Rivers CEO spells out benefits of casino on Capital Region

SCHENECTADY — Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady is on track for a February opening, Rush Street Gaming CEO Greg Carlin told members of the local business community on Thursday.

Speaking at the Center for Economic Growth’s annual meeting, Carlin laid out the benefits and expected positive impact of the casino on the region and provided attendees with specifics on the project. The casino is being built on the old Alco site on the Mohawk Harbor.

Carlin is a Chicago native who co-founded Rush Street Gaming. The company operates multiple casino properties, including the one in Schenectady, and the Rivers casinos in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Des Plaines, Illinois.

The Rivers Casino & Resort on Mohawk Harbor will probably open in February, Carlin said, though an official date will be announced later.

In the last several years, more states have legalized and approved casinos being built. While that has led to increased revenues in the gaming industry, it’s also increased competition.

Locally, Rivers Casino is less than an hour from the gambling facility in Saratoga Springs. However, Carlin said Rush Street is confident the local market can sustain both properties.

“When people ask about the Capital Region and Schenectady, our answer is we think it’s a great market,” Carlin said, estimating there are 900,000 people within an hour’s drive. “We try to design our facility so it’s the right size for the market.”

The Schenectady project cost just over $300 million, Carlin said. He compared that to an MGM casino being built in Springfield, Massachusetts, for about $950 million, but for only a slightly larger market.

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