Rivers Casino Philadelphia
Corporate brand
UnclaimedRivers Casino Philadelphia, formerly SugarHouse Casino, is a casino and entertainment complex on the Delaware River in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Rivers Casino Philadelphia is a casino entertainment property located along the Delaware River in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It operated under the SugarHouse Casino name from its opening in 2010 until a rebranding in 2019, when its operator, Rush Street Gaming, aligned the property with the Rivers casino portfolio. The casino occupies a roughly 22-acre riverfront site associated with the former Jack Frost Sugar Refinery, which provided the original SugarHouse name. The location also has historical associations with a Revolutionary-era fort. The property emerged from Pennsylvania's expansion of legalized casino gaming in the 2000s. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board awarded SugarHouse one of five stand-alone casino licenses on December 20, 2006. The project faced sustained local opposition over traffic, neighborhood quality of life, waterfront development, and other community impacts. Anti-casino groups included Casino Free Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Neighborhood Alliance, and Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront. Other nearby community organizations supported the project, in part because of a community benefits agreement involving the New Kensington Community Development Corporation. Legal uncertainty delayed development. In 2008, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court considered whether Philadelphia had authority to lease the riverfront land for the project after the city administration challenged the relevant approvals. The court ultimately upheld the legality of the permits on August 22, 2008. Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on October 9, 2009, and the casino opened to the public on September 23, 2010. The original development plan contemplated a casino floor, restaurants, retail facilities, and later additions such as a hotel, spa, event center, and expanded dining. A major expansion began in July 2014 and opened in May 2016, increasing gaming, dining, parking, and entertainment capacity. The property later became an important early participant in Pennsylvania's regulated sports-betting and online-gaming markets. It began sports betting operations in December 2018, became the first casino in the Philadelphia area to offer sports betting, and launched online sports betting in Pennsylvania in May 2019. A permanent BetRivers Sportsbook opened in October 2019. The Rivers Casino Philadelphia brand now covers a broad casino-resort-style entertainment offer rather than gaming alone. Its amenities include slot machines, table games, sports wagering, restaurants, bars, live entertainment, and an event center. The property is served by SEPTA transit routes and connects with the Delaware River Trail. Its positioning combines urban convenience, riverfront entertainment, regulated gaming, dining, and sports viewing for Philadelphia-area residents and visitors.
History
Rivers Casino Philadelphia began as the SugarHouse Casino project, one of five stand-alone casino developments licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on December 20, 2006. The proposed casino was planned for a riverfront site in Fishtown, Philadelphia, on land connected to the former Jack Frost Sugar Refinery. The refinery association inspired the SugarHouse name. The site also had historical significance because a British Revolutionary-era fort had once stood nearby. The proposal generated substantial debate. Local opponents formed or supported groups concerned about neighborhood quality of life, traffic, waterfront access, and the broader effects of casino development. Among the opposition organizations were Casino Free Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Neighborhood Alliance, and Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront. Support also existed within the surrounding community. Fishtown Action, described in the reference material as a large local membership organization, backed the project in part because of a community benefits agreement connected with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation. The planned complex was designed as a large-scale entertainment development. The initial phase was projected at approximately $550 million and envisioned a casino floor with about 3,000 slot machines, table games, dining, and retail. Later development concepts included a hotel, health spa, event center, and additional retail and restaurant space. Public projections also anticipated substantial gaming-tax contributions to Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, although those estimates were prospective development projections rather than confirmed realized results. The project encountered a legal challenge concerning Philadelphia's authority to lease the riverfront property. In January 2008, the city administration revoked the casino license, while the city's legal position questioned whether the municipality had authority to issue the underlying approval. The project owners disputed the revocation. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments in Philadelphia in April 2008 and ruled on August 22 that the permits were legally valid. This decision cleared a major obstacle to construction. Groundbreaking took place on October 9, 2009. SugarHouse Casino opened on September 23, 2010, becoming a major gaming and entertainment venue on Philadelphia's Delaware River waterfront. Its operating offer centered on slot machines and table games, supported by restaurants, bars, retail and live entertainment. The Event Center later served as a venue for concerts and other performances, while Jack's Bar & Grill incorporated live music into the property's entertainment mix. The casino expanded during the middle of the decade. Groundbreaking for an expansion occurred on July 22, 2014, and the completed project opened on May 9, 2016. The work expanded the casino floor and added restaurants, a parking garage, and further riverfront amenities. The property also participated in the growth of regulated online gaming. It began offering online gambling in New Jersey in 2016 and added online sports betting there in 2018. Pennsylvania's developing sports-wagering market became another important turning point. SugarHouse held a two-day test period beginning December 13, 2018, followed by formal sportsbook operations two days later. The initial facility was temporary. On May 28, 2019, the casino launched online sports betting in Pennsylvania after a short testing period. In October 2019, it opened a permanent BetRivers Sportsbook described in the reference material as a $5 million, 5,700-square-foot facility with a large high-definition video wall, six betting windows, and 22 self-service kiosks. Its listed sports included football, basketball, hockey, boxing, and soccer. The property also conducted a Pennsylvania online-casino soft launch in July 2019. The initial online offering included slots and table games, with online poker identified as a planned later addition. In the same year, Rush Street Gaming announced that the Philadelphia casino would be renamed Rivers Casino Philadelphia. The change became official on October 29, 2019, bringing the property into closer naming alignment with other Rush Street casino properties, including Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. The SugarHouse name remains historically associated with the property and is retained as an alias in this dossier. Rivers Casino Philadelphia continues to operate as a Philadelphia casino and entertainment destination. Its offer spans casino gaming, sports wagering, online gaming, food and beverage, concerts, and events. The venue is accessible by SEPTA Route 15 trolley and bus routes 25 and 43, and it is adjacent to the Delaware River Trail.
