Rivers Casino Celebrates a Successful First Year of Table GamesPittsburgh’s Casino Announces First-ever Mario Lemieux Foundation Charity Poker Tournament |
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One year ago, Rivers Casino introduced live table games to much fanfare and player anticipation—and the excitement just keeps coming. To celebrate the first anniversary of table games in Pittsburgh, Rivers and The Mario Lemieux Foundation announced a partnership to host the first-ever Lemieux charity poker tournament. The tournament’s main event is scheduled for Sept. 17, 2011. Card Player will be in attendance to provide a live video stream from the main event.
Following a special announcement in July in the casino’s 30-table poker room, Foundation and casino leadership unveiled a brand-new, commemorative $5 gaming chip design that sports Lemieux’s famed “66” icon and immortalizes the tournament. The chip will become available on Sept. 17 for tournament participants and the public.
Rivers teamed up with The Mario Lemieux Foundation last year, also, to help launch table games in Pittsburgh, and designated the nonprofit the sole benefactor of its table test event. The organization took home nearly $30,000 in contributions from Rivers as a result.
Table Games Take Off
On July 8, 2010, Rivers Casino cut the ribbon on 86 brand-new table games, which brought more than 450 new jobs to the city of Pittsburgh as well as additional tax revenue. The addition of live table games completed the property’s gaming mix, establishing Rivers Casino as the premier entertainment destination in the region.
Responding to continued player demand, in January 2011, Rivers added an additional 19 table games, including new Rapid Roulette systems and state-of-the-art i-TablesTM. Rivers also increased its table games team by about 100 employees to support this expansion.
Now, Rivers offers a diverse mix of up to 107 tables, including blackjack, craps, roulette, three-card poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus, Pai Gow poker, mini baccarat, Big Six, and a 30-table poker room.
Rivers Casino has consistently been ranked in the top-five casinos in the state for table game performance. Rivers’ tables have generated $52,993,921 in gross terminal revenue, which equates to more than $8.4 million in tax revenue for the community (as of June 20, 2011).
“We are very pleased with our performance in our first year of table games,” said Craig Clark, general manager of Rivers Casino. “Our success is a result of having a great team that is customer-focused, energetic and always striving to provide guests with memorable experiences.”
Lemieux Chip Design Debuts
Beginning Sept. 1, players can register for The Mario Lemieux Foundation’s charity poker tournament, which will have a $550 entrance fee, in person at the Rivers poker room. One hundred dollars of each buy-in goes directly to the Foundation. Space is limited.
Prior to the Sept. 17 main event, players can compete in satellite tournaments to gain entry into the tournament. Satellite tournaments will be held in the week prior to the final table. The grand prize winner and subsequent winners will receive a cash prize. Cash amounts will be determined by the number of buy-ins for the tournament.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering again with Rivers Casino and its players to help drive awareness of our mission,” said Nancy Angus, executive director for The Mario Lemieux Foundation. “We appreciate the casino team’s ongoing commitment to supporting worthy causes.”
A limited-quantity $5 gaming chip that commemorates the Foundation’s tournament will be introduced during the event and available for purchase and play starting Sept. 17.
Specific tournament and registration details will become available closer to the event. Sign up at www.mariolemieux.org to receive updates.
ABOUT RIVERS CASINO
Rivers Casino, named “Best Overall Gaming Resort” in Pennsylvania by Casino Player magazine and “Best Overall Casino” in Pennsylvania by Strictly Slots magazine, opened in August 2009. The casino features nearly 3,000 slots, more than 100 table games, nine distinctive restaurants and bars, a riverside amphitheater, live music performances, free parking and multiple promotions and giveaways daily. Rivers Casino is one of 10 operating casinos in Pennsylvania and employs approximately 1,400 people. Already, more than $127 million in jackpots have been awarded to players at Rivers Casino. For more information, visit www.theriverscasino.com.
ABOUT THE MARIO LEMIEUX FOUNDATION
The Mario Lemieux Foundation was created in 1993 by hockey legend Mario Lemieux. After a successful battle with Hodgkin’s disease, Mario is now cancer-free and devotes much of his time to the Foundation raising funds to support its initiatives. The Mario Lemieux Foundation is dedicated to raising funds for cancer and neonatal research as well as Austin’s Playroom Project, an initiative that creates sibling playrooms in medical facilities. For more information, visit www.mariolemieux.org.
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