Jersey continue to ease stay-at-home orders. Atlantic City casinos are set to return July 2.
Valley Forge Casino Resort joined Harrah's in opening on Friday, while Wind Creek Bethlehem and Parx Casino in Bensalem will reopen on Monday. Rivers Casino Philadelphia, formerly SugarHouse Casino, has yet to announce a reopening date.
The pandemic decimated revenue for casinos. In February, Harrah's reported over $192 million in wagers and over $173 million in payouts for slot machine gaming revenue, one of its biggest earners. Those numbers fell by 65% in March, after the casino closed its doors on March 14. In April and May, the slot machine revenue was zero.
State and local tax revenues are likely to face sharp declines, as well. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported a record $3.3 billion in revenue for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, after launching sports betting in November 2018. Reports for the latest fiscal year will likely come out in July.
Even after reopening, Harrah's is unlikely to recoup its losses immediately. With the casino now operating at only 50% capacity, every other slot machine is closed to ensure patrons are seated six feet apart. Table games also have fewer chairs. Harness races held on site will be open for betting, but only a few spectators will be allowed to watch races from a small outdoor deck.
Food and beverage sales will be down too, with limited service from The Market and Guy Fieri's Philly Kitchen + Bar.
Despite reopenings allowed by Governor Wolf's green phase this weekend, casino crowds have cause for concern. Gamblers, who tend to be older in age, are still at risk of contracting the virus, which remains prevalent across the country.
Philadelphia Sands Casino
The number of daily COVID-19 cases is dramatically increasing in many states, like Florida and Texas, that began reopening businesses in May. While Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have seen recent daily case volumes fall below their peaks in April, the state still has a run-up in cases over the last two weeks, based on the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.
The casino will enforce new safety protocols. All patrons and employees must be wearing masks at all times, and everyone entering the casino will undergo a temperature check.
'Machines are wiped down every two hours with spray guns,' said Aimee Cicero, a public relations manager. 'There are buckets of sanitizing wipes throughout the casino floor that patrons can use to wipe machines as well.' Chips for table games will be disinfected on a regular basis, too.
Some patrons were less diligent in following mask-wearing policies, especially in the smoking section. Others nearby had masks slung below their chins as they smoked cigars and cigarettes while playing the slot machines.
Some not in the smoking section stuck haphazardly to the new rules, with many patrons wearing them only over their mouths, leaving their noses exposed. One craps table attracted a closely packed crowd of 10 gamblers, despite Caesars regulations limiting the number to six.
Michael Castellente, 45, wasn't surprised by the changes, since he'd seen pictures online of other reopened casinos across the country. He said that coming in the morning might be a healthier choice than at night, when the casino tends to be more crowded.
Because he lives near the airport, Harrah's is the most convenient casino, and he's glad to see it reopen. 'It doesn't feel too different,' he said. 'I like it because you're around other people that are happy.'
Aileen Morton, 67, found comfort in the return to Harrah's, too, though hers was more bittersweet. The East Norriton resident used to visit the casino with her husband every week before she retired at the end of December. Two weeks later, her husband passed away.
'I've missed it,' she said. ' It's my first time being here without him.'
Is Harrah's Philadelphia Casino Open Today
Despite her apprehensions about going out in a pandemic, Morton looked forward to the reopening . 'I'm elated, seriously, just to see people.'
