New property ready to go
The Cordish Companies officially opened its new Live! Casino Pittsburgh on November 17, marking the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This is a significant milestone for the casino company as it is the first of its two Live! branded casinos that will be opening in Pennsylvania. The Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia hopes to open in early 2021.
The new satellite casino at the Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield Township cost about $150m to develop. It will open to the general public at 6am on November 24.
Big potential impact
The Cordish Companies estimates that the casino could provide $188m in additional economic impact each year to the region, as well as $47.5m in tax revenue. There will also be more than 500 permanent jobs created at the facility.
750 slot machines and about 30 table games
In terms of the actual gambling offering, the casino floor contains 750 slot machines and about 30 table games. It also houses a FanDuel Sportsbook, as well as a number of restaurants and social areas.
Speaking about the opening of the new property was The Cordish Companies Principal Jon Cordish. He said: “Live! Casino Pittsburgh is a world-class destination that will set the gold standard for gaming, dining and entertainment in the region.”
Cordish added that it was a historic day for the 100-year-old, family-owned business, as it was marking its first entry in Pennsylvania.
Safety first
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there will be extensive health and safety protocols in effect when the casino opens to the general public. Live! Casino has its own “Play It Safe” plan to make sure that all of its staff and visitors are safe. This includes having a state-of-the-art HVAC air purification system, as well as extensive sanitization protocols.
All of these rules will incorporate guidelines from both federal and state public health officials. This includes the mandatory wearing of masks, temperature checks, regular cleaning, and proper social distancing.
With cases of COVID-19 rising across the United States, a number of states and districts are restricting casino operations. In Philadelphia, the city’s only casino has to close its doors until at least January 1, 2021 as a result of new restrictions.