Posted on: November 25, 2024, 08:52h.
Last updated on: November 25, 2024, 08:52h.
Live! Casino Pittsburgh in the city suburb of Westmoreland celebrated four years last week by introducing new amenities and opening a high-limit gaming lounge.
One of four so-called “mini-casinos” in Pennsylvania, Live! Pittsburgh was the first Category 4 satellite gaming property to open. After Baltimore-based Cordish Companies invested $150 million to transform a former Bon-Ton department store at the Westmoreland Mall into a casino, the first bets were wagered in October 2020, as concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic raged on.
Four years later, Cordish officials say the company’s big bet on Pennsylvania, highlighted by its $700 million investment to open Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, a full-scale casino that allowed Cordish to pursue a satellite gaming venue in Pittsburgh, is paying off. Live! Pittsburgh is the top-performing mini-casino in the commonwealth, with its 2023 gross gaming revenue (GGR) totaling $131.6 million.
To celebrate, Live! Casino Pittsburgh has upgraded the casino after fielding customer feedback this summer.
Casino Upgrades
In July, Live! Casino Pittsburgh announced it would reconfigure its gaming floor to better satisfy patrons. Casino reps said the upstairs poker room would be relocated to the main first level where the casino’s slot machines and other table games are.
The former upstairs poker room, measuring 1,600 square feet, has since been converted into an events space called the Social Club. The room has a rustic lodge décor and is ideal for groups between 20 and 100 people. The space features a versatile layout with a full bar, fireplace, leather couches, and bucket chairs.
Downstairs, gamblers will find a new high-limit lounge and the relocated poker room. The space reserved for high rollers has three table games and a dedicated bar.
It’s incredible to think that we’ve been part of this community for four years and it just keeps getting better. I don’t think there could be a more appropriate way to celebrate than with these three exciting additions to our beautiful property,” said Sean Sullivan, general manager at Live! Casino Pittsburgh.
“These investments underscore our commitment to being a good community partner and world-class gaming and entertainment destination,” Sullivan added.
Sullivan said the property changes cost about $7.5 million.
Live! Pittsburgh Restrictions
Being a Cat. 4 casino, Live! Pittsburgh is limited to 750 slots, including other electronic gaming machines, and 40 table games. The three high-limit tables count against that number.
Pennsylvania’s 2017 gaming expansion package included regulations that limit mini-casinos to an initial allotment of 750 electronic gaming positions and 30 tables. However, after a year in operation, Cat. 4 properties can pay an additional $2.5 million fee to add 10 tables.
Live! Pittsburgh is the only Cat. 4 casino to date to have paid the $2.5 million add-on to increase its table privileges to 40.
Despite having only 27 table games, Hollywood Casino York edged Live! Pittsburgh last year for the top-grossing satellite table property. Hollywood York won $16.6 million on its felt compared to $16.3 million at Live! Pittsburgh.
