INSIDER: BetRivers Online Casino PA

Table of Contents

1. Background & License Info
2. Who Can Play at BetRivers
3. Casino Software & Game Variety
4. Sportsbook Software & Betting
5. Deposit & Withdrawal Options

6. Bonuses & Promotions
7. iRUSH Loyalty Rewards
8. Customer Support Services
9. Conclusion: Pros & Cons

BetRivers Casino Review – Background Briefing

BetRivers is the online gaming arm of the Rivers Casino franchise, owned and operated by Rush Street Gaming. There are currently two Rivers Casino properties in Pennsylvania (and another in Illinois). The oldest is the Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, which welcomed its first guests in 2009. The other is Rivers Casino Philadelphia, formerly known as SugarHouse, opened in 2010.

Rush Street Interactive (RSI), the interactive wing of Rush Street Gaming, launched BetRivers.com in early 2020. The company has a great deal of experience in the US iGaming market, having launched PlaySugarHouse.com in New Jersey in 2016. It was also the first online sportsbook to go live in PA in May 2019. RSI has been so influential in America’s legal iGaming markets, the company was honored with the title of Mobile Operator of the Year at the 2019 EGR North America Awards.

The online casino and sportsbook operator is licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to operate legally in the Keystone State under license #110298.

Who Can Play at BetRivers Online Casino PA?

According to the website, anyone over the age of 21, from anywhere in the world, is welcome to sign up an account with BetRivers Casino Sportsbook. However, only those physically located within the state of Pennsylvania will be allowed to make a deposit, claim a promotion, and/or wager for real money.

Furthermore, anyone who’s name appears on the PGCB’s Involuntary Exclusion or Voluntary Self-Exclusion lists cannot place a wager on BetRivers (or any other online gambling sites licensed in PA).

Variety of Online Casino Games & Software

At present, the BetRivers online casino menu is well stocked with a large variety of gambling amusements, from some of the iGaming industries most respected software brands.

Software & Compatibility

The operator chose two of the iGaming industry oldest, most respected software giants – International Game Technology (IGT) and NetEnt – to supply the bulk of its digital content. But they didn’t stop there. Additional wagering options are provided by AGS Interactive, Eibic, Everi, Konami, NextGen, ShuffleMaster, Scientific Games and WMS.

Desktop: The BetRivers Casino platform is desktop and mobile compliant. No download is required for PC, Mac or Linux / Ubuntu users to play. Website navigation runs flawlessly on Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari browsers.

Mobile: Users are not required to download an app to access BetRivers.com from a smartphone or tablet. The mobile website is practically a mirror-image of the desktop version. Android users who would prefer to download the BetRivers Casino Sportsbook App can do so directly from the website. There is no app for Apple iOS users yet, but we have to assume one will be provided sooner or later.

Unfortunately, Apple’s iOS devices don’t have the same geolocation capabilities as Androids. Therefore, in order to access BetRivers on an iPhone or iPad, you’ll need to download the GeoGuard Location Validator App by GeoComply from the Apple App Store. If you have not installed this app already, you will be prompted to do so when attempting to login from an iOS device.

Game Variety (180+)

As for variety, all the favorites are present, from classic 3-reel and 5-reel slots, to low-edge video poker games, to multiple variants of blackjack and roulette. Jackpot seekers can enjoy NetEnt’s famous progressive jackpots, Divine Fortune and Mercy of the Gods.

All told, BetRivers is packed with 184 titles (163 slot machines, 11 card and table games, 10 video poker games). That’s an impressive number compared to most of their competitors in the Keystone state, and the operator promises to deliver more in the foreseeable future. According to the existing categories listed on their games menu, live dealer games, virtual sportsbetting, video bingo, keno and slingo are all on the way.

• See our Complete List of BetRivers Online Casino Games

Range of Betting in the BetRivers Sportsbook

Let me start with why we believe BetRivers has the best option of all nine online sportsbooks in PA. The fact that BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse are mirrored sister-sites, and that the latter is available in both PA and NJ, is a big plus for PA sports bettors. Pennsylvania charges a much higher tax rate of 36% on online sports betting; more than double that of New Jersey’s 14.25%. And yet, BetRivers Sportsbook offers Keystoners the same sports bets, at the same odds, and the same juice, or vigorish. Parx Casino Sportsbook uses the same Kambi software, therefore presents the same basic odds and lines, but charges bettors a higher commission to compensate for the tax rate.

