Live! Casino in Pittsburgh turned four years old last week, and to commemorate the occasion, it introduced brand-new amenities, including a high-limit lounge. The upgrade also includes a reconfiguration of the gaming floor and the aforesaid introduction of a high-limit gaming lounge with three table games and an exclusive bar.

Live! Casino Pittsburgh, nestled in the bustling outskirts of Westmoreland, marked its fourth anniversary last week with a slate of exciting upgrades, including the launch of a high-limit lounge. The anniversary celebration showcased the casino's evolution from its 2020 debut amid the pandemic to becoming Pennsylvania's top-performing mini-casino.

A big bet on Pennsylvania

Live! Casino Pittsburgh opened its doors in October 2020, after Cordish Companies transformed a previous Bon-Ton department store at Westmoreland Mall into a state-of-the-art satellite casino. The $150 million project was part of Pennsylvania's gaming expansion, allowing for smaller Category 4 properties, commonly referred to as 'mini-casinos.'

As one of four such mini-casinos in the state, Live! Pittsburgh set the stage for others, leveraging Cordish's $700 million asset in the larger Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. That project allowed the company to pursue a satellite venue under Pennsylvania's gaming regulations. The gamble has paid off: in 2023 alone, Live! Pittsburgh generated $131.6 million in gross gaming revenue, solidifying its position as the leading mini-casino in the commonwealth.

Enhancements reflecting community feedback

To celebrate its milestone, Live! Casino Pittsburgh unveiled a series of upgrades. Over the summer, the casino solicited feedback from patrons to better align its offerings with customer expectations. One of the most significant changes is the relocation of the poker room from the second floor to the main gaming level, placing it alongside the casino's slot machines and table games. The previous poker room, a 1,600-square-foot space, has been reimagined as the Social Club, an upscale events venue.

The Social Club boasts a rustic lodge aesthetic, complete with leather couches, a fireplace, and comfy bucket chairs. It's designed to accommodate groups of 20 to 100, offering a flexible layout and a full-service bar for private gatherings. Meanwhile, the first floor now features a new high-limit lounge tailored for high rollers. This exclusive space includes three table games and an exclusive bar, complementing the relocated poker room.

"It's incredible to think that we've been part of this community for four years, and it just keeps getting better," said the General Manager of Live! Casino Pittsburgh, Sean Sullivan. "These investments underscore our commitment to being a good community partner and a world-class gaming and entertainment destination."

A $7.5 million investment

The recent upgrades represent a $7.5 million investment in the property. According to Sullivan, the enhancements reflect the casino's dedication to continuous improvement and its focus on maintaining a vibrant relationship with the local community.

But as a Category 4 casino, Live! Pittsburgh operates under specific limitations. The casino is capped at 750 slot machines and 40 table games. Notably, it is the only Cat. 4 property to have paid an additional $2.5 million fee to expand its table game allotment from 30 to 40.

Currently, the casino operates 27 table games, with three reserved for the new high-limit lounge. Despite its success, Live! Pittsburgh faces competition from other mini-casinos like Hollywood Casino York, which narrowly outpaced it in table game revenue last year. Hollywood York generated $16.6 million on its table games in 2023, compared to $16.3 million at Live! Pittsburgh.

Four years after opening during one of the most challenging periods for the gaming industry, Live! Casino Pittsburgh has established itself as a cornerstone of entertainment in Westmoreland. With its latest upgrades, the casino is not only celebrating its past success but also paving the way for future growth. As Sean Sullivan aptly summarized, "There couldn't be a more appropriate way to celebrate than with these three exciting additions to our beautiful property."