Why Rivers Casino Offers the Best Gaming in Pittsburgh

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has been a staple in the Steel City for over a decade. Located in the Chateau neighborhood of this historic city, Rivers grants you more than just a positive gaming experience.

As you’ll discover in this article, Rivers Casino continues to grow on Pittsburgh’s North Shore with its many gaming options, expanded dining options, and incoming accommodations. 

From exploring the city’s rich history to attractions like the Carnegie Science Center, PNC Park, and Heinz Field, here are seven reasons to visit Rivers Casino if you find yourself in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh. 

1 – History

Originally to be named the Majestic Star Casino, Rivers is relatively new, having opened in August 2009. 

The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act gave authorization to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to reserve at least one casino license to the city of Pittsburgh.

The proposal process started, where Don H. Barden’s longshot PITG Gaming emerged as the victor. Unlike the other three big players in the proposal process, Barden’s proposal did not include replacing the aging Mellon Arena, then-home of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Another fallout with Barden’s proposal was its proposed location on the North Side of Pittsburgh. With the MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates’ PNC Park and the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers’ Heinz field in the same area, residents were concerned over increased traffic congestion.


 


Ground broke in December 2007 yet ceased in July 2008 when Barden defaulted on a loan which forced him to sell off 75 percent of his interests. A joint venture of Walden Street Capital and High Pitt Gaming LP, Holdings Acquisition Co. bought the acquired Barden’s interests. 

In August 2008, construction restarted for the soon-to-be rechristened Rivers Casino. Named for the casino’s proximity to the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers. 

2 – Games Offered

Rivers Casino offers 24-hour gaming action, including over 2,600 slot games, table games, a poker room, Asian table gaming, video poker, and a sportsbook. 

The slot room offers a variety of levels including penny slots to high limits, with denominations ranging from $1 to $1,000. Of the 2,600 slots, the casino offers over 1,000 slots in non-smoking. 

The high-limit room features popular games like Wheel of Fortune, Quick Hits, and Monopoly. Other favorites include Panda Magic, Dancing Drums, 88 Fortunes, and Lightning Link. 

Rivers offers over 100 table games featuring dealers who are more than willing to help newcomers learn how to play each game. Table games offered include blackjack, craps, roulette, Three-Card Poker, Four-Card Poker, and Let It Ride.

Baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em, Mississippi Stud, Big Six, Pai Gow Poker, and the Rush Table Zone are also among the casino’s most popular games. 

Rivers also offers a variety of poker tournaments and promotions within its poker room, featuring daily tournaments at specific times of the year in no-limit Hold‘em. The Asian-inspired table games include Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow, and others. 

Finally, Rivers also offers the Betrivers Sportsbook, open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 12 AM and from 9 AM to 12 AM on Saturday and Sunday. 

The location comprises a 5,500 square-foot-space for 195 guests, including club chairs, private booths, 24 86-inch TVs, 33 self-service betting kiosks, and six betting windows. The sportsbook also offers a state-of-the-art sports bar. 

The sportsbook also offers a sportsbook rewards program through the Rush Rewards Players Club Card. For every $1,000 in bets, you earn $5 in rewards. The program is among the best casinos the state of Pennsylvania has to offer. 

The sportsbook also offers professional football viewing parties from 12 PM to 8 PM every Sunday during the NFL season on a first-come, first-serve basis, with food and drinks available for purchase. 

3 – Dining

The perfect destination experience can’t be completed without exceptional dining options and Rivers Casino offers a variety of dining options in restaurants and bars of differing atmospheres.

The Wheelhouse Bar and Grill is open from 4 PM to 11 PM on Monday through Thursday and from 12 PM to 11 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is the ideal place to try some of Pittsburgh’s most famous entrees. 

Flipt is described as having a burger-mecca menu featuring some of the freshest ingredients around. Some of their most famous burgers include the “Impossible Burger” and the “Flipt Burger Wrap.” Freshly-cut fries are prepared as a side with every order.