With that said, let’s take a look at all of the types of sports you can bet on. BetRivers has the second largest selection in PA (next to Parx), but more advantages for their members. All of the majors are available, including professional and collegiate (and in some cases international) football, basketball, baseball, golf, NASCAR, soccer, tennis and more. See the full list below.

To date, BetRivers is the only sports betting site that offers live streams of certain sporting events; especially the international variety, like European basketball, soccer and table tennis. And when it comes to the types of bets available, no rival brand tops this operator.

You’ll find straight bets, parlays, teasers, teasers+, handicap spreads, over/under totals (for quarters, halves, and full games), in-play betting, futures, and a multitude of player and team props for most events.

Speed and Availability of Payment Methods

BetRivers Online Casino & Sportsbook presents their members with a convenient selection of banking methods. Major credit and debit cards are accepted, but some banks are still known to decline such transactions, despite the affirmative action in PA online gambling laws. Alternatives include the decades old favorite payment processor, PayPal, instant online bank transfers, retail vouchers and in-person deposits at any Rivers Casino cashier cage. All deposits are credited instantly to the user’s account for immediate use.

Withdrawals can be made just as easily by a variety of convenient methods; some quicker than others. Online banking (ACH) cashouts can take a couple of days to hit your bank. A check by mail can take as long as 14 days (although it’s usually much faster). The quickest way to get your money is to get a BetRivers Play+ Card.

The Play+ card is an instant way to deposit and withdrawal money at BetRivers. Cashing out is as easy as using the card at any PULSE or NYCE-powered ATM machine, or any ATM where Discover is accepted.

The following is a complete list of payment options at BetRivers, earmarked for deposits and withdrawals. Please see the link below to learn more about specific payment methods, including how to apply for a BetRivers Play+ Card.

• Learn more: PA Bet Rivers Online Payments Review & Fact Sheet

Bonuses & Promotions: What’s in it for You?

BetRivers has an extensive line-up of promotions. Most of them are limited to the sportsbook side of the website, but not all. The only advertised promotion for casino players is the welcome bonus for first-time depositors. Additional bonuses can be claimed regularly through the VIP rewards program, detailed below.

Let’s take a closer look at what the iGaming portal is promoting at present.

100% up to $250 Welcome Bonus

Since the casino and sportsbook are combined into a single player account, there’s just one welcome bonus on offer for new players. Using the promo code 250MATCH, a new member’s first deposit is instantly doubled up to $250. A minimum $10 deposit is required, and the bonus can be used to bet in the casino or sportsbook, with a mere 1X wagering requirement attached. Other terms and conditions apply (see BetRivers Bonus Terms for more information).

Double Down on Points

For the entire month of October 2020, BetRivers is awarding 2x loyalty and bonus store points on all blackjack, baccarat and roulette table games wagers.

$500,000 Pennsylvania Pick’Em

Throughout the NFL’s regular season, the $500k PA Pick’em promo invites sports bettors to pick season-long and weekly winners.

NFL Sunday 50% Profit Boost

Members who log in each Sunday during the promo period (now thru Jan. 3, 2021) will receive a 50% profit boost on bets made on that same Sunday’s NFL games. Max wager $50; max profit boost $250.

• See Complete BetRivers Bonus & Promotion Rules

VIP Program for Casual Players and High Rollers

iRUSH Rewards (iRR) is a unique multi-tier program designed to benefit all members of the online casino and sportsbook, from the most casual of bettors to the highest rolling VIPs. Every real money wager earns an equal amount of Loyalty Level Points (LLP) and Bonus Store Points (BSP). LLP accumulates to determine each player’s iRR status, while BSP can be used to purchase bonus-related prizes in the rewards store.

iRUSH Loyalty Levels

The chart below depicts the 10 standard status levels, the required points to reach each level, and the benefits of doing so. The final tier doesn’t go by a number, but the label Elite. It reserved for the most exceptional VIPs, and accessible by invitation only.

Note about “Elite” Status: If you believe you have what it takes to qualify for this ultimate status tier, I would suggest informing your Dedicated VIP Manager after reaching Level 8. Giving your manager a heads-up may seem arrogant, but in reality, it’s ensuring you get the attention you deserve, and a quick invite when the time comes.