———
Groundbreaking on the project began on October 9, 2009,[7] The casino opened on September 23, 2010.[8] and the first phase opened on September 23, 2010.[9]
On July 22, 2014, SugarHouse casino broke ground on a project to expand the casino floor, add restaurants, add a parking garage, and bring more amenities to the riverfront. The expansion opened on May 9, 2016.[10][11][12]
SugarHouse began offering online gambling in New Jersey in 2016. In fall 2018, SugarHouse added online sports betting in New Jersey.[citation needed]
On December 13, 2018, sports betting began at SugarHouse Casino with a two-day test period; official sports betting began on December 15, 2018. SugarHouse became the first casino in the Philadelphia area to offer sports betting.[13] The casino initially operated out of a temporary sportsbook.[14] On May 28, 2019, SugarHouse Casino became the first casino in Pennsylvania to offer online sports betting within the state of Pennsylvania.[15] The permanent $5 million, 5,700-square-foot (530 m2) BetRivers Sportsbook opened in October 2019, consisting of a large HD video wall that can broadcast multiple games, six betting windows, and 22 self-serve betting kiosks.[14] The casino offers betting on multiple sports including football, basketball, hockey, boxing, and soccer.[16]
In 2019, SugarHouse's parent company, Rush Street Gaming, announced that the casino would be rebranded as Rivers Casino Philadelphia, matching the name used by Rush Street's other properties, including Rivers Casino Pittsburgh.[17] The new name became official on October 29, 2019.[18]
On July 17, 2019, SugarHouse conducted a soft launch for online gambling in Pennsylvania; the testing period lasted two days. Online gambling offered by SugarHouse consists of slot machines and table games, with online poker to launch at a later date.[19]
Dining[edit]
Rivers Casino offers the following dining options:[20] Total rewards online slots no deposit.
- Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House
- Coffee Spot
- The Marketplace
- Mian
- Jack's Bar & Grill
Entertainment[edit]
The Event Center at Rivers Casino is home to concerts and entertainment performances.[21] Free entertainment is also available at Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House.[22]
Transportation[edit]
The Rivers Casino is served by the SEPTA Route 15 trolley and the SEPTA City Bus routes 25 and 43 at the Frankford and Delaware Avenue station.[23]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^PA GAMING CONTROL BOARD APPROVES 11 PERMANENT OPERATOR LICENSES. Pgcb.state.pa.us (December 20, 2006). Retrieved on February 5, 2013.
- ^'Casino gets community benefits agreement'. PlanPhilly | Casino gets community benefits agreement. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^Philadelphia Gaming Advisory Task Force Final ReportArchived December 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^Marcia Gelbart (January 24, 2008) Nutter revokes SugarHouse license. philly.com
- ^Court to hear SugarHouse casino land dispute
- ^Mary Clair Dale; AP (April 15, 2008). 'Pa. court weighs Philly waterfront casino license[permanent dead link]', International Business Times.
- ^'Sugarhouse Casino begins construction'. whyy.org. October 9, 2009. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
- ^Mark Abrahams (September 24, 2010). 'SugarHouse Casino Opens For Business'.
- ^Brian Krassenstein (September 23, 2010) SugarHouse Casino Opens in Philadelphia, Will it Kill Atlantic City?. Thenewsoftoday.com. Retrieved on February 5, 2013.
- ^'SugarHouse Casino breaks ground on $164 million expansion'. 6 ABC Action News. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
- ^'Urban Engineers Breaks Ground with SugarHouse Casino'. aiaphiladelpia.org. AIA Philadelphia. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
- ^'SugarHouse Casino Cuts Ribbon on $164 Million Expansion | Business Wire'. www.businesswire.com. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
- ^Maykuth, Andrew (December 13, 2018). 'Game on: SugarHouse becomes first Philly-area casino to offer sports betting'. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- ^ abShelly, Kevin (October 15, 2019). 'New Permanent Sportsbook At SugarHouse Bears BetRivers Name'. Play Pennsylvania. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^Maykuth, Andrew; Barkowitz, Ed (May 28, 2019). 'SugarHouse becomes first Pennsylvania casino to launch internet sports betting'. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^'Sports Betting'. Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^Maykuth, Andrew (June 12, 2019). 'Philly's SugarHouse Casino will soon have a new name'. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^Staff (October 29, 2019). 'SugarHouse Debuts New Rivers Casino Philadelphia Name'. Philadelphia, PA: KYW-TV. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^Maykuth, Andrew (July 15, 2019). 'Parx, SugarHouse, Hollywood casinos set to launch online gambling this week'. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^'Rivers Casino Philadelphia Dining'. Rivers Casino. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^'The Event Center'. Rivers Casino. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^'Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House'. Rivers Casino. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^'Casino Service'. SEPTA. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
External links[edit]
Mark Dorrin, 66, hasn't seen his gambling friends in over three months.