Other popular eats at Flipt include appetizers like Fried Mini Tacos, Cheeseburger Sliders, and Mini Chili Cheese Fries. 

Ciao is the place for the quick snack; the one-stop-shop for appetizers, pizza entrees, and desserts. Ciao features dine-in and to-go options. 

Mian offers some of the hottest Asian cuisines in Pittsburgh, such as General Tso’s chicken, egg rolls, fried rice, etc. Further menu options are available on the site and hours of operation are from Thursday to Monday from 5 PM to 11 PM. 

Martorano’s Prime was announced as celebrity chef Steve Martorano’s fourth location on July 31st, 2019. The menu’s centerpiece options infuse Martorano’s signature style of steak along with traditional Italian-American options. 

Martorano’s flagship restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was ranked as one of the “100 Hottest Restaurants in America,” and has served a plethora of celebrities, as have his locations in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. It’s a big win for Rivers Casino and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Other dining options at Rivers include the Grand View Buffet, Drum Bar, and Spiral Bar. Each is currently closed at the time of this writing, but you can view up to date information on them and the other dining options by clicking here.

4 – Promotions and Entertainment

Rivers offers some of the best casino promotions around, including drawings, giveaways, and special offers. 

The best way to keep up to date with every promotion going on at Rivers is through their app, which you can download at your own leisure. 

Social media, dining, perfect pick weekly challenges and jackpot drawings to win big at Rivers are also offered. 

Rivers offers entertainment at all levels, from free acts at happy hour to the biggest names in the industry at the Event Center. The entertainment offered at Rivers is among the best in Pittsburgh.

The Event Center offers your number one entertainment destination in Pittsburgh and has included acts from Styx to DJ Pauly D to Jay Leno, and more. 

Other hot entertainment destinations at Rivers include local acts at the Drum and Spiral Bar. 

5 – Accommodations

The 450,000 square-foot-casino just continues to grow with the addition of the Landing Hotel coming in 2021. The hotel’s location will offer some of the most outstanding views of downtown Pittsburgh’s breathtaking skyline as well as the Ohio River.

Guest rooms include 10 luxury terrace suites with private, first-floor patios. You’ll see state-of-the-art interior and exterior designs that integrate with the rest of the North Shore’s architecture and the upscale aesthetics that Rivers Casino offers.

The hotel will connect with the casino, granting you easy access to each building. And it’s also built to hold weddings, weekend events, parties, and even long-term getaways. 

6 – Nearby Attractions

If you’re taking a day off from the casino, take advantage of the various attractions the Steel City has to offer. 

Located near Rivers is a variety of local area attractions. You can explore local trails like the Montour or go kayaking in one of the city’s three rivers. 

PNC Park and Heinz Field are just a short walk away from the casino as is Stage AE, located next to Heinz Field. 

The University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning is an outstanding visit if you are a cultural enthusiast. 

Take a day out on the city’s historic Waterfront in nearby Homestead. The former location of US Steel’s Homestead Works, the Waterfront is now a vast, super-regional, open-air shopping center featuring over 50 stores and services. 

And don’t forget to visit the open hearth stacks that pay tribute to the old steel mill that once stood on the spot in this historic city. 

For more entertainment during the spring and summer months, the Pavilion in nearby Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, always hosts some of the greatest acts around. 

Conclusion

Rivers Casino offers a solution to all your casino needs. Whether you’re the avid poker player or one who craves the slot machines, Rivers has what you’re looking for. 

Still, as a relatively new casino located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh’s North Shore, dining options and accommodations continues to grow at Rivers Casino with the additions of Martorano’s and The Landing Hotel. Each one is slated to join the party in 2021. 

The city of Pittsburgh offers a variety of local attractions like local professional sports, entertainment, shopping at the Waterfront, and other endeavors. 

You can click here for more information regarding Rivers Casino and to plan your visit now. 

Have you visited Rivers in the past and if so, how was your experience? Share it with us.