Sneak peek: Gaming executive shows casino layout

SCHENECTADY — The Rivers Casino and Resort at Mohawk Harbor is 18 percent complete and is on target to open at the end of the first quarter of 2017.

Gazette photographer Marc Schultz and I got a sneak peek inside the casino on Wednesday, where 75 percent of the concrete has been poured and 2 percent of the framing is up.

The walls of the casino will start going up next month. On Wednesday there were 135 workers on site, who work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. That number is expected to double in the next couple of months.

Joe Scibetta, vice president of operations for Rush Street Gaming, showed us the layout of the casino and what future patrons can expect in terms of amenities, design and lighting.

Unlike other casinos, the Rivers Casino will focus on natural light, Scibetta said.

“We don’t shy away from natural light,” he said. “Wherever we can add it, we add it.”

There will be windows along the wall of the casino facing the Mohawk River. There are no windows in the main 50,000-square-foot gaming area, which will include 1,150 slot machines and 63 table games.

There will be a patio for the VIP gaming room and a patio for the steakhouse overlooking the river by the walking path. The banquet facility will also have windows by the river.

On the other side of the building, facing Erie Boulevard, the 16-table poker room will have windows and the marketplace next door, which will include four restaurants, will have a shared patio.

“The poker room has windows, which is really rare,” Scibetta said. “We introduced windows in our poker room at SugarHouse in Philadelphia and the players like it. They like the ability to have natural light with shades to be relatively dark.”

The Mallozzi Group will operate the food venues and banquet facility. The marketplace will include smaller versions of Johnny’s Italian restaurant and Villa Italia bakery along with a burger place and Asian restaurant.