New Casino in Pittsburgh

August 15, 2009

The new Rivers casino opened last Sunday in Pittsburgh, and I wanted to check it out before my departure for Italy. There was a lot of hype in the city over its grand-opening, and it is the first casino in Pennsylvania. My friend, Kristin, just got a job working as a bar tender, and we spent a good part of our dinner out on Wednesday night talking about the gambling complex and her job. There would be tons of different bars, one bar for “high rollers”—there would be man different restaurants and dining experiences, including one with a self-serve wine bar, there would be a night club and ball room installed at a later date, etc. I have to say that from all of the details that people were amassing, I imagined something much different. I will say that the description was entirely overly exaggerated based on my actual experience.

First of all, I do not like gambling, and I view it as a very body-numbing experience where you have a sensation of lost time and space, with bells ringing in your ears. Aside from that aspect of the atmosphere, I usually don’t mind entering casinos in Atlantic city because there is an overly-opulent and gotty interior that distracts me enough to not notice the cheesiness of the contrived façade and slightly even the chincy and hollow quality of the limbo gambling atmosphere. I find myself looking at mirrors and cheap velvet, fake golden carving molds (filligry?) and statues, Swartsky crystal chandeliers, purple carpets and tasteless frills that overwhelm the senses---a huge blow that initially blinds you to the throw-up feeling in your stomach regarding the sheer absence of beauty.

However in the casino in Pittsburgh, you have barely any distractions except a modern building that opens to a large circular floor with restaurants and bars that flank its sides. There are colored fluorescent lights that illuminate different sections, and huge white plastic sculptures where lights move up and down electronically. You are hit immediately with the false cheesiness and rotten luck—the people are memorized playing their machines, eyes glazed, pulling the cranks. Many are playing their earnings away, and the people also detract any hope of class that we could squeeze out of this place. Of course I am sure that there are very nice people roaming the floors, but the gambling activity debases even the roses in the crowd amidst the traditional casino characters. I received an over-all, unimpressive, slightly depressing first impression. The restaurants reminded me more of cafeterias, and even those “fancy” places were disorganized and dubious despite the good efforts.

After a while, I played some machines, and I got a pit in my stomach as I started pulling my luck on the slot machines. I played for fifteen minutes, and I was happy to rip myself away after I was up fifty dollars. As I was playing, I had a very dizzying sensation, and my ears started ringing with the incessant buzzing background. As we stopped at a cafeteria restaurant for a few friends to grab a bite to eat, they kept asking me if I was okay. I literally wasn’t—I was inundated with so many sensations, sounds, lights, and negative stimulus that I had trouble seeing straight when they were talking to me. I was also emotionally bundled up from gambling for only fifteen minutes! I decided with full agreement of the others that we had to leave the casino as soon as possible. I walked across the floor to get my sister who was at a bar with some college friends, and on the way over I felt as if I was tripping on clouds—I just wanted to get out!!! We all decided that it was a rather sad place---not created by the lack of gottie grandeur--the building was nice--but from the people in the place as well.

We left to dance in a bar. I wish that the United States placed a greater importance on “fare un bella figura”—or making a good impression, physical and mental comportment. There are so many people that are so sloppy, and the difference between here and Italy is notable. Most of the population in Italy tries very hard to fit their definition of fashion and the level of quality is set at a higher standard. Whatever, we danced in the bar and had fun! I also brought along my Italian girlfriend from Parma (staying with a friend of the family) to join us for the evening out! We got a kick at some of the characters riding the electronic bull, wasted drunk. A country bar in the burgh complete with cowboy hats and square dancing, is awful in my opinion. However, the grinding rap booty music isn't terribly appealing either....haha.