Casino developer and operator The Cordish Companies has set a date for the opening of its new Live! Casino Pittsburgh property at Westmoreland Mall in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
The facility is set to swing its doors open at 6 am on Tuesday, November 24, subject to approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, The Cordish Companies said Monday.
Occupying the former Bon-Ton department store at Westmoreland Mall, the two-story gaming venue will be the first mini-casino to open doors in the Keystone State, after Governor Tom Wolf approved a massive expansion of the state’s gambling industry in the fall of 2017.
The reform included the development of up to ten satellite casinos, or mini-casinos, in different parts of the state. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has so far issued licenses for five such facilities.
Located just about 30 miles from Pittsburgh, the new Live! Casino Pittsburgh will feature 750 slot machines, 30 table games, a FanDuel-branded sportsbook, several dining outlets, including a Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar, and entertainment facilities, among others.
The gambling venue will look to draw players from Westmoreland County as well as neighboring southwestern Pennsylvania areas who might not feel very happy about having to drive all the way to Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino and the Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington County.
New Jobs and Expected Economic Impact
The new mini-casino is expected to create 500 permanent jobs for residents of the area. Workers for the venue are still being hired. According to early projections, the gaming facility can generate $188 million in an annual economic impact for the area.
The Cordish Companies will hold a series of invitation-only events ahead of the grand opening of the casino, including charity nights on November 14 and November 15. These will benefit the Westmoreland County Food Bank and Sage’s Army.
Live! Casino Pittsburgh will operate will all Covid-19 precautions in place. All patrons and employees will be required to wear face masks while at the property. In addition, it will operate at 50% capacity and will comply with restrictions on the smoking and alcohol service.
In a statement announcing the opening of the casino, The Cordish Companies made a reference to its Play It Safe policy, which “focuses on masking, temperature checks, social distancing, and repeated cleaning of high-traffic areas, slot machines, and table games equipment.”
Property General Manager Sean Sullivan said that they have “gone through extraordinary measures to meet and exceed the state’s Covid-19 guidelines to ensure all of our guests have fun and feel safe.”
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