Five years of promises, uncertainly and delays ended at noon today when a crowd of about 500 streamed into the newly opened Rivers Casino on the North Shore.
A barrage of midday fireworks and a rain of confetti punctuated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $780 million riverfront facility, which is expected to be the most lucrative of the 14 casinos authorized by the 2004 slots law. Rivers became the ninth to open, and the first to open within a city's limits.
"This is your casino," Rivers President Ed Fasulo told a cheering and, at times, impatient crowd at the beginning of the 15-minute opening ceremony.
Scheduled to begin at noon, the ceremony began minutes early as some in the crowd shouted, "Cut the ribbon!"
"We've waited a very long period of time to get here," said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.
Within an hour, almost all of the 3,000 slot machines were being used.
Bill Hartman, 52, of Arnold, arrived at 8:30 a.m. — three hours after the first gambler arrived.
"No more going to Canada, West Virginia, Las Vegas," Hartman said. About an hour later, he said he had turned his $20 into a little more than $140. "I'm doing all right."
Gamblers' money that has been flowing to West Virginia, New Jersey and other areas outside Pittsburgh — including Washington County, where a casino has been operating for two years — will be spent on the North Shore, said Allen Brown, 58, of Swissvale.
"It's good for Pittsburgh," Brown said. "People can keep the money right here."
