Sunday, February 23, 2025, 8:49AM |  28°
MENU
Advertisement
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh's new state-of-the-art BetRivers Sportsbook on Sept. 30, 2019, on the North Shore.
1
MORE

Rivers Casino 'ready for your action' as full football crowds set to return to Heinz Field

Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette

Rivers Casino 'ready for your action' as full football crowds set to return to Heinz Field

It’s been a long time since Heinz Field was opened to full capacity for a regular season football game — Dec. 15, 2019, to be exact, a night Devlin “Duck” Hodges started for the Steelers at quarterback during a 17-10 prime time loss to Buffalo.

Barring further COVID-19 restrictions, that drought will come to an end Saturday when Pitt faces Massachusetts for a 4 p.m. kickoff at Heinz Field. And Rivers Casino hopes that the return of big crowds to the North Shore will mean a flood of returning handle for the casino’s retail sportsbook that missed out on a lot of it in 2020.

“If the preseason games are any indication of what we’re going to see in terms of traffic flow and betting, I’m very excited for the season,” said Andre Barnebei, Rivers’ vice president of gaming who oversees the sportsbook. “We saw a really nice boost in foot traffic. … You could definitely tell there was something going on at Heinz Field.”

Advertisement

The sports gaming industry took its biggest hit of the pandemic at the beginning, when the sports world shut down from mid-March until July of 2020. Online handle recovered quickly after that, with football season bringing new records for money wagered through the state’s legal operations.

Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz (46) begins training at Heinz Field during the Steelers 2020 Training Camp, Tuesday, July 28, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Brian Batko
Christian Kuntz’s climb from Chartiers Valley and Duquesne to the Steelers was no snap decision

Rivers Casino, however, faced various levels of restrictions amid surges in cases during the colder months. And nearby Heinz Field never welcomed a crowd larger than a few thousand season ticket holders for similar reasons. That naturally meant fewer in-person bets.

That’s all changed now, at least for the start of 2021. Like the rest of the gambling hall, the sportsbook area has returned to full capacity and is ready to accept as many wagers as fans can throw at them via self-serve kiosks and counter service.

So could that mean a push toward new records as interest in the industry continues to grow?

Advertisement

Mr. Barnebei isn’t sure quite yet. He noted the market has changed quite a bit since that frosty December night nearly two years ago. More online sportsbooks have opened for business, and more retail establishments have opened, as well.

“We certainly hope so,” he said. “But I’m realistic. I know there’s a lot of other opportunity out there. ... I think as a whole, the state of Pennsylvania should do very well this year.”

But regardless of how big the in-person boost proves to be, the excitement is palpable.

Mr. Barnebei said a promotion to host fantasy football drafts at the casino has taken off in recent weeks. Only a few slots remain for the program that includes $250 in food and beverage credit and fancy draft boards for participating groups. And he expects a surge in in-game betting this year as bettors show more interest in those markets.

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Clemson, S.C.
Adam Bittner
Weekend football betting guide: DraftKings offering easy $25 on Clemson-Georgia

Combined with continued safety precautions at the casino, which include regular cleanings, hand sanitizing stations and sanitary wipes available upon request, the hope is that the pieces are in place, even as effects of the delta variant linger.

“We’re ready for your action,” Mr. Barnebei said. “And we’re certainly ready to make sure you have a good time if you’re fortunate enough to be able to come down here.”

Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.

First Published: September 2, 2021, 10:53 a.m.

RELATED
Bicyclists zoom past the unfinished Landing Hotel next to Rivers Casino on the North Shore on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.
Mark Belko
Back in the game: Rivers Casino resumes construction of $60 million, 219-room hotel
Slot machines on the first floor at Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County on Sept. 23, 2020.
Mark Belko
On a roll: Pa. gambling revenues hit another record high in April
Rendering of BetRivers Lounge at PPG Paints Arena
Mark Belko
A sure wager: Sports-style betting lounge getting ready to open at PPG Paints Arena
Plexiglass was installed between kiosks to promote social distancing regulations on the gaming floor of Rivers Casino as seen on Monday, June 8, 2020 on the North Shore.
Mark Belko
Unlucky numbers: State casino revenues fell 22.2% last year because of pandemic shutdowns
SHOW COMMENTS (1)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
The University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning
1
business
Amid funding uncertainty, Pitt pauses doctoral admissions
Pirates outfielder DJ Stewart gets congratulations from teammates after his home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of the Grapefruit League season at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
2
sports
5 takeaways from Pirates' spring training victory over Orioles
A new report advises retirees in 2025 to aim for just 3.7% when withdrawing from savings -- down from 4%. Over a 30-year retirement, that could mean the difference between financial security or outliving your cash in your 80s or 90s, financial experts say.
3
business
How much can retirees safely withdraw from their nest eggs? Financial experts weigh in.
Preston Coleman, 52, was beaten and strangled inside an Aliquippa VFW on Jan. 5, 2025, in what police described as a vicious, unprovoked attack.
4
news
Bartender working at Aliquippa VFW during beating that left man unconscious facing charges
York County District Attorney Timothy J. Barker reacts during a news conference regarding the shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
5
news
Police officer killed, gunman dead in shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh's new state-of-the-art BetRivers Sportsbook on Sept. 30, 2019, on the North Shore.  (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)
Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story