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Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady, NY is one of the new New York State casinos that opened on February 8, 2017 to some pretty dismal reviews. I had not been so reserved judgement. However, that changed today after we decided to take the 1 1/2 hour drive to check it out.
We arrived just after noon and left at 1:30 - I suppose I could stop the review right there but here are the details.
This place is SMALL! Its listed as 50,000 Sq Ft, but it sure looks smaller than that. We are used to Atlantic City, PA and CT casinos all of which dwarf this place. It is really just a rectangle where you can easily see from one side to the other at all times. They managed to squeeze 67 table games into this space with plenty of BJ, Craps, Roulette, Pai Gow, and an assortment of carnival games. A variety of slot machines and video poker were also available as well as a poker room. The entire casino is non-smoking (didn't Revel try that???).
We headed first to get our players cards and got $10 free play for signing up. The processes was quick and easy with a very polite Terrin taking care of me quite efficiently. He pointed out that the card gets us 5% off at the marketplace restaurants (higher at higher levels) so we headed over to FLIPT for lunch. We both ordered single burgers with fries (and a 'free' soda). This was about $23 less 1.10 5% discount for about $22. The burgers and fries were just ok - but not as good as say 5 Guys or Shake Shack. So we thought $22 is quite pricey for what we got.
After lunch I turned my $10 is free play to $12.50 and then I headed to the tables while my wife stayed at the slots. The BJ by NY state law is 3:2 (though double and single deck can be 6:5). Here the tables were 8 decks - H17 - split to 3 hands - double after split - surrender is allowed. So pretty good rules. Tables are a mix of CSMs and Auto shufflers out of a shoe. In the center of the casino was a pit of $15 tables which were all completely full. I was about to resign myself to some $25 BJ (a bit steep for my bankroll) but as I walked down toward them, there was a $10 table with an auto shuffler with a couple empty seats - go figure. After I buy in the old guy next to me whispers, 'those kids are new' pointing to a couple of much younger men at the table. They certainly were 'new' and in desperate need of a basic strategy card, but they were nice enough.
The dealer was quite good, calling out totals (correctly), always wishing everyone luck on an A, paying off the lucky ladies side bets (not for me, thanks) efficiently and even helping 'those kids' when they tried to hit 15 against a 5. The dealer was quite cold through the first shoe busting regularly as I slowly grew my stack. Just at the shuffle the relief dealer came in and she too was good and a bit faster than the original dealer. Before this shoe was over, my wife came over and sat down next to me (yes still an empty seat at the $10 table). She had lost as much as she wanted to lose (that was pretty quick). After another hand or so, I was up $100 so figured we'd call it a day. So I played less than 2 shoes of BJ. I wonder if this minimal amount of play will generate any mailings.
A quick glance at the craps tables looked like they were mostly $15 but I hope there was some less expensive tables around. And then a line at the cashier. The 'line' was really just in the walkway around the outside of the rectangle. So people were walking through the line. Not very well laid out for a newly designed casino. Just 2 windows were open so there were about 4 people waiting to cash out. I've never quite seen it set up like this before. And after getting my money I felt quite exposed since I was immediately in the walkway.
The casino was bright and clean (new). The food seemed over priced. The selection of slots seemed minimal (according to my wife). The table games seemed fine to me. The hotel is not yet opened, so calling this a resort seems to be presumptuous. There was plenty of free surface parking as well as a free parking garage. Would I go back? Sure, if I was in the Albany area with some free time I would go back. Would we take the 1 1/2 hour drive each way again just to go here, no! I have plenty of other better options in the 2-3 hour range. Getting from I 890 to the casino brings you through some pretty run-down areas of Schenectady but once you get to the property its bright and new.
My net on this one - don't go out of your way to go here.

I believe the non Indian casinos with table games may have to be non smoking, Del Lago was also. I think this is a trend in newer states that allow non Indian gaming (ohio comes to mind), where reasonable health concerns that apply to most other businesses are taken into account, the 'but it's a casino' excuse not taking hold.

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So I had to laugh when I got an e-mail from Rivers today.. Granted I only played about 45 minutes at $20 a hand..
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Period : February 1st - July 31st, 2017
Rush Rewards # : xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rush Rewards Tier : Rush
Tier Points Balance : 26
Points Balance : 26
Points can be redeemed for comps at any dining outlet or
Free Slot Play at any slot machine.
1500 points = $5 Free Slot Play
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So I'd have to play at this rate for about 20 hours to receive $5 slot play? Geez thanks! Again, I understand if I had played longer I may have earned more points per hour (or maybe not). However, if they were really trying to get me to come back, this didn't help!