The new online casino options keep coming in Pennsylvania, almost as fast as you can push a slot machine button.
Customers logging into their BetRivers sportsbook accounts Thursday saw a “BetRivers Casino now live!” message, with the option of switching from sports betting over to an array of slots and table games using their existing funds and registration.
Rush Street Interactive stated in a press release that its BetRivers site, attached to the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, had added the online/mobile casino games through the license of its sister property, Rivers Philadelphia.
Rush Street Interactive is part of Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, which owns the Rivers properties in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Its addition of casino games to BetRivers makes it the state’s eighth such site.
State has gained three iCasinos in past week
BetAmerica debuted PA’s seventh iCasino Tuesday through Presque Isle Downs. Last week FanDuel Casino added casino games to its sportsbook app.
The PlaySugarHouse site of Rivers Philadelphia has provided slots and table games play since July, on top of the online sportsbook previously provided there. In December, it ranked at the top in slots and table revenue among the state’s iCasinos, netting nearly $3 mm combined.
“We wanted to launch our award-winning casino platform [at BetRivers] prior to the Super Bowl,” said Richard Schwartz, president of Rush Street Interactive. “Our experience in NJ and PA with PlaySugarHouse.com has validated that online sportsbook players also enjoy the full services of our casino, especially the table games.”
The BetRivers site is the same as PlaySugarHouse, offering about 60 slots plus four roulette games, two blackjack options, one baccarat game and a GameKing video poker menu. There is no interactive poker with other players.
Among the slots are Double Ruby, Atomic Meltdown, Wolf Run, and Double Diamond.
The press release stated: “More games will be added quickly as additional game vendors obtain the necessary approvals to launch their game libraries in the Commonwealth.”
BetRivers customers can use either their phone apps or desktop computers and tablets to play. There was no indication Thursday of any special incentives to encourage play by existing sportsbook customers, but a $250 deposit match is offered for those new to the site.
The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh initially intended to obtain its own iCasino license, which costs $10 mm to provide slots, tables, and poker, but the application was withdrawn, as its BetRivers site is able to use a skin from Rivers Philadelphia without paying the fee.
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board spokesman Doug Harbach said that because BetRivers has added its games under the Rivers Philadelphia license, its reported revenue will be folded into the report for PlaySugarHouse instead of being listed separately. He said the board does not consider it a separate site, technically, and still counts the state as having seven iCasinos instead of eight.