But at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, the Prospect Park resident stood in line for the reopening of Harrah's Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester. Dorrin, a customer of Harrah's since it opened in 2007, used to visit at least twice a week. And he came Friday in part 'to see old friends —I've already seen four.'
The casino opened its doors at 9 a.m. to repeat customers belonging to its loyalty-card program, , but Dorrin and other early arrivals were let in half an hour early to prevent long lines forming outside. Going forward, the casino will once again be open 24/7.
Philadelphia Live Casino Opening Date
Harrah's, owned by Caesars Entertainment, is one of many casinos in the region that are reopening this week as Pennsylvania and New Jersey continue to ease stay-at-home orders. Atlantic City casinos are set to return July 2.
Valley Forge Casino Resort joined Harrah's in opening on Friday, while Wind Creek Bethlehem and Parx Casino in Bensalem will reopen on Monday. Rivers Casino Philadelphia, formerly SugarHouse Casino, has yet to announce a reopening date.
The pandemic decimated revenue for casinos. In February, Harrah's reported over $192 million in wagers and over $173 million in payouts for slot machine gaming revenue, one of its biggest earners. Those numbers fell by 65% in March, after the casino closed its doors on March 14. In April and May, the slot machine revenue was zero.
State and local tax revenues are likely to face sharp declines, as well. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported a record $3.3 billion in revenue for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, after launching sports betting in November 2018. Reports for the latest fiscal year will likely come out in July.
Even after reopening, Harrah's is unlikely to recoup its losses immediately. With the casino now operating at only 50% capacity, every other slot machine is closed to ensure patrons are seated six feet apart. Table games also have fewer chairs. Harness races held on site will be open for betting, but only a few spectators will be allowed to watch races from a small outdoor deck.
Food and beverage sales will be down too, with limited service from The Market and Guy Fieri's Philly Kitchen + Bar.
Despite reopenings allowed by Governor Wolf's green phase this weekend, casino crowds have cause for concern. Gamblers, who tend to be older in age, are still at risk of contracting the virus, which remains prevalent across the country.
Philadelphia Sands Casino
The number of daily COVID-19 cases is dramatically increasing in many states, like Florida and Texas, that began reopening businesses in May. While Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have seen recent daily case volumes fall below their peaks in April, the state still has a run-up in cases over the last two weeks, based on the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.
The casino will enforce new safety protocols. All patrons and employees must be wearing masks at all times, and everyone entering the casino will undergo a temperature check.
'Machines are wiped down every two hours with spray guns,' said Aimee Cicero, a public relations manager. 'There are buckets of sanitizing wipes throughout the casino floor that patrons can use to wipe machines as well.' Chips for table games will be disinfected on a regular basis, too.
Some patrons were less diligent in following mask-wearing policies, especially in the smoking section. Others nearby had masks slung below their chins as they smoked cigars and cigarettes while playing the slot machines.
Some not in the smoking section stuck haphazardly to the new rules, with many patrons wearing them only over their mouths, leaving their noses exposed. One craps table attracted a closely packed crowd of 10 gamblers, despite Caesars regulations limiting the number to six.
Michael Castellente, 45, wasn't surprised by the changes, since he'd seen pictures online of other reopened casinos across the country. He said that coming in the morning might be a healthier choice than at night, when the casino tends to be more crowded.
Because he lives near the airport, Harrah's is the most convenient casino, and he's glad to see it reopen. 'It doesn't feel too different,' he said. 'I like it because you're around other people that are happy.'
Aileen Morton, 67, found comfort in the return to Harrah's, too, though hers was more bittersweet. The East Norriton resident used to visit the casino with her husband every week before she retired at the end of December. Two weeks later, her husband passed away.
'I've missed it,' she said. ' It's my first time being here without him.'
Is Harrah's Philadelphia Casino Open Today
Despite her apprehensions about going out in a pandemic, Morton looked forward to the reopening . 'I'm elated, seriously, just to see people.'
———
©2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer
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