BetRivers Bonus Store

The bonus store is the most interesting aspect of the iRR rewards program. While other reviews of BetRivers Casino have complained there aren’t enough regular bonus promotions, they obviously didn’t dig very deep into the website’s offerings. The bonus store is where BetRivers gives members the ability to choose their own bonuses, claiming what they want, when they want it.

Bonus store items include:

Bonus Money: Trade anywhere from 200 to 20,000 store points for an instant bonus of $2.50 to $400.00. Remember, all BetRivers bonus dollars require just 1x playthrough to withdrawal.

Bonus Wheel Spin: For 100 to 25,000 points, members can purchase a wheel spin. Each spin offers a range of instant bonus cash. At the 100 point level, players are guaranteed to win a bonus of $1-$10. For 150 points, the bonus increases to $1-$20; 300 points wins $3-$20, scaling up to a guaranteed bonus of $250-$2,000 for 25,000 points.

Free Sports Bet: Pennsylvania sports betting fans will like this one. Points can be traded for a free bet with 1x wagering requirements, so if you win the bet, WR is already met, and you’re free to withdrawal. Free bets can be purchased at a rate of $5 for 200 points, $30 for 1,000 points, or $250 for 7,000 points.

Profit Boost: If you’re sure your next sports bet will be a winner, a profit boost can bump up your wining significantly. The bonus store offers a 25% on a $5 max bet for 100 points; 15% boost on a $75 max bet for 750 points; 20% boost on a $200 max bet for 2,000 points.

• Learn more about the BetRivers iRUSH Rewards Program

Quality of BetRivers Casino Customer Support

If you have a question or need help, BetRivers customer support agents are available daily for live chat from 9:30am to 2:00am (EST). Email support is provided via an online help form. After multiple tests, we’ve found the team of representatives to be extremely friendly, professional and knowledgeable of their services (qualities so many international iGaming operations have historically lacked).

A 24/7 live chat service would be preferred, as would a telephone support option, but for what’s available, they run a pretty tight ship. At peak hours, the live chat queue tends to be rather long. Surprisingly, the email response time can be much faster than waiting for a free chat rep.

Before contacting support, be sure to skim over the FAQ section (under Help Center) for quick answers to common questions. This section includes topics on Registration, Geolocation, My Account, Rivers Casino, Sports Betting, Deposits, Withdrawals, Bonuses, Mobile, Responsible Gaming and Technical Concerns.

Conclusion: Is BetRivers the Right Fit for You?

The Bet Rivers Casino and Sportsbook offers members a lot of advantages, but it may not be the right choice for everyone. The following is a list of basic pros and cons that should help you decide if BetRivers PA is the right choice for you.

Pros – The Stuff We Love

Diversity + Simplicity: BetRivers offers a diverse selection of online casino games and sporting bets all in one dynamic, simply navigable platform. It’s so well organized that, despite the mass selection of gambling choices, it never feels jumbled.

Boundless Bonus Opportunities: Thanks to the unique iRUSH Rewards program, members never run out of valuable promotions to take advantage of. Every wager earns points, and every point gets you close to the next bonus, free bet, or profit boost of your choice.

Instant Withdrawals w/ BetRivers Play+ Card: While there are plenty of deposit and withdrawal options to suit everyone, the BetRivers Play+ Card gives members the choice of making instant deposits and instant withdrawals from almost any ATM in the country.

No Download Required: Members can access the complete online casino and sportsbook in browser on PC, Mac or Linux, as well as Android or iOS smartphones and tablets. Note, however, that Apple devices will require the GeoGuard app the confirm their location in PA.

Cons – Potential Deal Breakers

No iOS App: While universal in-browser compatibility is a good thing, some people love apps, and if you’re one of those people – and happen to use an Apple iPhone or iPad – you’ll be disappointed. BetRivers currently supplies an app for Android, but not iOS. We’ll be sure to update this section if and when that changes.

No Live Dealer Games: Although partnered with NetEnt, one of the industry’s top live casino suppliers, BetRivers does not yet support live dealer table games. This is another feature we’re hoping to see change in the near future. We’ll keep you posted…

Support isn’t 24/7: Having more than two decades of experience with international online gambling sites, I – and I’m sure many of you – find it disappointing that customer support is not available 24/7. Their live chat and email reps are great, but they’re only available from 9:30am to 2:00am, local time.