- 2019
Pennsylvania online sports betting begins
[1]SugarHouse launches online sports wagering in Pennsylvania.
- 2019
Rebrand to Rivers Casino Philadelphia
[1]The property adopts the Rivers Casino Philadelphia name on October 29.
- 2018
Sportsbook launches
[1]The property begins regulated sports betting after a brief test period.
- 2016
Expansion opens
[1]An expansion adds gaming space, dining, parking, and other riverfront amenities.
- 2010
Casino opens
[1]SugarHouse Casino opens to the public on September 23.
- 2009
Construction begins
[1]Groundbreaking takes place on October 9 for the SugarHouse casino development.
- 2008
Supreme Court validates project permits
[1]The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upholds the legality of the permits supporting the Philadelphia riverfront casino project.
- 2006
Pennsylvania awards the casino license
[1]The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board awards SugarHouse one of five stand-alone casino licenses.
Products and positioning
An urban riverfront casino and entertainment destination serving the Philadelphia market, combining regulated gaming, sports wagering, restaurants, bars, concerts, and event programming.
Casino gaming · 2010
Casino floor
The core physical gaming operation includes slot machines and table games. The casino floor formed the foundation of the original SugarHouse development and was expanded as part of the 2014–2016 redevelopment program.
Sports betting · 2018
BetRivers Sportsbook
The sportsbook provides in-person and online wagering on sports including football, basketball, hockey, boxing, and soccer. The permanent Philadelphia sportsbook opened in October 2019 with broadcast screens, staffed betting windows, and self-service kiosks.
Online gaming · 2016
Online casino
The online-gaming offering includes digital slot machines and table games. Online gambling began in New Jersey in 2016, while a Pennsylvania soft launch occurred in July 2019. The reference material identifies online poker as a planned later addition.
Hospitality and entertainment · 2010
Dining and entertainment venues
The property supplements gaming with restaurants, bars, live music, and concerts. Referenced venues include Geno's Steaks, Rita's Italian Ice, Coffee Spot, Mian, Jack's Bar & Grill, Martorano's Prime, and the Event Center.
Brand decisions
2019
Adopt the Rivers Casino brandM&ABackground
Rush Street Gaming sought to align the Philadelphia property with its wider Rivers-branded casino portfolio.
Action taken
The SugarHouse Casino name was replaced by Rivers Casino Philadelphia, with the new brand becoming official on October 29, 2019.
Aftermath
The former SugarHouse identity became a historical alias while the property continued operating under the Rivers Casino Philadelphia name.
2018
Enter regulated sports bettingProduct launchBackground
Pennsylvania and neighboring New Jersey were developing regulated sports-wagering markets, creating an opportunity to extend the casino's gaming offer.
Action taken
The property conducted a test period beginning December 13, 2018, then formally opened sports betting two days later.
Aftermath
SugarHouse became the first casino in the Philadelphia area to offer sports betting and later expanded the operation with a permanent sportsbook.
2014
Approve a major property expansionStrategyBackground
The original casino development was followed by plans to broaden the property's gaming, dining, parking, and riverfront entertainment offer.
Action taken
SugarHouse broke ground on an expansion on July 22, 2014; the completed project opened on May 9, 2016.
Aftermath
The expansion increased the property's physical amenities and reinforced its role as a broader entertainment destination rather than a gaming-only venue.
Sources1 sources
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