After what seems like an interminable wait, legal sports betting finally became a reality this week in New York State when Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady officially launched its new Rivers Sportsbook lounge.
Present at the ribbon cutting ceremony was a cast of guests, and area dignitaries accompanied by Super Bowl Champion and former New York Giants punter, Sean Landeta; Pro-Bowl safety and former New York Jet, Erik Coleman; and World Series MVP, New York Yankee great, Bucky Dent.
The new Rivers Sportsbook, which will be operated by Kambi in conjunction with Rush Street Interactive, is a luxury sports lounge and occupies just over 5,000 square feet. Club chairs and table seating accommodate approximately 80 guests and include five private booths with TV monitors – each accommodating up to six people. The lounge also includes18 individual VIP seats and 32 tabletop seats.
“We’re so proud to be the first gaming operator in New York to take legal sports bets,” said Rivers Casino & Resort Acting General Manager Justin Moore. “Many people worked very hard to make legal sports wagering a reality in New York State, and we thank all of them for their tireless efforts and dedication.”
Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy hailed the landmark opening, saying: “We couldn’t be happier for our great community partner Rivers Casino & Resort. It is indeed an historic day not just for the state of New York, but for the City of Schenectady. As Rivers Casino grows, so does its positive impact on our community.
“The opening of Rivers Sportsbook will surely attract even more guests to the property and to our great city. Looking ahead, we are also hopeful that our leaders in Albany will see how hard Rivers Casino is working to keep up with growing regional competition and recognize how important it is for them to address structural tax disadvantages in the market.”
The Sportsbook incorporates an impressive 53′ x 9′ LED video wall that anchors the viewing area, along with 22 additional TV monitors. It also includes 14 betting kiosks and six staffed betting windows to accommodate guests.
Betting will be available on a wide array of sporting events including professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, college sports and more. Bets are expected to include, but not be limited to, straight bets, parlays, totals, and in-game betting. Wagers can be placed at the betting counter with a live sportsbook writer during Rivers Sportsbook hours of operation or at a sports betting kiosk 24 hours a day.
Sports wagering suppliers Kambi and Rush Street Interactive are aiming to bring the same high quality in-casino sportsbook solution to Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady as players in the state of Pennsylvania have been enjoying since 2018. The firms power sportsbook services at the top two performing retail sportsbooks in the state of Pennsylvania; Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia collectively account for over 50% of all retail sportsbetting handle in the state since the market opened.