Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has set out plans to ‘break ground’ with a new $60m Landing Hotel project, after getting the go ahead to start on construction from the Pittsburgh Planning Commission two years ago.

Rush Street Gaming is set to introduce the project, which will join its Schenectady property as part of Rivers Casino and Resort’s complex at Mohawk Harbor later this summer.

The seven storey, four-star property is set to be developed by the Pittsburgh-based Massaro Construction Group, and will be an addition to the existing casino’s eastern facade.

“The time is right,” stated Greg Carlin, CEO of Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and its Rush Street Gaming owner. “Statewide gaming expansion changed our schedule, but never our intentions.

“Rush Street always envisioned a hotel for Rivers to create a full-service destination on the North Shore. We see it as a natural evolution.”

Since the project’s approval two years ago, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has successfully completed several significant property upgrades, among them adding gourmet burger restaurant, Flipt, opening its event centre for up-sized galas and expositions and launching Pittsburgh’s first licensed sportsbook.

The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh will add approximately 128 permanent new hotel and casino jobs, along with 1,400 temporary construction jobs, with Rivers Casino Pittsburgh already beginning the administrative process of applying for permits with the city.

Pending approval from zoning and planning departments, construction is to commence will take approximately 18 months to complete, with Rivers anticipating holding the ribbon-cutting sometime in early 2021.

Recently Rush Street Gaming unveiled plans to undergo a further transformation within Pennsylvania, after announcing that its Sugarhouse Casino is to introduce a series of property upgrades later this year, which is set to include a re-brand to become Rivers Casino Philadelphia.