Pittsburgh’s North Shore and games just seem to go together. Spread along the Steel City’s Allegheny River bank are PNC Park, where the Pirates play baseball, Heinz Field, where the Steelers play football; and the Carnegie Science Center, where visitors play with laser beams and computers.
In August 2009, the new Rivers Casino added gaming to Pittsburgh’s list of riverside amusements. Located at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, Rivers Casino overlooks Pittsburgh’s gleaming glass and steel skyline. And since the casino is located next to two of the city’s most popular sports venues, many visitors add a visit before or after the game.
Rivers Casino offers more than 3,000 slot machines, including Keno, virtual blackjack, roulette machines and virtual 3-card poker. The Casino anticipates adding 60 table games and 20 poker tables by the end of 2010, pending approval. A 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheater hosts warm-weather concerts along the Allegheny Riverbank.
Five casino restaurants and cafés include Grand View Buffet, a favorite for its Sunday champagne brunch; West End Café, serving sandwiches and pizzas; Ciao, a classic Mediterranean deli serving salads and paninis; Andrew’s, a new premium steak and seafood restaurant; and Wheelhouse Bar and Grill, a sleek sports bar serving burgers, sandwiches and steaks surrounded by the glow of 40 flat-screen TVs — including Pittsburgh’s largest. There are also three bars and lounges, including Levels, which looks out over the bustle of the Rivers Casino gaming floor.