The Galesi Group’s Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady is slated to open by early 2017, and already is generating a great deal of local buzz.
Some 200 local business leaders in mid-March attended a Capital Region Chamber event to learn more about the proposed casino from Galesi Group COO David Buicko and Rush Street Gaming Vice President Joe Scibetta.
Rush Street Gaming operates three award-winning casinos in several states that it developed from the ground up, developed two others, and consistently earns inclusion among respective local “best places to work” lists, Scibetta told local business leaders.
He said the Rivers Casino & Resort will utilize natural lighting, has applied for LEED certification for sustainability practices, will be easy to navigate, and will incorporate iconic aspects of Schenectady in its design.
Casino plans call for a 50,00-foot gaming area, which will contain 1,050 slots, a high-limit area, 16 poker tables, and blackjack tables. Planned amenities include restaurants, bars, an entertainment lounge, and a 600-seat event center.
Buicko said a 163-room hotel will open about six months after the casino, and the Galesi Group is investing another $150 million for mixed-use development designed to complement the gaming operations and give visitors more to do.
Buicko expects the casino and related developments to draw about 2.8 million visitors, employ hundreds of people, and generate millions of dollars in local tax revenues.
